Rita sues!!!!

Halo · 01-22-2015, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by burningmetal

I'm confused by some of the comments that seem to be directed negatively at Rita. As soon as I heard the news of the "transfer" this morning, it instantly screamed power play in my head. Why do women marry much older, rich men? For their looks, or hearts? Of course not.

This might only qualify as a conspiracy theory at the moment, but it sure seems like this is a plan that has been long in the works, and somebody is being blackmaled or downright brain washed, for this sudden flip of power to happen. You just don't do that to your family. Tom doesn't owe his wife either of these franchises. She's been in the family for 10 years and doesn't know crap about anything. Meanwhile the one's who have been promised their rights have been putting in work since long before this latest wife came around.

So I'm glad Rita is suing them. Why shouldn't she? I don't want this women to move our team. Given the controversy that is sure to ensue, it's not difficult to imagine her trying to get out of dodge.

As I remember it, after Katrina, it was Tom Benson who wanted to move the team to San Antonio claiming the new facilities on Airline drive were un-usable when they were not even touched by the storm. His new bride, Gayle, encouraged the move because that's where she was from and wanted the team there. Internally it was Rita Leblanc Benson, Tom's granddaughter, who started to resist and change the mind of her grandfather. Eventually it was Tagliabue who put his foot down for the sake of decency. After Katrina and the Saints return, Rita earned herself an executive spot and a face of the organization.

Tom says ownership needs to shift to Gayle to keep the team in New Orleans long term. My question is, when recently has the long term location of the team been in question? Why is that even mentioned? Sounds like boy who cried wolf and a PR move. Gayle gets the team and it can move at anytime. No one has to fulfill a "promise".

Mardigras9 · 01-23-2015, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Halo

As I remember it, after Katrina, it was Tom Benson who wanted to move the team to San Antonio claiming the new facilities on Airline drive were un-usable when they were not even touched by the storm. His new bride, Gayle, encouraged the move because that's where she was from and wanted the team there. Internally it was Rita Leblanc Benson, Tom's granddaughter, who started to resist and change the mind of her grandfather. Eventually it was Tagliabue who put his foot down for the sake of decency. After Katrina and the Saints return, Rita earned herself an executive spot and a face of the organization.

Tom says ownership needs to shift to Gayle to keep the team in New Orleans long term. My question is, when recently has the long term location of the team been in question? Why is that even mentioned? Sounds like boy who cried wolf and a PR move. Gayle gets the team and it can move at anytime. No one has to fulfill a "promise".

Totally agree.
Yes, that is how I remember it also.

saintfan · 01-22-2015, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by burningmetal

I'm confused by some of the comments that seem to be directed negatively at Rita. As soon as I heard the news of the "transfer" this morning, it instantly screamed power play in my head. Why do women marry much older, rich men? For their looks, or hearts? Of course not.

This might only qualify as a conspiracy theory at the moment, but it sure seems like this is a plan that has been long in the works, and somebody is being blackmaled or downright brain washed, for this sudden flip of power to happen. You just don't do that to your family. Tom doesn't owe his wife either of these franchises. She's been in the family for 10 years and doesn't know crap about anything. Meanwhile the one's who have been promised their rights have been putting in work since long before this latest wife came around.

So I'm glad Rita is suing them. Why shouldn't she? I don't want this women to move our team. Given the controversy that is sure to ensue, it's not difficult to imagine her trying to get out of dodge.

I just read the whole lawsuit. I agree completely.

Because tell y'all what...

They make a very good case. A lot of it is "information and belief", but it figures to be accurate one could reasonably assume based on what they can honestly prove has been going on.

And it sure as heck isn't just Rita. This is the daughter and everyone else, and it sure seems like there's been a pattern.

Listen, I don't think Tom has 1.7 billion he can use to replace the value of the Pelicans and Saints in the trust. No way on Earth he seriously devalues the total of the two so much with a straight face assuming he's thinking clearly. That's how I see it - will be interested to see if we get to read his formal (legal) response.

VegasSaint9 · 01-22-2015, 10:40 PM

Steve Martin can play Smitty for a cameo.

QBREES9 · 01-22-2015, 11:53 PM

Family, that why you get to pick your friends. Just sad. We know this is not going to end well.

RailBoss · 01-23-2015, 03:33 AM

Boy Christmas dinner at Tom's house is gonna suck next year!

xan · 01-23-2015, 03:55 AM

I think that we need to start a B&G collection to raise enough money to buy the club. It is not a stretch that the result of all this fighting is the dissolution of the trust and the exposure of the entire estate to federal and state(s) taxes. As was pointed out, Benson may be wealthy, but he is likely not to have $5 billion in assets that will protect the $1.7 billion value ascribed to the two franchises.

We need to be prepared. Halo? Set up the B&G trust!

saintsfan1976 · 01-23-2015, 06:48 AM

We may have Rita and Tags to thank for bringing the Saints back to New Orleans but we have Payton & Brees to thank for KEEPING the Saints in New Orleans.

Winning cures all and now that things are funky, my gut tells me Benson is back to his old tricks. I'd almost forgotten how sneaky the old days were....

lee909 · 01-23-2015, 07:14 AM

The worse thing that can happen will be split ownership between the two.
Leaves the team in limbo with two parties pulling it in opposite directions.
I may not be from the city but if this leads to the team to leave New Orleans I'm done.

Its the one aspect of US sports I can't stand,the team belongs to the fans nobody else

SmashMouth · 01-23-2015, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by lee909

The worse thing that can happen will be split ownership between the two.
Leaves the team in limbo with two parties pulling it in opposite directions.
I may not be from the city but if this leads to the team to leave New Orleans I'm done.

Its the one aspect of US sports I can't stand,the team belongs to the fans nobody else

Well said...

01-22-2015, 10:27 PM	#1
Halo Site Donor MONTHLY Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 20,245 Blog Entries: 45	Re: Rita sues!!!! Originally Posted by burningmetal I'm confused by some of the comments that seem to be directed negatively at Rita. As soon as I heard the news of the "transfer" this morning, it instantly screamed power play in my head. Why do women marry much older, rich men? For their looks, or hearts? Of course not. This might only qualify as a conspiracy theory at the moment, but it sure seems like this is a plan that has been long in the works, and somebody is being blackmaled or downright brain washed, for this sudden flip of power to happen. You just don't do that to your family. Tom doesn't owe his wife either of these franchises. She's been in the family for 10 years and doesn't know crap about anything. Meanwhile the one's who have been promised their rights have been putting in work since long before this latest wife came around. So I'm glad Rita is suing them. Why shouldn't she? I don't want this women to move our team. Given the controversy that is sure to ensue, it's not difficult to imagine her trying to get out of dodge. As I remember it, after Katrina, it was Tom Benson who wanted to move the team to San Antonio claiming the new facilities on Airline drive were un-usable when they were not even touched by the storm. His new bride, Gayle, encouraged the move because that's where she was from and wanted the team there. Internally it was Rita Leblanc Benson, Tom's granddaughter, who started to resist and change the mind of her grandfather. Eventually it was Tagliabue who put his foot down for the sake of decency. After Katrina and the Saints return, Rita earned herself an executive spot and a face of the organization. Tom says ownership needs to shift to Gayle to keep the team in New Orleans long term. My question is, when recently has the long term location of the team been in question? Why is that even mentioned? Sounds like boy who cried wolf and a PR move. Gayle gets the team and it can move at anytime. No one has to fulfill a "promise". RailBoss, jeanpierre, OldMaid and 3 others like this.
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01-23-2015, 08:31 AM	#2
Mardigras9 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Land Mass between LA and AL Posts: 4,375	Re: Rita sues!!!! Originally Posted by Halo As I remember it, after Katrina, it was Tom Benson who wanted to move the team to San Antonio claiming the new facilities on Airline drive were un-usable when they were not even touched by the storm. His new bride, Gayle, encouraged the move because that's where she was from and wanted the team there. Internally it was Rita Leblanc Benson, Tom's granddaughter, who started to resist and change the mind of her grandfather. Eventually it was Tagliabue who put his foot down for the sake of decency. After Katrina and the Saints return, Rita earned herself an executive spot and a face of the organization. Tom says ownership needs to shift to Gayle to keep the team in New Orleans long term. My question is, when recently has the long term location of the team been in question? Why is that even mentioned? Sounds like boy who cried wolf and a PR move. Gayle gets the team and it can move at anytime. No one has to fulfill a "promise". Totally agree. Yes, that is how I remember it also. Halo likes this.

