MLB Owners will vote on the proposed sale of the
Dodgers to Rupert Murodch's News Corp. Group at the
conclusion of their meetings Thursday in St. Petersburg. In
Milwaukee, Tom Haudricourt reported that acting MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig "has worked behind the scenes to get
the sale approved." Selig "confirmed that the proposed sale
would come to a vote, but declined comment on what he
expects to happen." A ranking baseball exec: "I think it's
going to be approved, but it could be close" (JOURNAL-
SENTINEL, 3/14). The AP's Ronald Blum reported that even
though "several" NL teams, including the Braves, Padres,
Giants and Cubs, "are expected to vote against the sale," it
appears it "will be approved" (AP/DETROIT NEWS, 3/15).
REAX: In L.A., Ross Newhan wrote that with News Corp.
on the MLB "horizon," the other "media giants -- Disney
(Angels), Chicago Tribune (Cubs) and Time-Warner [Braves] --
have generally been more circumspect and responsible in
their payroll approach than those clubs run by an
individual" (L.A. TIMES, 3/15). In San Diego, an editorial
addressed Murdoch's bid for the Dodgers: "The Padres and a
few other teams have spoken out about the dangers of selling
to Murdoch, though how they will vote, knowing Murdoch has
the power to retaliate against them if the sale goes
through, is unclear. For the good of baseball, the owners -
- not five of them, all of them -- should turn him down"
(UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/15). In Atlanta, Terence Moore wrote
under the header, "Baseball Needs a Murdoch" (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 3/15).
