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“Commissioner Speaks-So Do I”

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred….in All Star Game interview talks about hot-button issues in baseball…and my response.

…MLB will not consider increasing pay for minor leaguers-calls it an apprenticeship.
—Minors leaguers-especially in Class A-AA are starving…Baseball is 11B-industry…Minimum salaries for each level should be raised…Players are making below the poverty level, an average of (11,400) to play six months in A-ball…..Rookie League players get (1150) a month…Low A (1300)…..High A (1500)….AA (1700)…AAA (2150) per month….Major league veterans get a minimum salary of 505,000 a year, surely not at the poverty level….It’s disgraceful.

…MLB pleased with growth of minorities in game..20% of 1st round picks drafted this year were black.
—Getting to the majors is a long-slow process in development. It’s different than NFL draft picks, who all get paydays and spots on rosters and developmental squads…African-Americans gravitated to other sports for an extended period….rebuilding the base numbers of minorities will take more time.

…MLB disappointed ‘glaring lack’ of Latin managers.
—Baseball should introduce a ‘Rooney Rule’ for interviews for every job that opens…There are no Latin’s managing in the big leagues this year….but there are a flood of Latin’s running minor league teams.

…No expansion on horizon till Stadium issues in Oakland-Tampa Bay resolved.
—There do not seem to be very many viable markets, nor stadiums that could host a franchise….What baseball should do is become the financing partner for the A’s and Rays, with bank loans to build stadium-and take back some of the early profits as a way to fix the ailing teams…The NFL G-4 Fund has accomplished alot in pro football.

…Not in favor of dropping draft pick compensation for free agents who are tendered big money contracts.
—There is going to be a fight over this with the Union-who wants compensation for tendered free agents dropped…A compromise, instead of the Tigers giving up their lst round pick for Justin Upton-instead have San Diego get a bonus pick at the end of the first round…it would allow more free agent movement.

…Does not foresee international draft or a global draft in immediate near future
—My son is a lst round draft pick pitcher-and falls under a slot system after pitching 3-years in college….but a Cuban 16-year old can get an 11M-signing bonus under the international free agent system….That’s wrong…just invoke the same pay scale for international free agents….A global draft doesn’t work because each of the federations, from Japan to Taiwan to South Korea to the Caribbean, have different rules.

…Struggling to reduce schedule from 162-to-154 games…’work less-get paid less’
—Baseball does not have to make this an economical issue….Make Monday an off day for everyone…it refreshes players…cut the schedule and travel times for teams….reduce the slate to 154 games…but increase the playoffs-wildcard to a Best of 3-play in…those games are more profitable anyway.

…Home runs at highest level since 2000-Steroid scandal..does not see it as increased PEDs or different balls.
—Everybody is doing legal supplements, and training almost year round…The only crisis baseball has is with Caribbean players, and the black market, and the lack of education that leads to illegal purchase, sometimes unknowingly….Baseball’s program seems to be exceptional.

…MLB does 22,000-drug tests a season…only 13-positive tests in majors…57-in minors.
—It does seem strange that there have been no suspensions for HGH positive tests in the 3-years since the program has been introduced.

…MLB talking to Umpires Union about making Crew Chief to explain Instant replay calls
—The commissioner has preached transparency-what better way than live-mike the crew chief to explain what they saw on replay-and why they ruled the way they did.

…Smokeless tobacco remains unresolved-it is a ‘freedom of choice’ incident-not illegal-can buy it in stores-must be negotiated
—Why does protecting a players health become a negotiating bargaining chip? The inherent dangers should be the red-flag. Buying beer is legal-but driving drunk killing someone is punishable….Getting cancer of the mouth is dangerous life threatening. Why would the union want to negotiate something that could save lives?.

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“Baseball History-Baseball Memories”

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It’s nights like tonite when you see the emotional link baseball holds on its fans…grandfathers-to-fathers…fathers-to-sons……sons-to the next generation.

What started as a 1-year experiment, became a fixture on the July baseball schedule, the All Star Game, the Mid summer night classic.

It was 1933, with the Chicago World Exposition underway, the idea was hatched, to bring all of baseball’s stars together to play. Tonight will be the 87th renewal of a game that was supposed to be played just that one summer.

