Indians OF Albert Belle's appeal hearing in New York will
not be completed until today because after 5 1/2 hours of
testimony and presenting evidence, the defense had not rested its
case, according to Sheldon Ocker of the Akron BEACON JOURNAL.
Belle is appealing a five-game suspension for his role in a May
31 incident against the Brewers. Participants and/or spectators
at the hearing: MLPBA Exec Dir Don Fehr; Assistant General
Counsel Gene Orza and his assistants Mark Belanger and Tony
Bernazard; Indians Owner Dick Jacobs; GM John Hart; Manager Mike
Hargrove; and Belle's agent, Arn Tellem. Ocker writes that
attending an appeals hearing was a first for Fehr, "who usually
allows Orza to handle such assignments on his own" (Akron BEACON
JOURNAL, 6/14). MLB is not expected to hand down a ruling until
next week. Belle refused comment but did speak with filmaker
Spike Lee who was at Yankee Stadium to film a piece on Belle for
HBO's "Real Sports" (Jim Salisbury, N.Y. POST, 6/14). Akron
BEACON JOURNAL columnist Terry Pluto writes MLB should reduce the
suspension and insist Belle stick with his counseling: "If they
really want to help Belle, that is what must be done" (Akron
BEACON JOURNAL, 6/14).
