MLB Commissioner Bud Selig sat for a Q&A with ESPN THE MAGAZINE's Peter Keating as part of the publication's season-preview issue, where he said MLB is not just "one of the great success stories in American sports business but in American business." Selig: "Ticket sales are up, the sport is as strong as it's ever been. Not that we don't have issues, but the state of the sport is good." The following are excerpts from the Q&A:
Q: Do you think that, overall, the fact that players have a strong union and collective bargaining rights is a plus for the sport?
Selig: We used to have a lot of work stoppages and maybe as bad a labor history as we could have. I think we've changed that. Time will tell, but I feel good about it.
Q: I think there is a focus on a few teams that seem to be hopeless. How long has it been since the Pirates had a winning season?
Selig: I don't ever think a team is hopeless. Look, other sports also have winners and losers and teams that haven't won in many years. Pittsburgh is a great baseball town. They are really committed to spending on their farm system, and I'm hopeful it will pay off.
Q: The Pirates' financials show the team paid out millions of dollars to the partners.
Selig: Now, wait a minute. They only did that once and, by the way, the union went over all of the team's numbers and had no quarrel with them. People keep talking about one or two teams that seem to have no chance, but we have more competitive balance than ever, so obviously the system is working.
Q: Are you saying that, to your knowledge, there aren't many losing teams taking money out [of their operating revenues] to make payments to partners or owners?
Selig: There are not, there are not, there are not.
Q: Let's talk about gambling. I was watching a Marlins game last year and saw a big ad for a casino on the leftfield wall.
Selig: Life has changed. I'm sensitive about this issue, but casino gambling is legal. Any gambling involving baseball, though, is a no-no.
Q: Could you see a major league team in Las Vegas?
Selig: I learned long ago never to say never. But I would have great, grave trepidation.
Q: How long will you stay in this job?
Selig: I hope Dec. 31 of next year I'll be done. Nobody believes that, starting with my wife and family and a million other people, but ... (ESPN THE MAGAZINE, 4/4 issue).
NO REGRETS: Selig also took part in a Q&A with FORTUNE's David Kaplan, and he said he does not wish that he "had disclosed MLB's $25 million loan to the Mets sooner." Selig: "I've known (owner) Fred Wilpon for 32, 33 years and have great affection for his family. I'd do it the same way again. There was precedent." When asked if reports are correct that there "won't be any more loans to the Mets," Selig said, "Fred gives me daily updates, but that matter has not been discussed." Meanwhile, Kaplan asked how much the Mets' "travails affect baseball as a whole." Selig: "There will always be difficult situations. But ticket sales overall are doing well. I'm bullish" (FORTUNE, 4/11 issue).
