“Nothing… shall limit the Commissioner’s authority to act on any matters that involves the integrity of, or public confidence in, the national game of Baseball.”
I can solve the steroids issue in major league baseball. Well, I can try.
It’s actually a very simple solution: Get to the root of the problem. Bud Selig. Though drugs in some form have likely been streaming through the veins of major league baseball players since the first time anyone thought they could gain an edge by ingesting something, steroids is indisputably linked to the present Commissioner, Bud Selig. Announce the remainder of the players who tested positive for illegal substances, then fire Selig. In fact, you can save a lot of time by doing it at the same press conference.
Let’s take a quick stroll down memory lane, Bud. Before there was the commissioner’s office there was collusion in the 1980s. As acting commissioner we saw ratings tank, interleague play begin, and an abysmal 1994 season which featured the first cancelled World Series in 90 years. WWII couldn’t stop the World Series, but Bud can.
Things only worsened when Selig became the official Commissioner in 1998. Viewership continued to decline, the leagues were consolidated, All-Star games lost their meaning (and gained new meaning), and numerous games became late-night television. But what we will undoubtedly remember Selig for is his blind ignorance of rampant performance enhancing drug use. No matter what Selig may claim regarding his knowledge of steroids, he is either mind-numbingly stupid or lying. I suspect both.
While Bud’s atrocities could go on and on—the latest being his lose-lose position of ruling on Manny Ramirez and the All-Star game—I’m here to solve the problem, not restate it. But no matter how you slice it, Bud has failed to uphold even the most basic articles of the Major League Constitution.
“…act in the best interests of the national game of Baseball”
So we’ve dumped Bud–who can clean up this mess?
Doris Kearns Goodwin—acclaimed author, historian, and baseball-enthusiast—that’s who. Goodwin comes with a long and impressive list of accomplishments, many which would be suited to right the MLB ship and put the ugliness of the past two decades behind us. Presented below is a small sample of her qualifications.
1. Executive Understanding. Goodwin has authored several histories and biographies, all focusing on presidential subjects. By deeply and critically examining the decisions and leadership of figures like Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Johnson, Goodwin is intimately familiar with the executive, decision-making process. Her writing has earned her numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize in 1995, and only serve to validate her ability to understand those in charge and the decisions they make.
2. Baseball knowledge. Goodwin comes with a firm understanding of baseball and its history. This was clearly demonstrated in 1997 when she authored “Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir.” Goodwin also served as a consultant and contributor to Ken Burns’ Baseball, where, through interviews, she showed both her passion for the game and her knowledge of the sport. Goodwin is a life-long fan of baseball and would bring decades of observations and intelligent thought to the post.
3. The Underdog Appreciation. Goodwin is a lifetime Brooklyn Dodger and Boston Red Sox fan, not necessarily putting her in a minority viewership, but not bringing to the position an illustrious background of supporting those who spend the most or win the most. She’s a true fan, like so many of us, and it is within this mindset that she would be able to revitalize the game with decisions that reflect the best interest of the sport. In an age where Americans are electing an African American President and more and more states are legalizing same-sex marriages, why not a competent, qualified female Commissioner of Baseball?
Selig will be the commissioner through 2012, so we have some time to continue this debate. But he has indicated that he will retire at that point and vetting suitable replacements should begin in the near future. While I do not know Doris Kearns Goodwin personally and have nothing personal to gain by her becoming Commissioner, I do believe that she would make a strong candidate and executive though her sterling credentials and the change it would represent for our national pastime. Baseball owners, when considering your vote for the next Commissioner of Major League Baseball, please consider Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Sincerely,
Steve Midway
