Flyers owner may move on without his longtime club

Sometimes kids say the darndest things.

The darned smartest things.

Just ask Rich Ehrenreich, one of the three principal owners and the managing partner of the Schaumburg Flyers of the Northern League.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Ehrenreich, in a partnership with actor/director Kevin Costner, would be assuming the same roles with a new Zion baseball franchise that would join the Northern League for competition in 2010. The night before he shared the news with his 16-year-old daughter.

"Her first comment was 'How can you own two teams that play each other?'" Ehrenreich said. "I said, 'You're right.' It is awkward and there are certain rules that come into play and ethics questions.

"She's right, I have a decision to make: continue to do this or sell or divest ourselves of Schaumburg. That's something I'll have to decide quickly."

So, after a decade of Ehrenreich at the helm of the Flyers, there may be a new owner or owners by the time the 2009 season commences in May.

"I've already got people calling me saying that they want to buy the team," he said. "They're aware of the (Zion) announcement and are interested in the Flyers.

"For the first time in 10 years I'm listening."

If the ultimate decision is to sell the Flyers and focus on Zion, it won't be an easy break for Ehrenreich.

"I love the Flyers; this is a great market, a great stadium, the fans are terrific," he said. "It's almost like choosing one child over the other.

"I would hope that if we end up moving on, whoever would come in here would enjoy the same success we have and love it as much as we have because it really is a great situation."

In Section 1 News: Kevin Costner brings baseball to Lake County and Zion