March 19, 2000

Letter To The Editor
Forbes Magazine & Forbes.com
60 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10011

Dear Editor:

Monte Burke's April 1, 2002 article, "Show Me The Money", was interesting, but inaccurate and incomplete. Some response on my part is required to put Mr. Burke's article in context.
Mr. Burke was not given access to my business and personal financial records, nor was he provided a copy of my Major League Baseball ownership transfer application. Mr. Burke's effort to gain special insight into my financial affairs produced little new public information, even though he spent several months working on the article.

Without access to my financial records, Mr. Burke has no idea of the nature and scope of my financial holdings, or what they are worth.

I have never sought inclusion on any list Forbes compiles, nor have I asked the magazine to confirm my net worth.

It is my goal, however, to be listed as one of 30 Major League Baseball owners.
Major League Baseball has a comprehensive and detailed description of my financial assets. I must persuade the League, and not Mr. Burke, that I have the financial strength to buy and operate a baseball team.

If Major League Baseball has future questions about the value of my assets, there is a separate and adequate procedure for addressing valuation questions in the MLB application process.

I am confident that the League's financial experts are capable of independently valuing the assets listed in my Major League Baseball financial disclosure statements. I am also confident that my success in this venture will rise or fall on the merits of the comprehensive asset information provided in my application, and not the snapshot view of my finances presented in Mr. Burke's article.

Sincerely,

Donald V. Watkins