Seems like just yesterday we were mocking Hicks as The Man Who Gave A-Rod $252 Million. Well, now Hicks is selling the Rangers, and some other rich guy is going to buy himself a gold mine.

That is, if the rich guy is smart.

Smart the way Arte Moreno is with the Angels. Smart the way John Henry's ownership group is with the Red Sox. Smart in a way that could transform the Rangers from a sleeping giant into one of the game's most dynamic franchises.

Moreno energized the Angels on and off the field, making a bold move to take over Los Angeles. Henry's group led the Red Sox to their first two World Series titles since 1918, making the team even more of a phenomenon in New England and beyond.

The next owner of the Rangers will have every opportunity to capture the imagination of North Texas — yes, even as the NFL's Dallas Cowboys open their new stadium within sight of the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Rising fan interest. The Rangers' average home attendance has increased from 24,320 last season to 27,589 this season, the second- largest percentage jump in the majors. Television ratings on Fox Sports Southwest are up 56 percent, according to Major League Baseball — the largest percentage of any team locally.

An attractive ballpark. Rangers Ballpark opened in 1994. Early plans for the surrounding area failed to materialize, but the arrival of the Cowboys could spur new development. The Rangers will generate additional parking revenues when the Cowboys are home and major events such as the Super Bowl take place at Cowboys Stadium. Further cross- promotion also is possible.

The Rangers averaged 2.86 million in home attendance from 1996 to 2001, a period that included their only three post-season appearances in a span of four years. They play in the fifth-largest television market in the country. And now, finally, they are built to succeed.

The next owner needs to leverage every advantage, from Ryan's expertise to the team's vast marketing potential. All those possibilities that Hicks envisioned when he signed A-Rod during the 2000-01 off-season — well, they suddenly are within reach.

Hate to jinx the Rangers, whose history is rather tortured. But it will be difficult for the next rich guy who buys the team to screw this up.

Wish I had the money myself.