According to a report from the Miami Herald, Mr. Worldwide a.k.a. Mr. 305 a.k.a. Pitbull has joined a group that is bidding to buy the Miami Marlins from local pariah Jeffrey Loria. The group also includes former Florida governor Jeb (who previously attempted to buy the team in a partnership with Yankees legend Derek Jeter), Wayne Rothbaum, CNBC star Marcus Lemonis, and Tagg Romney, son of former Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
The investment group is hoping to top Miami business owner Jorge Mas–who has proved to be their biggest competition thus far–for the right to buy the team.
One way to do that is to include arguably the most Miamian of the moment. A spokesman for Mr. Worlwide confirmed Tuesday that he will join the investment group, although his role and ownership cut has not been made public.
All the best known investors in the group have clear ties to Florida: post-failed presidential bid last year, Bush now resides in Coral Gables. The younger Bush brother recruited Marcus Lemonis–a Miami native who is best known as the star of CNBC show “The Profit”– to join the bid. Rothbaum (founder of Quogue Capital) has a home in Delray Beach, about 50 miles from Marlins Park.
As for Pitbull, ya tú sabe: the 36-year-old had humble beginnings as the in-house DJ for the then-Florida Marlins, before becoming a minor rap sensation in Dade County. Of course, he soon outgrew that fame on the wings of singles like “Give Me Everything” and “Timber”, becoming the self-proclaimed Mr. Worldwide soon thereafter.
Securing Pitbull has given the investment group a face for their bid, similar to JAY-Z’s inclusion in the Brooklyn Nets rebranding from earlier this decade. Probably as a connection to the bid, Pitbull was the star performer at Marlins Park on Monday Night for the MLB’s Home Run Derby, donning his tightest pants to play his biggest hits on the night.
All that doesn’t mean that Team Pitbull will get the team; after all, three ownership groups continue to battle it out for approval by Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and Major League Baseball. Mas is the lone Miami-based lead investor, and makes most of his money by heading his family’s construction and infrastructure company with headquarters in Coral Gables; according to a report on Monday, he has already reached a deal with Loria, although the club is denying that report.
The Rothbaum-led group will not only have to contend with Mas, but also with a new group led by Jeter, who is still interested in reviving the Marlins franchise from its Loria-induced doldrums.
You can read the full Miami Herald report here.