美国国家公共电台 NPR--The Washington Commanders could be sold for a record $6 billion

The Washington Commanders could be sold for a record $6 billion

Transcript¹

The Washington Commanders might be sold for a record $6 billion. NPR's Michel Martin talks with Dave Zirin, sports editor at The Nation.

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Dan Snyder, the owner of the Washington, D.C., NFL franchise² the Commanders has reportedly reached an agreement in principle to sell the team for $6 billion. That's with a B, and it's an NFL record. And this comes after years of lawsuits³, investigations⁴ and scandals involving Snyder. Dave Zirin, sports editor at The Nation, has some thoughts about this, and he's with us now to tell us more.

Good morning.

DAVE ZIRIN: Oh, it's great to be here, Michel. And it's a beautiful day. "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang is playing out of sports radio.

MARTIN: OK.

ZIRIN: People are shouting cheers from office buildings because Dan Snyder looks like he will no longer be the franchise owner of the Washington football team.

MARTIN: I take it you're not a fan of his, so why not?

ZIRIN: Well, I'm not a fan of his for the same reason that Washington, D.C., is not a fan of his. I mean, I - my wife actually teaches D.C. history, and I was trying to get her to come up with a more disliked private citizen in the history of Washington, D.C. - not politician, but private citizen. And we could not come up with one...

MARTIN: OK.

ZIRIN: ...In terms of universal dislike. And it has to do with 24 years of taking one of the most valuable, beloved franchises⁵ in the entire country, regardless of league, and driving it into becoming an afterthought, driving the stadium...

MARTIN: OK.

ZIRIN: ...Into becoming the 32nd-ranked stadium in the National Football League and driving a fan base to actually feel embarrassed about a team they once valued.

MARTIN: So let's talk - let's go forward here. But just briefly⁶, as you've mentioned, years of lawsuits and investigations and scandals involving Snyder and the Commanders - some of those investigations are still going on. Could those affect the sale?

ZIRIN: I don't think they're going to affect the sale, but they could affect Dan Snyder's future because lawsuits are ongoing⁷, Congressional investigations are ongoing. And a lot of this has to do, we have to say, with accusations⁸ of sexual assault and toxicity⁹ that ran through the team's workplace with Dan Snyder's fingerprints¹⁰, allegedly literally¹¹, all over a situation where women were not meant to feel safe. That's the top-line story, I think, of why he's selling, although it might also be because, according to ESPN, he spent money to dig dirt on his fellow franchise owners, which maybe that was the bridge too far for a fraternity of people that have never hesitated to welcome the odious¹² into their ranks.

MARTIN: What do we know about this new ownership group and anything about the terms of the deal?

ZIRIN: Very little. I mean, the owner, the new one, is going to be a hedge fund guy. The figure is 6.05 billion. I have no facts to this - about this, but there's certainly a rumor¹³ among the D.C. sports cognoscenti that that number, 6.05 - that Snyder wanted that 05 really badly because there were rumors¹⁴ that he was not going to get that magic 6 billion number. Now, if you're asking me, does it feel kind of gross that this person who did so much wrong in this city for 24 years is getting a $6 billion bailout? Yes. But sometimes that's the price for actually having a team that you can feel proud to root for.

MARTIN: Briefly, Washington ranked last in the league in attendance in 2022, second last in 2021. Turn it around - possible?

ZIRIN: This is the first step indeed. But it's going to be a long journey back. But at least the direction is in a positive direction.

MARTIN: Dave Zirin is sports editor for The Nation.

Dave, you got to learn to hold back your thoughts here. He's producer of the film "Behind The Shield." And I do want to mention that a team spokesperson declined to comment. Dave, thank you so much for joining us.

ZIRIN: Thank you.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

3 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

4 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

5 franchises   

n.（尤指选举议员的）选举权( franchise的名词复数 )；参政权；获特许权的商业机构（或服务）；（公司授予的）特许经销权v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ford dealerships operated as independent franchises. 福特汽车公司的代销商都是独立的联营商。 来自辞典例句

6 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

7 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

8 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

9 toxicity   

n.毒性，毒力

参考例句：

• The hoarse grunt or squeal is characteristic of toxicity.嘶哑的哼声和叫声是中毒的特征。
• Dieldrin is related to aldrin,and its toxicity to earthworms is similar.狄氏剂与艾氏剂有关，对蚯蚓的毒性是相似的。

10 fingerprints   

n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Everyone's fingerprints are unique. 每个人的指纹都是独一无二的。
• They wore gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints behind (them). 他们戴着手套，以免留下指纹。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

12 odious   

adj.可憎的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• The judge described the crime as odious.法官称这一罪行令人发指。
• His character could best be described as odious.他的人格用可憎来形容最贴切。

13 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。

14 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》