"Jeff Moorad is like the new guy trying to crack the country club. He's come up with the cash for the initiation fee, but the members want to know if he can handle the assessments.

Before the chief executive officer of the San Diego Padres can complete his installment plan to purchase the franchise from John Moores, his prospective peers have a few questions they want answered. They'd like to know, for example, what happens if the ink runs red, if the Friars should start losing more money than they've saved. They'd like some assurance that Moorad is committed for the long haul and not just the fast buck, and that he has the means to manage any obligations he might incur in running the ballclub."