Arthur Blank gave an interview to the newspaper this week.

Probably wishes he hadn't.

He said two things. First, he'd be interested in the Braves if he can make the numbers work. Second, the business of the Falcons isn't at risk if they don't make the play-offs.

It was a business story, for the business section.

What happened? The paper played the first piece of information as a "news story," on the front page, asking how he might translate his "success" in football to the baseball team (i.e. -- get rid of everyone and start over). The second was then played strictly as a sports story, implying he was OK with the team's inability to win big games this year.

This was followed by sports yak-yakkers throwing Blank under the bus. They charged him with being happy with mediocrity, then said he'd be spreading himself too thin if he took on the Braves.

Stupid, stupid stupid newspaper. And stupid, stupid, stupid sports-yakkers.

1. Good owners don't run sports clubs. They hire the people who run sports clubs.
2. Of course the Falcons are a success this year, for Blank. They sold out every game, they got all the best TV time slots, and they're going to sell out next year, too.

Then there is the story the paper won't write.

The sale of the baseball team is dependent on the new owner making its TV rights into a pay cable tier.

That's the only way to compete. The Yankees made it work. The Mets are about to try (which is why they spent like crazy this off-season). Baseball is moving to $8/month pay tiers (until the price goes up) and those owners who don't get on board are going to be left behind.

So, how many pay packages can the Braves sell, after turning Turner South into an $8/month network? It depends:

• Can you get other properties into the package which people are willing to pay for?
• Can you handle the losses from dumping the old programming.
• Can you maintain your carriage agreements with major cable outfits while raising your prices?

These are business questions. Arthur Blank is a businessman. He doesn't run the ball, he doesn't throw it, he doesn't hit it. He hires the people who do all that, and the people who hire them. He does the deals that brighten the bottom line.

He did that well with the Falcons. He's richer than ever. Can he do that with the Braves?

I don't know. Only one man knows.

Arthur Blank.