Meeting with reporters Friday, acting MLB Commissioner Bud
Selig wouldn't commit to a timetable for a return to full
negotiations with the MLBPA on a new collective bargaining
agreement, but he did say the talks would be less public. Selig:
"I've had fans tell me they're tired of hearing about it, they're
tired of reading about it. All they want to know is when it is
done." Selig added, "We'll talk as soon as the Series is over"
(Larry Whiteside, BOSTON GLOBE, 10/29). The new proposal from
the owners is "likely to be a high, hard one, right at the
players' heads," according to T.R. Sullivan of the FT. WORTH
STAR-TELEGRAM. Sullivan reports sources say the owners "are
farther apart among themselves than they've ever been, especially
on the subject of revenue sharing" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM,
10/29). In an interview with the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, Selig said he
couldn't conceive of another strike or lockout. Selig: "We
certainly are not going to lock the players out" (Jerome
Holtzman, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/29).
COMMENTARY: In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy reacts to Selig's
comment -- "Hopefully, there's been enough learned on both
sides": "Make a deal, Bud. You too, Donald Fehr. Show us that
you guys really did learn something" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/29). In
L.A., Allan Malamud writes, "I wouldn't put it past these
geniuses to stage either another strike or a lockout" (L.A.
TIMES, 10/30). A N.Y. TIMES editorial states the responsibility
for stabilization rests with the owners, not the players, and
calls for revenue-sharing (N.Y. TIMES, 10/30). Frederick Klein
writes, "If both the Braves and Indians left 'em smiling, the
sport as a whole seems far from emerging from the hole it dug
itself" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/30). In Dallas, Gerry Fraley
writes, "The winter could be as ugly as [Tom] Glavine's [Game 6]
performance was beautiful" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/30).
ONE THING BOTH SIDES AGREE ON: Both the union and owners
will lobby Congress on an amendment in the budget bill that would
limit employers from deducting employees' salaries to $1M.
Selig: "Obviously, it is a concern to all professional sports"
(Peter Gammons, BOSTON GLOBE, 10/30).
