J.R. Tidwell, Sports, Sports Columnists
 By  J.R. Tidwell Published 
5:59 am Saturday, January 14, 2012

Selig does a good job in MLB

Selig has signed a contract extension through 2014. He has been claiming since 2006 that he would retire, but most people never believed this.

His wife Sue said he would not walk away from baseball when his contract was up this December.

She was right.

Selig took over as commissioner after Fay Vincent was canned in 1992.

29 out of the 30 MLB team owners voted to give him the extension.

Who was the one who voted no?

The AP was told by a source that wished to remain anonymous that it was San Diego Padres owner John Moores. He voted no in response to Selig’s deferment of a vote to sell the Padres to Jeff Moorad.

Selig said he deferred the vote because he needed some clarification on some financial information concerning the deal.

Apparently Moores didn’t take to kindly to this.

The other team owners basically started a movement to keep Selig.

His popularity most likely stems from the labor peace the MLB has had over the past 17 years.

There has not been a dispute since 1995, and Selig helped settle the labor arguments after the last of eight work stoppages occurred that year.

Selig helped get an agreement signed between the player’s union and owners in 2011 that guarantees no labor disputes through 2015.

This means the MLB will have had a 20-year run of labor peace under his tutelage.

In case you’re still wondering, Selig is my favorite commissioner of any major professional American sport. Roger Goodell and David Stern both just stared down strikes and major labor disputes. Stern — the worst of the bunch — saw half his 2012 season go up in smoke because he couldn’t get everyone to agree on a deal for so long.

Stern, who has been the center of several controversies during his tenure as the NBA commish, proved late last year by vetoing a trade that he can and will overstep his boundaries to try to appease the small-market teams who don’t want big and rich teams to stack up talent.

Sucks to be them. Either find a way to make more money, better the players you have or decide that losing is alright for you, NBA small-markets. Don’t hide behind Stern while begging him to keep the Lakers from getting better.

Also on Franklin County Times
Waterpark opens amid repairs, planned upgrades
Main, News, Red Bay, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 27, 2026
RED BAY — The Red Bay Waterpark has opened for the season with city officials approving fee increases and planning for upgrades following a record att...
Oliver secures his fifth term as sheriff
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Brady Petree, Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
May 27, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Incumbent Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver will remain in office for at least four more years after he overwhelmingly won re-elec...
Repairs are approved for PC Fire Engine 2
News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 27, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Councilmembers have approved up to $2,500 in repairs for a malfunctioning water tank gauge on Engine 2. Fire Chief Andy Marbutt said t...
Why every law that’s made is a moral choice
Columnists, Opinion
May 27, 2026
When the debate over vice laws, those governing drugs, gambling, or pornography, reaches the halls of our Legislature, a familiar, hollow cry rings ou...
Roxy presents ‘Murder in the Magnolias’
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
By Susie Hovater Malone Columnist 
May 27, 2026
One of the things I enjoy most about being involved with the historic Roxy Theatre is watching local people come together to create something fun for ...
TVA stays ‘in lockstep’ with energy needs
News
By Anthony Campbell For the FCT 
May 27, 2026
GUNTERSVILLE — Tennessee Valley Authority interim CEO Mike Skaggs knows that as north Alabama grows in population, so too will the demand for more ele...
Clark unseats Adcox for coroner’s post
News, Russellville
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
May 27, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Jeff Clark defeated incumbent Charles Adcox in the Republican primary for Franklin County coroner Tuesday night, winning 75.25% of the ...
Runoff for D-1 commission race is June 16
News, Russellville
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
May 27, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Residents of District 1 will have to wait a little longer to learn who their representative on the Franklin County Commission will be a...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *