Saturday, April 03, 2004
A $20 Million Misdeed Still Fuels the Feud
Selena Roberts of The New York Times suggests that the MLBPA's reluctance to consent to broader drug testing may have its roots in the players' deep-seated mistrust of the owners as a consequence of the owners' 1985-87 collusion. Roberts quotes former Commissioner Fay Vincent:
"There is no question that collusion was the turning point of the relationship between owners and the players. It colors everything that is going on."
Roberts also takes aim at Bud Selig, noting not only his conflict of interest but his direct, personal involvement in collusion:
"Should players trust this man? Selig is the same shadow owner of the Milwaukee Brewers who continually appears to abuse his power. Who knew how Selig's attempt to eliminate the Twins would have freed the Midwest market for Milwaukee? Who would have thought that Selig's push for revenue sharing would pad a certain small-market team?
"If he won't step aside, Selig might be taken seriously if he would act 'in the best interest of baseball' and admit to his role in the collusion of the 80's.
In fact, arbitrator George Nicolau identified Selig as one of the active conspirators to reduce salaries in 1986-87, the second year of collusion. Selig, Jerry Reinsdorf and AL president Bobby Brown were found to have called Bill Giles of the Phillies to pressure him not to sign free agent Lance Parrish. Parrish wound up signing with the Phillies, but not until spring training had begun, and for less money than the Tigers had offered him.
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Selena Roberts of The New York Times suggests that the MLBPA's reluctance to consent to broader drug testing may have its roots in the players' deep-seated mistrust of the owners as a consequence of the owners' 1985-87 collusion. Roberts quotes former Commissioner Fay Vincent:
"There is no question that collusion was the turning point of the relationship between owners and the players. It colors everything that is going on."
Roberts also takes aim at Bud Selig, noting not only his conflict of interest but his direct, personal involvement in collusion:
"Should players trust this man? Selig is the same shadow owner of the Milwaukee Brewers who continually appears to abuse his power. Who knew how Selig's attempt to eliminate the Twins would have freed the Midwest market for Milwaukee? Who would have thought that Selig's push for revenue sharing would pad a certain small-market team?
"If he won't step aside, Selig might be taken seriously if he would act 'in the best interest of baseball' and admit to his role in the collusion of the 80's.
In fact, arbitrator George Nicolau identified Selig as one of the active conspirators to reduce salaries in 1986-87, the second year of collusion. Selig, Jerry Reinsdorf and AL president Bobby Brown were found to have called Bill Giles of the Phillies to pressure him not to sign free agent Lance Parrish. Parrish wound up signing with the Phillies, but not until spring training had begun, and for less money than the Tigers had offered him.
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