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A 'Man of Mystery' Steps Into the Spotlight
The Nats' ownership group. Back row, from left: Mark D. Lerner, James T. Brown, Edward L. Cohen, Jarvis C. Stewart, George Muñoz, Paxton K. Baker, Theodore N. Lerner, Rodney E. Slater, Raul R. Romero, Stan Kasten and Robert K. Tanenbaum. Front row: Judy Lerner, Debra Cohen, Annette Lerner, Marla Tanenbaum, Faye F. Fields and B. Doyle Mitchell Jr.
(By Michael Williamson -- The Washington Post)
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Just this week, D.C. Council member Vincent B. Orange Sr. (D-Ward 5) derided the late announcement of Lerner's minority partners as "renting blacks" while council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 5) called it "show dressing and store fronting."
But when the Lerners walked into the auditorium beneath the Fairmont for their news conference, Orange was standing in the crowd. He was introduced. Smiles all around.
Then as local sportscaster George Michael was trying to get Lerner to gush over a congratulatory e-mail from Wizards owner Abe Pollin that Lerner hadn't even seen, Barry walked in.
At first he was invisible in the packed room. A knot of reporters clogged his way. But the former mayor has not endured all these years without knowing something about an entrance. Clad in a tan suit he gently shoved his way through the crowd with a robotic walk.
Slowly he inched his way forward, nudging himself toward the front of the auditorium one step at a time until he stood halfway up the crowd in plain view of the stage below. Suddenly, Edward Cohen pointed into the television lights.
To Barry.
And the room was filled with applause, from the owners on the dais, the members of their families in the crowd and even Orange. Barry beamed.
Soon the woman moderating the news conference said there would only be a couple more questions "before everyone melts" in the heat.
Ted Lerner looked relieved.
But even those last queries would not be easy. To Slater: Is it true he is thinking of running for governor of Arkansas? Slater said he has a friend running and left it at that
To Faye F. Fields, who owns a technology company in Falls Church: "Can we hear from the woman partner?" Fields replied "you have to ask me a question."
Then it was over and Barry practically bounded down the stairs to embrace Brown who had just stepped down from the platform. He looked at the stage, still filled with most of the owners, and jumped up. Someone said something about a picture and everyone gathered in, Barry and Orange sliding right into the middle.
Barry thrust out his chest, squinted his eyes and smiled wide.
Ted Lerner, his ordeal finally over, quickly left the stage followed by his partners.
Only Barry lingered.
"They asked me to come up here," Barry said. "You should have heard the applause I got when they introduced me. They know what time it is."
Barry had stolen the moment but not Ted Lerner's day.
