Posts Tagged ‘Bud Selig’

For the record – this blogger feels Frank McCourt is wrong.  Bud Selig, the Commissioner of the MLB is not Un-American.  A few days ago I wrote a blog on “Baseball Ownership”  In that writing I spoke about what I thought baseball teaches us.  This last week I read in a local paper how Frank McCourt is claiming “foul” and that Bud Selig is “Un-American” because he cares about the game of baseball, its fans, players and owners.

Frank, you are way out of line and I think you need to learn some lessons from this game.  Commitment, for one, is not about you are first and the team and fans are second and third.  No, the team and fans are first.   The owner is always last.  Ownership of  anything is a sacrifice.  It’s “a tough row to hoe.”  But, that is what ownership and commitment are all about.  When I was a kid I worked for a wonderful woman by the name of Daisy Coe and she taught me that the business always comes first; everything else comes second, third and fourth.  The owner comes last.  That is what commitment means.

Every player on any team has struggled, sacrificed and done without in order to be excellent! What you probably are gonna say is the players get paid millions.  Yes, they do today, but, that wasn’t always the case.  In the early days of Baseball a lot of the players struggled.  They just wanted to play ball.  It’s that spirit and work ethic: Practice, Sacrifice, Training, Failure, Humility and Development.  These things make good players and sometimes great human beings.  Owners need to honor them, acknowledge them and share them.  The Owners are the custodians and caretakers of the game.

Ownership is not an entitlement; nor a bragging point – “Oh, I own a baseball team” and it’s not a passive kind of property.  When there is any “doing without” it’s the owner who does without so that the team and the fans can have what they need and want.  If you don’t believe this, I don’t think you should be an owner.  It’s not cut-out for everyone.

Frank and Jaime – it’s tough.  Somewhere along the line you lost the focus and the team became secondary.  Look, the team and the fans are number #1.  That’s your responsibility.  If you are out spending 100 million dollars (for personal uses) and the team is in debt millions,  then you’ve lost sight of what baseball ownership is all about.

Warren Buffet has been in the same house for 40 years.  He’s worth billions but he truly understands his priorities and knows what comes first: his business.  It comes before vacations, petty arguments, divorces, six mansions etc. etc.  I know it’s tough Frank and Jaime, but, at some point you have to learn this.  That’s the ethic.

Baseball is a game.  In this country it’s an institution.  It represents a lot of the original ideals in which this country was founded.  The Commissioner, Bud Selig, is not un-American as Frank says.  Mr. Selig is the master custodian of the game and his sole job is to protect it’s authenticity and heritage.  If dog and pony shows take over, the MLB could go the way of the carnie – dare I say more.

If Mr. Selig feels he needs to take over the LA Dodgers and the franchise I’m sure he’s thought this over.  Has this happened before in baseball history?  It’s a serious decision and I’m sure he doesn’t take it lightly.

Frank McCourt said he is willing to be transparent.  Frank, if you are willing, then be fully transparent on everything.  Don’t  say that something is “not necessary”  Be transparent!

Mr. Selig is in charge with caring for the present while staying true to the past and looking forward to the future.  The McCourts simply need to grow up.  No amount of money can hold them back from doing that.

The Value of Baseball Ownership. I was thinking. After reading what MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has done for The Los Angeles Dodgers – Thank you Mr. Commissioner.  Let’s talk about Dodgertown USA.  What if the owners of The Dodgers would be: The City of Los Angeles – one third; the fans who build this team – one third; and the team members – one third.  I know this is a bold, progressive statement, but, stop and think about it for one minute.

Ever since the O’Malleys left and Jaime and Frank McCourt took over and, now, considering the all of the terrible events that have happened, The LA Dodgers are mired in one of the darkest periods of their history.  Sadly the unspeakable and disgusting Bryan Stow incident was the last straw.  The McCourts’ behaviors, ridiculous divorce proceedings, quest for greed and a lust for more luxury homes has decimated the city’s morale, the fans and the team.

But, I digress.  More importantly, what if a small board represented each of the parties and instead of one mastermind or out of control owner controlling these teams, the actual parties who “make” these teams would have a say in their destiny.  I strongly feel this would motivate players and the fans (the new investors) in a way so that the Dodgers would be seen like that of a group enterprise.  And thusly, as the team plays/wins more, so does their value increase.  Right now The Dodgers value would be seen as low, in the rebuilding stage and so on the way to an emerging market.

