Dave Samson Ran By New Times Office, But We Had No Tomatoes To Throw at Him UPDATE

Dave Samson Ran By New Times Office, But We Had No Tomatoes To Throw at Him UPDATE

By Francisco Alvarado Fri., Apr. 27 2012 at 3:17 PM

Today is the day Miami Marlins President Dave Samson is running 52 miles in honor of the construction workers who built him and his ex-step-daddy Jeffrey Loria the half-billion dollar ball park paid primarily by Miami-Dade taxpayers. We told readers about Samson's shameless publicity stunt to show off his double marathon running prowess earlier this month.

Well this afternoon, Samson blessed us with his presence when he stopped to take a break in front of the New Times offices at 4500 Biscayne Boulevard. Obviously, he didn't come in to say hello, so we went outside to see why Samson had brought traffic to a stand still.

Update: New Times video guy, Jacob Katel, hopped on his bike to catch up with Samson's marathon team and ask him a few questions on camera. Thing did not exactly go well. Click through for video.

Dressed in a florescent yellow tank top and skin-tight running shorts, Samson was flanked by the film crew from Showtime's "The Franchise -- A Season With The Miami Marlins," another crew from Florida Sun Sports network, a bevy of beautiful brunettes, and three cops (one from the city of Miami and two from Miami-Dade). They munched on pizza slices and drank Gatorade and water, before continuing their run.

Of course instead of running on the sidewalk, Samson and his entourage were in the street, causing traffic to slow down to a crawl. The cops were also providing a protective barrier so Samson won't get run over by an incensed taxpayer. If that wasn't enough, the caravan also included two convertible Mercedes-Benzes and the Marlins team bus.

It's too bad we didn't have any tomatoes handy to hurl at him.

Update: Jake Katel grabbed his bike to catch up with Samson's race team. Here's what happened:

Jacob Katel

Dave Samson and entourage

Dave Samson is a pretty cool dude. In fact, we're willing to bet he reads the New Times, and is signed up to Voice Daily Deals. Hey, we know he likes free stuff.

He was friendly with us while running a double marathon for charity. But, as for his lady friends, two police departments, and a Showtime film crew: not so much. It only took us one or two city blocks to get sassed by some chicas, hit with Miami-Dade police sirens, threatened by an old man, and reprimanded by a City of Miami cop. Geeze everybody, relax, I'm just one guy on a bike.

Samson running partners didn't want us talking because it would make it hard for them to run, even though they were talking the whole time they were running.

The film crew didn't want us filming.

And the police wanted us off the street with our bike, even though that's where it should legally be.

Even we asked David Samson when the Marlins were going to start winning, he said smiled and said, "Tonight."

We're starting to think the guy would appreciate some irreverent sports coverage and let us into the games and press conferences, but the PR flacks, team organization, police, and competition are the ones blocking our way in.

Either way, Samson raised over $500,000 for various charities. So will we see him running again next Friday? It's gonna take a lot of marathons to pay off that half billion tax payers poured into Marlins Park.

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Tags:

Dave Samson, Miami Marlins

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$3 BILLION stolen

$3 BILLION diverted from the taxpayers to help one private Canadian owned company. Yep. The company that owns the Marlins is based in Nova Scotia. Creeps.

It is 2012. Imagine what taxpayers could do with $3 BILLION? Anything is better than giving it to a very rich private company.

$3 BILLION.

Oswald

next time samson does a marathon stunt,maybe he will have a surprise along the way

Oswald

Wow!!! marlins tickets for as low as 2.00 on stub hub..cant give them away.

Jerk off

David Samson gives low life lawyers a bad name. I hope he got squashed by a cement roller. I hear the Marlins are back to selling 800 tickets a game. If that.

David Arturo Satizabal

I love how the police had no answer for his simple question. "where am i supposed to ride?" first of all, you shouldn't be looking directly at the people he is escorting, the correct answer is get off your bike, and respectfully bow until they are done using the street. then go home and tell your children about the time you once came close to an aristocratic member of high society. If not, you will be arrested and charged with being peasant. the evidence is staggering against you, for you were not with your own police escort, hence clearly not of any importance.

Oswald

too bad there wasnt a sniper on the grassy knoll to greet samson...maybe next time

Needs to be indicted

This is the same creep who refused to disclose the Marlins finances while lying and saying the Marlins were broke. The Cubans running Miami-Dade County believed him and voted to make the taxpayers give him $3 BILLION. A website eventually disclosed the Marlins were incredibly profitable. The SEC is investigating.

Timelfrink

It was tourist tax dollars not Miami-Dade resident tax dollars you dip shit.

Scubasteve

I want coppers following me like that for protection, but i guess only rich bitch over here gets that. I get searched, they find weed and arrest me. Then i pay 350 to court in order to drop my charges and they use that money to finance a new field for this asshole and his ball jugglers to play in. This my friends are cuban aristocrats with a knack for corruption.

seep

the camera guy is funny

Fat Hand

Next time use that opportunity to ask about why he completely lied about the Marlins's finances when they were begging for public money, instead of "bro can I get some tickets". I like the video though.

Scubasteve

Yeah, that dude with the bike was funny but a total idiot.

Dimwit Barrerio

Bruno Barrerio made the Motion to divert over $3 BILLION from the taxpayers to the Canadian Jeffrey Loria. Douche. Vote him out.

Timelfrink

It was tourist tax dollars not Miami-Dade resident tax dollars you dip shit.

nevernot

Are you arguing tourist TAX dollars are not TAX dollars? Even if those dollars don't come directly out of the pockets of residents we are the ones left footing the bill to clean up after tourists and provide them with infrastructure to make their vacations easier. With our main tourist destinations desperately in need of municipal funds for basic maintenance and repair like the floods of south beach and decrepit downtown those dollars had a much better place to be spent that would actually benefit South Florida. Instead we have a gift given to a corporation to make it easier for them to make a quick buck with little to no risk.

$20,000 pledged

I will pay $20,000 to a charity chosen by New Times if the midget lowlife David Samson has a heart attack this month.

Stole $3 BILLION

David Samson and Jeffrey Loria stole over $3 BILLION from the taxpayers of Miami-Dade County. With the support of ex-mayor Diaz and ex-mayor Alvarez, two Cubans, they will get over $3 BILLION from the taxpayers. The taxpayers must pay principal aAND interest on the bonds sold to pay for the construction.

Chupacabra

the $3 billion would have been stolen by the dade-county commissioners anyhow, (hell look at the 100+ hybrids sitting in a lot). Everyone stop complaining, and enjoy the ballpark. I know us Broward folks are enjoying it!

nevernot

You don't have to look at that eyesore everyday reminding you how little the government and Marlins care about the citizens of Miami. If you like it so much why don't you move to the neighborhood around it and see how it really is to live with a boondoggle of a stadium built with no care about the surrounding neighborhood and no parking for two thirds of the seats.