28
2009
What Came First Bud Selig Or The Egg?
An article by 
Canseco said what? What's steroids?
Sources have told Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune that commissioner Bud Selig plans to step down after the 2012 season, when his contract is up.
The good news is that we’ll be rid of him in three years.
The bad news is we still have to endure him for another three years. Hopefully he won’t foul up the game more than he has already in his Napoleonic reign.
Selig was first named as acting commissioner immediately following the resignation of Fay Vincent. George Steinbrenner and several other owners were led by Selig in a plot to overthrow Vincent who Selig believed was guilty of biting the hand that fed him. Vincent, had quickly become known for always acting independently and in the best interest of the game. He had zero tolerance for gambling, ethics violations, criminal activity and cheating. Selig was enraged at Vincent for ruling without bias, rather than siding with the owners who paid his salary. Following an 18-9 no-confidence vote that Selig held in the dark of night, Vincent resigned in disgust. The Selig era had begun.
Baseball as we knew it then, will never be the same again.
You almost got the feeling right away that Selig cared very little about tradition and keeping the game pure, clean and honest. One of the first things he did as commissioner was to reinstate George Steinbrenner who had been banned for life by Vincent. The Yankees owner hired one of his henchmen, a small time mafia hood name Howard Spira, to follow one of his own players in an attempt to dig up some dirt, and then blackmail him in an attempt to avoid paying him his remaining salary ($300K) which was going to a children’s charity. That player was Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.
Selig and Steinbrenner have had a close relationship ever since and Selig has turned a blind eye on many other ethical issues where the Yankees were concerned.
You kind of expected that Selig was nothing more than a shill for the owners right from the start, after all he was one of them, and was even found to be one of the key conspirators in the landmark 1987 collusion case where owners led by Bud Selig and Jerry Reinsdorf attempted to rig the free agent system. A judge ruled that the owners had to pay the players $280 million dollars in damages. The relationship and trust between the players and the owners would be damaged forever. Fay Vincent released a statement soon after the 1990 settlement.
The single biggest reality you guys have to face up to is collusion. You stole $280 million from the players, and the players are unified to a man around that issue, because you got caught and many of you are still involved.
In an attempt to recoup the $280 million dollars that was lost to the players, Selig’s first act as commissioner was to expand the league which led to a great dilution of talent and quality that still exists today. He also broke up the two leagues into smaller divisions while adding a third, and of course he ushered in the Wild Card format. Regardless of whether you liked or disliked any of those moves, we can all agree it was motivated solely by greed and not by a purist’s love of the game.
Selig was also responsible for canceling the World Series in 1994, and it became quite evident that MLB owners finally had themselves a commissioner that they have always longed for; a commissioner who was at their beck and call. For the first time in nearly 100 years, there would be no World Series. The impetus for the cancellation was the players strike. Selig saw it as an opportunity and a chance to punish the players for beating him in the collusion case, so he sided with the owners and killed the Fall Classic. Best interest of baseball or sweet revenge? You decide.
Forgive me father for I have sinned.
I can go on and on listing the many grievances I have with Bud Selig, who even fouled up something as pure and simple as the All Star game. The most embarrassing moment in All Star game history occurred on his watch in 2002, when the game was played in his own home park in Milwaukee that he himself helped construct. Because he allowed managers to play as many players as they could during regulation so as to give them all a chance to play, the game ended in a tie when both squads ran out of players. He stood up and waved for the umpires and told them to end the game in the 11th inning tied at 7-7. A tie in baseball? On that day there was plenty of crying in baseball.
Should I mention his ridiculous rule that grants World Series home-field advantage to the winner of the Mid Summer Classic?
Or how he turned a blind eye to rampant steroids use because players like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were bringing in millions of dollars a day in marketing revenue?
He put on a hell of show in 2005 when he appeared before congress and pleaded ignorance, but only an idiot would have believed that sob story. That debacle culminated with the now infamous Mitchell Report and allegations that more than half of baseball players were cheating.
If it’s one thing Selig is not, it’s ignorant.
He is in fact a mad genius, a brilliant manipulator, and a master of the macabre. He has his fingers in every pot, and knows exactly what is going on in every facet of the game both on the field and in every front office.
USA Today once called him an agent of change, and they were certainly right about that, but change at what cost?
I’m sure that many of you will disagree with me or have a diferent opinion or perception of Bud Selig. This is mine.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals | 26 | 18 | .591 | - |
| Braves | 26 | 20 | .565 | 1.0 |
| Mets | 24 | 21 | .533 | 2.5 |
| Marlins | 24 | 21 | .533 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 23 | 23 | .500 | 4.0 |
Last updated: 05/25/2012
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Wow that’s a pretty scathing review. I didnt even know about that Steinbrenner story and never even heard of it before. How did baseball players union feel about that? Now I know why both sides hate each other so much. No wonder Donald Fehr dont trust the owners, that’s some pretty heavy shit.
Right on the money Joe, I never was a fan of Selig and i remember the Steinbrenner/Howie Spira debacle very well.
I just hope it isn’t a case of “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”
I’m glad somebody else besides me will be glad to see this bum go. I never liked him. He talks like he’s drunk all the time and I can never understand a word he says. I hate the All Star which was once one of the highlights of the season for me when I was a kid. I miss those days when the starters played the entire game and there was a lot of pride. Players dont care now, its all about their bonus money. And the World Series thing is terrible. Why should home field advantage be based on a game that neither side cares if they win or lose? It’s all a big joke these days. I hate the homerun derby and all the crap they cram into that three day break.
I’ve never liked Selig and I’m glad to see him go. While I love the Wild Card, 3 Divisions, and Interleague Play; the World Series/All-Star stipulation is completely unnecessary. Is it so hard to just give the team with the better record the extra Home-field game, like the NBA and NHL do.