The Dodgers and the Dodger Fans have been seen as a commodity.  I don’t see these great players and fans as instrument to just use.  Currently, that is what the McCourts see/use them as.  Why do you think the McCourts were slow to react on the Bryan Stow incident and felt they had enough security; not until the public outcry from fans and John and Ken on KFI 640 stepped in did we hear from the owners.  The McCourts have been checked out; their lifestyle, their divorce has left them that way.  They need to step down.  The players and the fans are human beings and have value.  It’s time for them to have a say in their future.

The Dodgers are a team of people, the fans are a team, the City is a team; there are three teams involved in the success of this endeavor called The Los Angeles Dodgers.  It is quite a paradigm shift and one, I imagine, that would be met with resistance.  After all, we are talking about many strong personalities and ego driven mentalities.

What if these parties run it, pay for it, develop it and make baseball not only fun again but an enjoyable, spiritual and an exciting event for all of us. It’s a game –  it’s a great game -   to have fun and share fellowship.  It’s an American past-time, a family affair to share, to teach kids the importance of fair play, abilities, respect and acknowledgement of skills, commitment and hard work.  Did I say kids?  It teaches us all, especially in times like these.  It’s an important part of Americana.

I was thinking: would this be a good idea for other baseball teams and other team sports?

How about this, just a thought, bring Pete Rose back into baseball right here in Los Angeles as the manager of the Dodgers.  He’s not far away, he lives in the Valley.  It’s a short drive.  What do you think LA?

It’s time to get Pete Rose back into baseball!  For several years, one of my hopes has been to be able to sit down with Pete Rose and thank him for all the great fun, thrills and spectacular excitement that has given me and the other fans in the game of baseball.  One of my fondest baseball memories of the 70′s is that of the Big Red Machine and how they ruled the National League from 1970 to 1976.  It was simply amazing to watch true real talent without steroids!

I was in Las Vegas about 18 months ago walking through the Caesars Palace Forum Shops when I spied a line of people outside a sports shop.  I got closer for a look-see and there he was:  Pete Rose signing pictures and talking with fans who sat down with him.

I know what you’re gonna say; “Well, you know, he gets a percentage of what’s being taken in on account of him being there.”  Yes he does and he should!  The Sports Shop gave me a choice of pictures and a frame and I jumped in the long line. Finally, here I was, sitting with Pete Rose and I did it.  I thanked him.  He wrote a line, “Gregg, a great fan.  Pete Rose.”  I walked away on cloud nine.  But I couldn’t stop thinking: “Wow, how great it would be to see him in baseball again.”

I strongly feel, as many others do as well, that Pete Rose should be allowed back in baseball.  The Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig needs to cut Pete some slack.  It’s been 22 years for God’s sake.  He’s paid for his sins. Actually, he’s more than paid for being in his prison without bars. Come on Bud, cut him some slack.  Pete Rose needs to be on the baseball field.

Why? Pete has just turned 70, but he still has a lot to give to the game, the players and the fans.  He needs Us and we need him.  If you haven’t noticed for the last 22 years, since Pete has been gone from baseball, the game has been stuck in its darkest years of its of history.  I strongly feel we should give him the opportunity to spark us again.  I believe the game, the fans and the players need what he has to offer.  After all, Pete is the spirit of baseball; he is the muse of the game.  Charlie Hustle has the vigor, the drive and the passion that has long been lost in the game.

Outta of my way! Here comes Charlie Hustle!

There is a lot of criticism of Rose: what he’s done blah blah blah.  Not that I’m trying to downplay that but I just feel we need to bring closure to these dark steroidal driven years of baseball.  What Pete did pales in comparison to the last 22 years of steroid record book keeping.  Let’s be real, most of those home-run stats are worthless.  Pete Rose is the genuine article.  He has never been anyone else but himself, warts and all.  What you see is what you got with Pete and unlike many of the players of the last 22 years, Pete earned everyone one of his 4,256 hits.

It was great to meet him in Las Vegas, but, it would be so much better for this fan to see him on the field, in the dugout and involved in the game again… full-time.  Come on Mr. Selig… what do you say?