01-22-2015, 10:47 PM	#3
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Re: Rita sues!!!! Originally Posted by burningmetal I'm confused by some of the comments that seem to be directed negatively at Rita. As soon as I heard the news of the "transfer" this morning, it instantly screamed power play in my head. Why do women marry much older, rich men? For their looks, or hearts? Of course not. This might only qualify as a conspiracy theory at the moment, but it sure seems like this is a plan that has been long in the works, and somebody is being blackmaled or downright brain washed, for this sudden flip of power to happen. You just don't do that to your family. Tom doesn't owe his wife either of these franchises. She's been in the family for 10 years and doesn't know crap about anything. Meanwhile the one's who have been promised their rights have been putting in work since long before this latest wife came around. So I'm glad Rita is suing them. Why shouldn't she? I don't want this women to move our team. Given the controversy that is sure to ensue, it's not difficult to imagine her trying to get out of dodge. I just read the whole lawsuit. I agree completely. Because tell y'all what... They make a very good case. A lot of it is "information and belief", but it figures to be accurate one could reasonably assume based on what they can honestly prove has been going on. And it sure as heck isn't just Rita. This is the daughter and everyone else, and it sure seems like there's been a pattern. Listen, I don't think Tom has 1.7 billion he can use to replace the value of the Pelicans and Saints in the trust. No way on Earth he seriously devalues the total of the two so much with a straight face assuming he's thinking clearly. That's how I see it - will be interested to see if we get to read his formal (legal) response. jeanpierre and OldMaid like this.
	C'mon Man...

01-22-2015, 10:40 PM	#4
VegasSaint9 100th Post Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 360	Re: Rita sues!!!! Steve Martin can play Smitty for a cameo. Halo likes this.

01-22-2015, 11:53 PM	#5
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,982	Re: Rita sues!!!! Family, that why you get to pick your friends. Just sad. We know this is not going to end well. Halo and OldMaid like this.

01-23-2015, 03:33 AM	#6
RailBoss 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Of The Mason Dixon Line Posts: 7,113	Re: Rita sues!!!! Boy Christmas dinner at Tom's house is gonna suck next year! Halo, Dasidreidia and OldMaid like this.

01-23-2015, 03:55 AM	#7
xan Professor Crab and Site Donor 2014 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Princeton Posts: 3,355 Blog Entries: 34	Re: Rita sues!!!! I think that we need to start a B&G collection to raise enough money to buy the club. It is not a stretch that the result of all this fighting is the dissolution of the trust and the exposure of the entire estate to federal and state(s) taxes. As was pointed out, Benson may be wealthy, but he is likely not to have $5 billion in assets that will protect the $1.7 billion value ascribed to the two franchises. We need to be prepared. Halo? Set up the B&G trust! Halo, saintfan, RailBoss and 2 others like this.

01-23-2015, 06:48 AM	#8
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,555 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Rita sues!!!! We may have Rita and Tags to thank for bringing the Saints back to New Orleans but we have Payton & Brees to thank for KEEPING the Saints in New Orleans. Winning cures all and now that things are funky, my gut tells me Benson is back to his old tricks. I'd almost forgotten how sneaky the old days were.... Halo, RailBoss, jeanpierre and 1 others like this.

01-23-2015, 07:14 AM	#9
lee909 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Watford England Posts: 8,778 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Rita sues!!!! The worse thing that can happen will be split ownership between the two. Leaves the team in limbo with two parties pulling it in opposite directions. I may not be from the city but if this leads to the team to leave New Orleans I'm done. Its the one aspect of US sports I can't stand,the team belongs to the fans nobody else Halo, SmashMouth, jeanpierre and 3 others like this.

01-23-2015, 07:34 AM	#10
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 37,140 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Rita sues!!!! Originally Posted by lee909 The worse thing that can happen will be split ownership between the two. Leaves the team in limbo with two parties pulling it in opposite directions. I may not be from the city but if this leads to the team to leave New Orleans I'm done. Its the one aspect of US sports I can't stand,the team belongs to the fans nobody else Well said...

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