BUD BOWLING 'EM OVER: After MLB owners yesterday voted
unanimously to give Commissioner Bud Selig "unprecedented
power" regarding revenue-sharing and the ability to fine
teams up to $2M, Selig told the AP's Ronald Blum, "The
developments of the last two days in any historical context
are staggering -- inconceivable 10 or 12 years ago" (AP,
1/21). Pirates Owner Kevin McClatchy, on the owners' move:
"We do think we will be successful in changing the landscape
of [MLB]. ... This is a positive step" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-
REVIEW, 1/21). USA TODAY's Hal Bodley, noting Selig also
will oversee Internet rights and revenue for MLB teams,
writes that "industry experts" said that the Internet "will
produce hundreds of millions [of dollars] within five
years." Selig: "Obviously, the world's changing" (USA
TODAY, 1/21). In other news, baseballs used during the 2000
season "will carry" Selig's signature. Balls previously had
the signatures of the NL and AL Presidents, but those
positions have been eliminated (USA TODAY, 1/21).
CAROLINA ON ITS MIND: In Charlotte, Ron Green Jr. cites
sources as saying that Pinehurst (NC) No. 2 "has been
awarded" the 2005 U.S. Open. An official announcement is
"expected" on Saturday (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/21)....In
Milwaukee, Gary D'Amato reported that Whistling Straits (WI)
will host the 2004 PGA Championship. The event is "expected
to draw as many as" 175,000 fans (JOURNAL SENTINEL,
1/20)....GOLF WORLD's Geoff Russell writes that the "latest
rumor within LPGA circles" is that the fourth major
tournament that would replace the du Maurier Classic is
actually "no tournament at all." LPGA Tour Commissioner Ty
Votaw "hinted" last week that the LPGA "hierarchy now favors
going ahead with only three majors" (GOLF WORLD, 1/21).
NOTES: Former MLBUA General Counsel Richie Phillips and
the Major League Umpires Association "lost again" today when
the NLRB said that there "were no grounds to overturn the
election that kicked them out" in November (AP, 1/21)....The
NFL "will pick up the tab" for 125 Super Bowl rings, valued
at $5,000 each (Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY, 1/21).
