MLB "has reopened a search for an executive to run its
broadcasting and marketing operations, leaving the beleaguered
sport without a strategic leader two months before opening day,"
according to this morning's WALL STREET JOURNAL. Stefan Fatsis
reports sources familiar with the situation say acting MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig recently ended two years of negotiations
with Radio City Music Hall Exec VP Arlan Kantarian. A number of
baseball execs "had become exasperated by the lengthy talks which
still hadn't culminated in an agreement" by the time of last
week's L.A. meetings. Sources said owners had allowed Kantarian
to increase the scope of the position while negotiating a pay
package of more than $500,000. MLB execs had expected Kantarian
to "begin work a year ago, but he repeatedly refused to set a
start date." One senior baseball exec: "It was ludicrous.
Everybody has had it up to here." But a source close to
Kantarian said owners had failed to approve a budget he developed
for the new entity, to be called Major League Baseball Inc.
Should Selig change his mind again -- he and Kantarian are set to
meet again this week -- Fatsis writes, "It would only further
rile sponsors and licensees." Anheuser-Busch, MCI and GM are yet
to renew their contracts for '96. Grey Advertising's Jon Mandel:
"It's just yet another example of how baseball can't get out of
its own way" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/31).
