On a recent conference call, "several owners ... were
discussing the possibility of approaching former President
George Bush" about becoming MLB Commissioner at a salary of
$5-6M a year, according to Jerome Holtzman of the CHICAGO
TRIBUNE. But one owner told Holtzman: "Forget it. He's 73.
That's too old. And besides, he's too busy jumping out of
airplanes." Holtzman: "I don't know about that. Seems to
me he's worth a call" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/22).
MORE SPECULATION: With departing Blue Jays President
Paul Beeston expected to be named MLB COO, possibly "as
early as the All-Star Game," many in MLB believe his hiring
"will lead to the designation of Bud Selig as commissioner
for real," according to Murray Chass of the N.Y. TIMES. But
NL owners "may not cooperate with that scenario." Chass
reports, "Some of them are flatly opposed to Selig as
commissioner. Others would have difficulty accepting him in
that role if he did not sever his ownership ties" with the
Brewers (N.Y. TIMES, 6/22). In DC, Mark Maske reported that
MLB owners were told during their meetings in Philadelphia
"to expect a resolution on the commissioner issue" between
the completion of the World Series and January 1. One NL
exec, "who's a longtime opponent to Selig serving as
commissioner," said of Selig: "I'm taking Bud at his word,
that he doesn't want the job" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/22).
ALL-STAR NEWS: The Brewers, "forced to forfeit their
position as host of the 1999 All-Star Game when the Miller
Park project was pushed back a year," could return to the
All-Star rotation "as early as 2001," according to Tom
Haudricourt of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. AL VP
Phyllis Merhige confirmed that Brewers President Bud Selig
has been granted permission "to try to swap years with one
of the AL host cities in 2001 or 2003, even though those
sites have not been announced." The White Sox, Angels,
Royals and D-Rays "have expressed strong interest" in
holding the All-Star Game in '99 (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/21).
