HarryHurley.com
 
ATLANTIC CITY SURF
DISMISSAL OF
CHUCK BETSON & JEFF BALL
 
EDITORIAL
 
By HARRY HURLEY
Editor & Publisher
HarryHurley.com
 
The new Atlantic City Surf owner, Mark Schuster appears to be in a race to erase everything from the Atlantic City Surf's 10 year past.
 
The latest moves include the firings of Chuck Betson and Jeff Ball. These terminations follow the house cleaning of many other familiar faces that fans have gotten to know well over the years.
 
This is the same Schuster who pledged publicly that Jeff Ball would return as Surf Manager. This quickly changed and Schuster moved Ball to a front office role. Now, he has fired Ball suddenly and unceremoniously.
 
Betson has been the most prolific marketing and sales person in Atlantic City Surf history. Almost every outfield billboard has Betson's sales number on it.
 
I can't prove this ... But, with my basic knowledge of advertising sales ... I would betcha that Betson has sold over one million dollars in billboard advertising sales over the years. Probably more like $ 1.5. million dollars. 
 
Betson would do anything to help the Surf baseball team or make the Surf  organization look good in the eyes of the community and its consumers.
 
Betson would appear in every parade around Atlantic County with Surf Mascot Splash. These events take hours.
 
Betson would also fill-in whenever called upon to serve as Public Address announcer or Surf Baseball radio on-air, play-by-play broadcaster.
 
A new owner has the right to do with his business as he wishes. This is America. However, we all have the right to not like what is going on. It's not just the personnel moves. It's the way they pull these moves that is disgraceful. 
 
I haven't liked Schuster's ownership and management of the Atlantic City Surf product since almost day 1. My instincts serve me well, and from the beginning this guy has rubbed me the wrong way. Nothing personal, I don't believe we've ever met ... which is another problem.
 
My opinion has been formed by not believing what Schuster says ... rather, watching closely what he actually does.
 
My earlier example about Jeff Ball is case in point. Ball is the most prolific, winning manager in Surf history. He won on the field with a poultry salary budget.
 
Ball also was so active in the community. His termination is as outrageous as Betson's.
 
It appears that the only familiar face left is Super Mario Perrucci and his role has been relegated to almost ceremonial only.
 
If Schuster continues at his current pace ... it won't be long before Perrucci is out. And, he's almost left the team several times in the past year or so.  
 
I strongly believe that Schuster is gonna find out the hard way, that many local people have already made a firm decision to stay away from Sand Castle Stadium ... I am one of them. I don't like the way this man conducts Surf business.
 
I am a former (full paying) season ticket owner (having purchased 2 of the most expensive box seats in Sand Castle Stadium).
 
Please remember, that I receive a free seasonal Press Pass ... (come to think of it, I didn't get one this year ... first time ever) and, I still paid my way into the stadium.
 
We have all watched every professional sports attempt in Atlantic City go belly-up within 2-3 years. The Atlantic City Surf have made it a full 10 years.
 
I miss the days of Frank Boulton. A man who loves baseball and demonstrates true loyalty to his staff. Boulton lost money each and every year in Atlantic City ... yet, he stayed fiercely loyal to Mario Perrucci, Chuck Betson and other staff members.
 
Boulton understood well that the people who come face-to-face with Surf customers are a valuable asset to the overall success of the product.
 
I rise today in support of Chuck Betson and Jeff Ball. They are two very hard-working men. Their dismissal disgusts me. The present tract of this Surf product also disappoints and disgusts me.
 
This much I know ... Watch as Betson and Ball rise to the top following this debacle. I guarantee it.