Tom Hicks, who owned the Liverpool, the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars, died Saturday. He was 79.
Hicks made his fortune as a private equity investor, and entered the sports realm in 1995, when he purchased the Dallas Stars. After a last-place finish in the 1995-96 NHL season, the Stars went on to win their division five years in a row. The team reached the playoffs every year over that stretch, winning a Stanley Cup in the 1998-99 season.
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After missing out on the playoffs for a year, the team again made five straight playoff appearances, though only got as far as the Conference Finals.
In 1998, Hicks purchased the Texas Rangers from a group managed by George W. Bush. The Rangers won the American League West the first two years under Hicks’ ownership, but failed to win a game in the postseason both years.
Under Hicks’ ownership, the team signed shortstop Alex Rodriguez to a then record-setting 10-year, $252 million deal. While Rodriguez continued to play well, the Rangers finished in last place in four straight seasons. Hicks eventually traded Rodriguez to the New York Yankees ahead of the 2004 MLB season. Hicks later called the contract “one of the dumb things” he did as an owner.
In 2007, Hicks joined with George N. Gillett Jr. to become co-owner of Liverpool. Hicks became a hated figure among the fans after promising a new stadium and claiming no new debts would be placed on the team.
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Hatred of Hicks’ ownership reached a point where Liverpool fans banded together to release a video titled “Dear Mr Hicks” on YouTube. In the video, the fans berate Hicks for his poor ownership, urging him to leave.
In January of 2010, Hicks agreed to sell the Rangers. With that sale still pending, Hicks ran into financial issues, defaulting on loans with the Stars, eventually leading to the team filing for bankruptcy. The Rangers were eventually sold to a group led by Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan. The Stars were sold at auction to Tom Gaglardi.
Hicks eventually lost control of Liverpool in 2010, as the club’s board of directors voted 3-2 to sell the team to New England Sports Ventures.