Selig extended through 2012

January 17, 2008 by Joe Pawlikowski 17 Comments

Why the man continues to be rewarded I’ll never understand. But the owners have spoken, and they’ve decided to extend Bud Selig’s reign as commissioner through 2012. I remember back in the early 90s when he became acting commissioner, my father said that the owners loved him because he was so easily manipulated.

George Steinbrenner weighed in on the success of Bud Selig:

“In my 35 years in the game, baseball has never had better leadership than it does right now,” Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner said. “Bud’s ability to bring people together has steered the game to remarkable popularity and prosperity, and I am very pleased that he will carry on as commissioner for the next five years.”

I wonder what his son has to say about it. Kat O’Brien, where art thou?

Glen L

He continues to be rewarded because baseball took in over $6 billion last year and the owners are making tons and tons of money
Steve S

When they look back after the next work stoppage they will realize what damage this guy did to this game. He has been a horrible horrible commissioner and to give him credit for the economics of the game is like giving the President credit when things are going well on Wall Street.
- Glen L
  
  never said it was right or fair to rewards Selig for the money pouring in, only said that’s very likely the reason (fair or not) that he was rewarded
  - Steve S
    
    Wasnt responding to you Glen, just speaking in general
stylez

great point steve! Well said.
Kevin23

Obviously there is a disconnect between public perspective and owner priorities.

I just hope for baseball’s sake that the money keeps rolling in.
Lanny

I think Hank is giving the lovin to Miss O’Brien.
http://nyyu.blogspot.com Mike

$6 billion! Don’t you feel sorry for those “small market” teams that can’t afford players?
http://www.mvn.com/mlb-rays Eric SanInocencio

I know the reasons he was kept, and they are all valid points that Selig should recieve praise for. In the article, it mentions that baseball revenues were at 1.66 billion when he took over, a figure he has bested by 600 percent. Major League Baseball raked in over six billion dollars last season, while posting record attendance numbers along the way. Even as the sport was clouded in a tainted run at its most hallowed record, fans continued their pilgrimages to stadiums all over the country.

My problem had to do more with integrity, and allowing an illegal culture to flourish because the money made was more important. Sadly, just as in other facets of corporate life, the bottom line won out over the character and respect of the game.
- Realist
  
  I agree 100 percent with everything you said! Well done :-)
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
  
  No reason to be shy about self-promotion, Eric, especially when you have a good deal to say about a matter:
  
  http://mvn.com/mlb-rays/2007/1.....g-must-go/
  
  Good stuff.
- Steve S
  
  The steroids are a problem and his sanctimonious attitude about this whole thing is annoying. My problem is that when he took over he faced the labor problem and the strike occurred because of the inherent distrust of the owners and players. Regardless of the steroid problem, which stems from the problem between the owners and players, Selig had a chance to bring the two sides together in a way that no one else ever could. As an owner, and thats what he is, he could have come to the players and demonstrated that he would be a breath of fresh air and demonstrate a good will between the two sides. He has never done that. He complained about the economics of baseball, but wouldnt open the books. He used the steroid controversey and 911 as a way to gain leverage in labor negotiations. In 2002 he created a collective bargaining agreement that was mean merely to crub the spending of one team out of the 30. He tried to cut 50 jobs. And now he launched a witch hunt against the players on an issue that he was complicit in. If I were Donald Fehr I would hire my own Senator to do an investigation. All Im saying is that all of this is going to lead to another work stoppage because the MLBPA is going to get annoyed by all this eventually and make the owners pay for this. And the person that is responsible will be Bud Selig, who can have truly guided the sport into a golden age.
mustang

I agree with Eric S. I think Selig has done a good job. From inter-league to the wild card he made baseball much more interesting to watch. His only black eye is steroids and the low market teams problem. However, we have had labor peace for the most part and more teams in the race to be champs. He should be reward!!!
Rich

I wonder if the owners’ perception of Selig would change if the MLBPA got rid of Fehr and Orza and he had to confront fresh voices. It might help expose him as being the unctuous, duplicitous snake oil salesman that he really is.
Lanny

It just proves no owner gives a rats butt about steroids or PED’s.
http://www.yardbarker.com/users/Gonzoball Gonzoball

By the time Bud Selig retires, he will likely have earned more as Commissioner than the Milwaukee Brewers’ payroll during the same period.

That says it all about Bud Selig. Punish the owners who invest in their teams to benefit the billionaire owners who won’t. And make sure Bud gets his taste.
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