baseball teams (especially ones in New York) make money. Prior to the Madoff shit, I wouldn't be surprised if the Mets were making 10% profit most years.

Let's say 8% though, just to be conservative.

Taking the 5.9 million they owed him in 2000, and investing it back in the team until 2035 when they are done paying him, that would be $87 million dollars if it earned at 8%.

They could pay him out of the interest and still make more money than if they just paid him the 5.9 mil up front.

The only reason it seems bad now is because of the money they lost to Madoff, and because most sports talk radio people don't understand accrued interest.