Legendary Babe Ruth took care of the experiment, with a 9th inning home run, to give the American League the win. The game would become part of baseball’s calendar, and its record book too.

The following year, with 9-future Hall of Famers playing at the same time, Giants lefthander Carl Hubbell set a record never to be broken. He struck five in a row…five Hall of Famers in a row. Babe Ruth- Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin. It was 1934, never to be forgotten, nor duplicated.

In 1941, just before the onset of World War II, the record setting summers of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio were taking place. The Thumper would hit (.406) in the season before he left for the war. A mark still standing. Joe DiMaggio would set sail on his 56-game hitting streak, still intact. And in that game, Teddy Ballgame hit a 3-run homer in the 9th to win it for the AL.

In 1955, Stan-the-Man, Stan Musial, sent them all home happy with a 3-run homer in the 12th inning.

The picture from 1970 is forever emblazoned on everyone’s mind, as Pete Rose crashed into Ray Fosse at home plate, a hit likely heard round the world too.

Oh the big nights were seldom to be topped by Reggie Jackson and his 1971-moon shot home run, a mammoth blast onto the roof at old Tigers Stadium.

And no one forgets the final at-bat, the farewell tour around the bases, as Cal Ripken hit a homer in his final All Star at bat.

Of course the game is imperfect too.

In 1959, baseball decided to host two All Star games per season, taking the shine off something special. They abandoned it a couple of years later.

In 1957, Cincinnati Reds fans stuffed the ballot box, electing all 8-starters from their team to the National League starting lineup, till baseball stepped in.

The horrors of 2002, saw the game stopped after 11-innings, in a 1-1- tie, when the two teams ran out of pitching, with Commissioner Bud Selig ruling the game cannot go on.

In 2003, the much controversial decision was made that the home field advantage would go to the league that won the All Star Game, a decision still triggering passionate debate.

In 2014, baseball somehow forgot to salute Tony Gwynn, who had passed on, while mentioning so many others who had left baseball that year.

There have been bad injuries in the game too. Ted Williams fractured his elbow, badly hurting the Red Sox in 1950. Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew tore a hamstring making a play at 1st base in the 1960s. And Dizzy Dean, in the wayback decade of the 1930s, fractured a toe on a line drive hit up the middle. He would never be the same again.

And there were times to remember also. In 1999, baseball honored the wheel chair bound Ted Williams at Fenway Park. The snapshot of Tony Gwynn wheeling Teddy Ballgame out to the mound. a forever snapshot.

1993 brought us Randy Johnson and his 101-mile an hour fastball, and John Kruk bailing out of the batter’s box, not wanting to face him, and then Larry Walker turning around and batting right-handed against the Big Unit.

What happens tonite is so special, because the history of baseball, its record book, the shrine that is Cooperstown, the players and the nicknames, mean oh so much to the game. Like I said, grandfather to father, father to son, this generation to next generation.

For this special night, there is so much to remember about the ‘Grand Old Game’.

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Highlight of the Season-It’s Downhill from Here on Out

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Petco Park, our crown jewel in sports, will be on display tonight, as the All Star festivities move into high gear.

Home Run Derby will be front and center under the lights for the rest of the nation to see.

See the beauty of America’s Finest City. See the dynamics of the destination point that Petco Park has become. See the videos of the sunset at Coronado, the surf at Delmar, the history of Balboa Park. The energy of the Gaslamp Quarter.

America will come away impressed by the picture perfect postcard shots of the city, the region, our stadium.

Of course they don’t have to watch San Diego Padres baseball year round, so they will miss the history lesson on fire sales of the past, what might happen in the next two weeks, or the hope we might have that all these international players the team has just signed, or the ones they drafted, will arrive by 2019 and wash away all the bad baseball we have seen recently.

For at least 48-hours, let’s forget about the rogue GM, the rookie manager, the bad contracts, and is some cases bad attitudes this team has had on its roster. Do think about the myriad of arm injuries and surgeries. either. Don’t worry about impending free agency, or luxury tax payments, or draft pick penalties either.

From now till Wednesday focus on the history of the All Star festivities, the energy in the year, the fun times across the street at Fan Fest at the Convention Center.

We long for a pennant race, we want post season games in October, and we’d sure like to hear the words “Fall Classic” sometime in the future.

But for today and tomorrow enjoy baseball’s other favorite axiom….”Mid Summer Nights Classic”….which is what the All Star game is all about.

