The dual plights of Albert Belle and Reds Owner Marge Schott
were the focus of the "Off The Field" segment on "Fox Saturday
Baseball," as well as numerous weekend commentators. Fox's Chip
Caray reported, following her suspension in '93, Schott signed an
agreement that empowered MLB to take further action "should she
violate its terms of conduct" (Fox, 6/8). CNN's Tim Kurkjian
believes Schott will relinquish control of the Reds for four to
five years. Kurkjian: "It will keep her out of the limelight
and basically keep her from saying anything really stupid which
is what baseball is really after" ("Baseball 96," 6/8). ESPN's
Peter Gammons believes Schott "will not try to fight"
relinquishing control ("Baseball Tonight," 6/9). Mike Lupica:
"This thing that her first amendment rights are being abridged
here, that's a bunch of hooey. She is a member of an exclusive
country club. She is a member of an exclusive partnership and
guess what, they do have the right to tell her that she's gone"
("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 6/9). Tulane Law's Gary Roberts also
claims the case is not a free-speech issue. Roberts: "The
Constitution prohibits the Government from passing laws
infringing on a citizen's right of free speech, but this is not
the Government" (L.A. TIMES, 6/9). Fox's Steve Lyons: "It's not
illegal in this country to be ignorant." Fox's Dave Winfield:
"It may be America, but this is not democracy in this particular
case. This is a private club" ("Fox Saturday Baseball," 6/8).
TROUBLE-SCHOTTERS: In Dallas, Cathy Harasta writes the
Schott "ultimatum should have come from a commissioner, not from
group that could be perceived as a clique devoted to its own
power base" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/9)....In Baltimore, Buster
Olney writes that acting Commissioner Bud Selig has "conflicts of
interest all over the place" and that Schott could "question
Selig about his operation of the Brewers, who also have
floundered" (Baltimore SUN, 6/9).... ESPN's Mitch Albom, on why
it has taken so long for MLB owners to take action against
Schott: "It's because the other owners always see a little bit
of themselves in any owner's situation" ("SportsReporters," ESPN,
6/9).