BTW, The All-Star Game that ended in a tie was 2002.
From reading your post and your last line, it sounds like you are under the mistaken impression that baseball fans actually like Bud Selig. I don’t think may of them did. I dont even care about some of the other stuff you hit him for, the steroids scandal was the worst of all. He stood by and watched records from Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron fall by the wayside, and he KNEW they were all juiced with roids. He is the worst commissioner in any of the four sports ever. He did nothing but cheer and clap and hand out awards to cheaters who defamed the greatest legends this sport ever had.
Selig is a bad egg; bad for the game. Why labor over him? Can do but nothing about him, my people. Nothing. Move on.
He is a blight on good men’s souls. When he is gone I shall rejoice. I never thought I would want Bowie Kuhn back..
Hey guys off topic what was you guys most fav moment of 09? Mines was the homerun in the bottom of the 9in againest brad lidge in philly in late sept I’m like come on david I know you could do it & there goes that ball I cheered like the mets just hit the game wining homerun to win the world series.
I am not as much of a Selig hater as most. The game has seen increases in revenues and a growing brand internationally under his watch. He’s also responsible for the Wild Card which if you ask most fans was good for the game. He never injected anyone – he just failed to punish them for doing harm to their own bodies. Do I think he should have punished them? Yes. Do I think David Stern could have done more to make sure his officials weren’t corrupt? Yes. Do I think the NFL could have acted faster to help the retired players who have serious issues with memory loss? Yes. Selig is painted worse than both of the commissioners in the other sports for reasons I won’t understand.
Good riddance, this guy has been a disgrace from the start of his reign which is thankfully coming to an end.
Excellent historical review on probably the worst guy to enter baseball. Although I hate Barry Bonds with a passion, it is the Seligs of the world that not only allowed it, but made profits over it. He uses the fans, abuses the players, and makes up inane ideas like the WS/All-Star game Homefield.
Sadly, he couldn’t leave early. The damage this guy did is pretty bad. Not only that, the way he got into power just shows his character. Ancient Rome could had used a guy like him. Power, deceit, corruption, lies. Just perfect…
Once a car salesman, always a car salesman. I’m sure there are many genuinely decent human beings who sell cars, just as there are many soulless individuals who just want to make a buck and will do whatever it takes to make that buck, using any trick at their disposal without consideration for anything other than making it. Selig has always struck me as the latter. 2012 can’t come soon enough.
I can write for hours on how Selig helped ruin baseball and let the NFL become the new national past time. I remember the Howie Spira incedent, the bOSS reinstatement, how the Brewers were switched to the NL (he always wanted an NL team back in Mil. after the Braves left).
This guy is worse than Gary Bettman, at least he strives to keep balance in his league. Selig’s goal of the dollar will kill baseball. I never heard the term “small market team” until there was call for a salary cap. Thank you Bud, you have cut off the nose despite the face. That will be your legacy……..sleep well. We can just hope the next commish has a big shovel to clean up your movements…..
MATT; MOST OF WHAT U & EVERYONE ELSE POINTS OUT IS VERY,VERY TRUE; BUT WHAT SPORT OUTSIDE OF LITTLE LEAGUE & POP WARNER IS PURE SPORT? THEY ARE ALL BUSINESSES, UNFORTUNATLY TV HAS DONE MORE TO RUIN MLB. BUD, THE USED CAR SALESMAN, ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN ON HIS WATCH. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE HOMEFIELD TIE TO ASG WAS A FOX PROPOSITION AFTER THE ’02 ASG. THE MORPHING OF THE ASG INTO A 3-DAY MARATHON OF COVERAGE WAS, AGAIN A TV CREATION. FOX & ESPN BOTH WANTED TO MAXIMIZE THEIR BASEBALL REVENUE. WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO SPLIT A SINGLE GAME EVENT INTO MULTIPLE PIECES CAPABLE OF GENERATING MULTIPLE SALES. FOX GET THE ACTUAL GAME; ESPN GETS THE FRILLS SURROUNDING IT. WITH FEWER PEOPLE INTERSTED IN A “SHOW” GAME NOT MUCH MORE THAN A MUSCLED-UP SPRING TRAINING EXHIBITION ESPECIALLY AFTER INTERLEAGUE DIMINISHED THE NOVELTY OF AL V. NL. BUD, WHILE ON QUEST FOR $$$, SOLD OUT THE PRODUCT LINE AS WELL AS CONTROL OVER IT’S DESTINY.
JOE FAILS TO MENTION THE ENSUING ADVERSITY BETWEEN SELIG & STEINBRENNERS WITH INSTITUTION OF PAYROLL CONSTRAINTS IN FORM OF LUXURY “TAX” PENALTY. UNDER THE CATEGORY OF GIVING THE DEVIL HIS DUE: SOMEONE CERGTAINLY SHOULD CONSIDER UNDER SELIG’S TENURE HAS BEEN THE HIGHS & LOWS OF INTENSE MNGT/LABOR RELATIONS. THE GAME WE LOVE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE PROSPEROUS. MOST SHOCKINGLY PORTRAYED IN TOTAL PAYROLL SIZE COMPARISONS IN 2009 FL HAD THE SMALLEST TOTAL PAYROLL IN 35.5M COMPARED TO 1988′S HIGHEST PAYROLL(NYY) OF 18.9M THAT’S ONLY 21 YEARS. 1988 WAS ONLY 10 YRS BEFORE SELIG’S SELECTION AS COMMISSIONER.
[...] D from MetsMerized Online is happy Bud Selig is stepping down as commissioner in three [...]
[...] D from MetsMerized Online is happy Bud Selig is stepping down as commissioner in three [...]