MLB: In Philadelphia, Bill Conlin notes the
centralization of power under the commissioner's office
taken by Bud Selig and its possible impact in new CBA
negotiations: "If the umps were Poland to Bud Central's
power play, the nervous MLBPA can consider itself France and
the Low Countries. You know the men consolidated behind
their suddenly all-powerful commissioner will go for [MLBPA
Exec Dir] Don Fehr's jugular in 2001" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS,
9/22). SI's "Scorecard" reports that in eliminating the AL
and NL presidents after the '99 season, Selig "made the
right move. ... Owners have spent a decade emasculating the
leagues through interleague play, realignment, rotisserie-
style player movement and expansion" (SI, 9/27 issue).
TENNIS: Serena Williams was fined $16,900 by the WTA
Tour after withdrawing from the Seat Open in Luxembourg,
Germany. Williams said that she was "exhausted" (AP, 9/21).
Seat Open organizers called Williams' decision
"incomprehensible" and said that it showed a "lack of
respect" for fans. Int'l Women's Tennis Promotion Luxembourg
Chair Charles Koster: "Such behavior will cause great damage
to the international women's tennis" (AP, 9/21).
