azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Selig's scheming looks like All-Star conspiracy
Paola Boivin
Morning Juice
Jun. 12, 2004
Everything wrong with the way Commissioner Bud Selig runs Major League Baseball can be found in his handling of the All-Star Game.
It's not about what's best for the sport. It's about covert agreements, behind-the-scenes squeeze plays and manipulation. It's about what's best for Bud Selig.
"When I took this job in 1992 I was a very sensitive and decent person," said Selig, a part-time Valley resident. "My feelings were easily hurt. I have no more feelings left. You can't hurt me."
Good.
Then let's unveil the damning evidence.
Of Selig's past five All-Star Game appointments, four have gone to ballparks that opened after Bank One Ballpark: Seattle's Safeco Field, Milwaukee's Miller Park, Houston's Enron Field (now Minute Maid Park) and Detroit's Comerica Park. The Diamondbacks are one of just three franchises, along with Tampa Bay and Florida, that never have been awarded an All-Star Game
"Jerry and I talk to Bud all the time about this," Diamondbacks President Rich Dozer said Friday. "He says, 'I hear you. I hear you.'
"I'm not sure what it is, but I don't buy the conspiracy theory. Baseball wouldn't be that shallow."
Don't bet on it. The conspiracy theory is that Selig was privately upset that Diamondbacks Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo overextended himself financially in building a World Series contender and that he asked baseball to co-sign a sizable loan in 2000.
Selig said that's not the reason and that it's simply that "a lot of clubs want the All-Star Game."
"Arizona has made a very determined offer," Selig said. "Jerry Colangelo has been very persistent, as he generally is, and they're under consideration."
The next All-Star opening is 2006. The National League typically hosts in even years and the American League in odd, although there's no rule requiring that rotation.
The problem with the process is that Selig handpicks the site and presents it to the league's Executive Council. Why not open up the process and allow teams to present bids? Whether it would improve the selection method is irrelevant. There would be a perception that the process was improved and that's more important.
The perception is that he has a vendetta against the Diamondbacks. The perception is that he gave Atlanta the All-Star Game in 2000 instead of his announced first choice, the Florida Marlins, because he was ticked off by former Florida owner Wayne Huizenga's post-World Series fire sale.
Selig has yet to offer a convincing argument for why the Diamondbacks continue to be snubbed. The hotel argument doesn't work anymore. Summer in the Valley would allow the club to cut great deals at some of the most posh resorts during a season when there's plenty of space.
Weather? Try again.
"The most miserable nights in my life at a baseball game were Milwaukee for the 2002 All-Star Game, when it was hot and muggy and we're sweating profusely the night of the home run derby," Dozer said.
Selig said recently that "heat is not an issue." It would sure be nice to know what is.
Park service
Although Bank One Ballpark opened in 1998, four parks that opened after that have been awarded baseball's All-Star Game. Here are the past five All-Star Game appointments by Commissioner Bud Selig.
Year of game City Ballpark Opened
2005 Detroit Comerica Park 2000
2004 Houston Minute Maid Park 2000
2003 Chicago U.S. Cellular Field 1991
2002 Milwaukee Miller Park 2001
2001 Seattle Safeco Field 1999
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cheapseats/0612boivin0612.html
Paola Boivin
Morning Juice
Jun. 12, 2004
Everything wrong with the way Commissioner Bud Selig runs Major League Baseball can be found in his handling of the All-Star Game.
It's not about what's best for the sport. It's about covert agreements, behind-the-scenes squeeze plays and manipulation. It's about what's best for Bud Selig.
"When I took this job in 1992 I was a very sensitive and decent person," said Selig, a part-time Valley resident. "My feelings were easily hurt. I have no more feelings left. You can't hurt me."
Good.
Then let's unveil the damning evidence.
Of Selig's past five All-Star Game appointments, four have gone to ballparks that opened after Bank One Ballpark: Seattle's Safeco Field, Milwaukee's Miller Park, Houston's Enron Field (now Minute Maid Park) and Detroit's Comerica Park. The Diamondbacks are one of just three franchises, along with Tampa Bay and Florida, that never have been awarded an All-Star Game
"Jerry and I talk to Bud all the time about this," Diamondbacks President Rich Dozer said Friday. "He says, 'I hear you. I hear you.'
"I'm not sure what it is, but I don't buy the conspiracy theory. Baseball wouldn't be that shallow."
Don't bet on it. The conspiracy theory is that Selig was privately upset that Diamondbacks Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo overextended himself financially in building a World Series contender and that he asked baseball to co-sign a sizable loan in 2000.
Selig said that's not the reason and that it's simply that "a lot of clubs want the All-Star Game."
"Arizona has made a very determined offer," Selig said. "Jerry Colangelo has been very persistent, as he generally is, and they're under consideration."
The next All-Star opening is 2006. The National League typically hosts in even years and the American League in odd, although there's no rule requiring that rotation.
The problem with the process is that Selig handpicks the site and presents it to the league's Executive Council. Why not open up the process and allow teams to present bids? Whether it would improve the selection method is irrelevant. There would be a perception that the process was improved and that's more important.
The perception is that he has a vendetta against the Diamondbacks. The perception is that he gave Atlanta the All-Star Game in 2000 instead of his announced first choice, the Florida Marlins, because he was ticked off by former Florida owner Wayne Huizenga's post-World Series fire sale.
Selig has yet to offer a convincing argument for why the Diamondbacks continue to be snubbed. The hotel argument doesn't work anymore. Summer in the Valley would allow the club to cut great deals at some of the most posh resorts during a season when there's plenty of space.
Weather? Try again.
"The most miserable nights in my life at a baseball game were Milwaukee for the 2002 All-Star Game, when it was hot and muggy and we're sweating profusely the night of the home run derby," Dozer said.
Selig said recently that "heat is not an issue." It would sure be nice to know what is.
Park service
Although Bank One Ballpark opened in 1998, four parks that opened after that have been awarded baseball's All-Star Game. Here are the past five All-Star Game appointments by Commissioner Bud Selig.
Year of game City Ballpark Opened
2005 Detroit Comerica Park 2000
2004 Houston Minute Maid Park 2000
2003 Chicago U.S. Cellular Field 1991
2002 Milwaukee Miller Park 2001
2001 Seattle Safeco Field 1999
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cheapseats/0612boivin0612.html
