Saturday, December 15, 2007

Bud Selig must go
Why are so few people saying what is so obvious?

Bud Selig was an owner of the Milwaukee Brewers. Somehow, in 1992, he became acting commissioner. Then, somehow, he became just commissioner.

And, just for the heck of it, let's run down his accomplishments since taking over.

- In 1994, he presided over a strike which wiped out a World Series, for the first time since 1904

- In fairness, let's discuss all the positives that the strike accomplished ...

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-In 1998, baseball brought back the fans with a steroid-induced home run chase of Roger Maris. Of course, Selig could have pressed the issue when Mark McGwire was found to be using andro, but he looked the other way.

- Remember that All Star game in 2002? That was fun, right?

- Barry Bonds, BALCO, a weak testing policy, on and on.

- That congressional hearing was sure humiliating for the sport.

- Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's all-time home run record by cheating. Bud Selig is there and does nothing. Kind of symbolic.

- Now, the Mitchell Report. Hate to break it to Bud, but the time to act was 15 years ago. Yes, that's no reason to not be aggressive now. But here's the problem:

If Selig was aware baseball had a steroid problem and didn't act because he saw how much "chicks dig the long ball," then he's practically an accessory to a crime.

If he wasn't aware, then he was an out of touch fool who played the part of Nero -- playing his fiddle while the sport burned.

Is this the man to lead baseball?

Baseball needs a Landis. A John Wayne. A Sheriff Bart.

Baseball needs law and order. Selig hasn't brought that to the sport in the 15 years he's been on the job. What would make anyone think he can bring it now?

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1 Comments:

At 11:36 AM , Blogger Vince said...

Selig became commissioner because MLB owners decided they didn't want someone acting in the best interests of the game -- they wanted someone acting in THEIR best interests.
And for a while, it seemed like it would work. The Wild Card created excitement in pennant races, attendance boomed, it seemed like everyone was building new stadiums (stadii?).
Now, the house of cards is starting to fall in, but I doubt that anything will change.
I think Bill Terry put it best 90 years ago: Baseball must be a great game to survive the idiots that run it.

 

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