Anaheim Sports President Tony Tavares, "long upset
about voting rules that require three-fourths approval on
many important baseball issues, blasted that situation
Thursday, saying it was time to provide a new commissioner
with real power," according to Ross Newhan of the L.A.
TIMES. Tavares made his comments at the Sport Summit in New
York: "Anyone worth his salt is going to insist on systemic
change in league rules. If he doesn't, he will be a
powerless commissioner. (As it is), if I find three other
morons in my league, if it's a good idea for the league or
if it's not, I can block something. We've reached the level
of absurdity in baseball. The rules are absolutely absurd."
Later, in a phone interview, Tavares said his remarks were
not intended toward Acting Commissioner Bud Selig: "We have
a vacuum in leadership. I'm not saying Bud couldn't be the
commissioner, but I am saying that whoever the new
commissioner is, there has to be changes." Selig, when told
of Tavares' remarks, said, "I certainly understand Tony's
frustrations on many matters" (L.A. TIMES, 1/16).
PHOENIX NOTES: USA TODAY's Hal Bodley reports that MLB
"has commissioned an investment banking firm to study the
economic impact of a shortened regular-season schedule" (USA
TODAY, 1/16)....MLB sources "expect" the Ownership Committee
to recommend approval of the Dodgers sale to News Corp. and
also expect full ownership support. One "high-ranking" MLB
exec: "If you let Disney in and Ted Turner in and the
Tribune Co. in, how do you say no to Rupert Murdoch? He's
the biggest single investor in baseball [through his TV
deals]" (Ross Newhan, L.A. TIMES, 1/15).