Think kindly of owners Ron Fowler and Peter Seidler, and even President Mike Dee, who convinced baseball to put the All Star Game here. San Diego had it coming because they built Petco Park, and this is part of the reward.

Reward yourself, and set aside the past, and even this first half of the season, and enjoy tonight and then again tomorrow. Color,pageantry, respect of history. The All Star Game is really special, and it’s in our city, in our stadium.

Enjoy.

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“Remembering Buddy Ryan”

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Buddy Ryan was bombast and beligerrant…blunt and and brutish…..beloved and despised.

If Paul Brown revolutionalized how you ran a football team, then Bill Walsh was the Godfather of forever changing offenses, we must believe Buddy Ryan was greatest defensive mind ever, with apologies to Don Coryell and Bill Belicheck.

Wherever he went, there was impact. There was talent, there was carnage. It usually ended badly for him, but he left behind a legacy of lovers and haters..

The NFL brethern remember him, his style, his philosophy, his phrases.

Buddy Ryan….Legendary Chicago Bears defensive coordinator…Eagles-Arizona head coach….Passes Away (82)-Alzheimer’s and old age….Designed the powerful “46” defense for the Bears 1985 Super Bowl team…had NFL record 72-quarterback sacks…..Personality was ‘Bravado-Bombast’……Had angry arguments with Coach Mike Ditka despite (15-1) record during Super Bowl season..Punched Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride on sideline while they were assistants on Houston Oilers staff…..Mouthy during his entire career….”You got a winner here” when he took over Arizona Cardinals…..”They don’t count anymore” referencing injured players on his Arizona roster….”You guy are my heroes” in letter written to Bears defense in ’85…..”Get ready for Body Bag Game”-preparing for win over Washington…..”Attack-Attack-Attack”….written on blackboard heading into Super Bowl in over Patriots.

Buddy Ryan….Reaction from others around the NFL
Mike Ditka..We would never have won in ’85-without each other.
Mike Singletary…I would have been just another guy without him.
Wade Phillips…Greatest influence on my career.
Deion Sanders…He was hard work and tenacity.
Steve McMichael..Somebody in heaven just lost thier defensive coordinators job.
Bears ownership..Architect of greatest defense in history NFL
Eagles ownership..Left his mark on NFL
Cardinals ownership…Most colorful person in NFL
Bills ownership…Legend-Innovator-Game Changer
Patriots ownership….Ahead of his time.

Buddy Ryan…Most Famous Quotes
You Got a Winner here.
It’s Us-Against-Them
Machine Gun the lifeboats
I’ll trade you for a 6-Pack of Beer-don’t even care if it’s warm
You look like a backup USFL guard
You’re a fat old washer woman
You’re name General Hospital-always hurt
I’ll trade my team for your team-sight unseen
The owner-the man in France
Our offense couldn’t piss a drop
Injured players don’t count anymore to me.

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“Street People-In Society-In NFL”

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They once had families. They once had jobs. They once had fame. Now they have nothing.

They’re everywhere across America, in every city, “street people”, homeless for a wide variety of reasons.

Substance abuse, loss of income and family, and mentally ill. Everywhere, including the NFL, with names you’d recognize.

In South Carolina, William “The Refrigerator” Perry, the massive star defensive tackle of the 1980s Chicago Bears, wakes up this morning in a senior care facility.

He has given up on life, taken everything he can out of it. He is broke, he is ill, he has left his family, he is almost a ward of the state. He weighs 430-pounds, has diabetes, heart issues, obesity, and doesn’t really care any longer.

In Los Angeles, Titus Young, a former star receiver at Boise State, and then with the Detroit Lions, has been in and out of psychiatric centers for treatment of Bipolar disorder, brought on by concussions. He’s been arrested seven different times, sentenced to jail time, and transferred back and forth to facilities in Southern California. Without medication and direction, he is a lose and troubled soul.

In Florida, last week’s arrest of former Raiders-Broncos-Chiefs tight end Richard Gordon was alarming. Police got to him before he got to a strip bar, where his intent was to take his AR-15 assault weapon and 2-magazine loads of armaments into a strip bar to retaliate for a fight he had been involved in the night before. He was to be arrested for a 4th incident of domestic abuse. 3-times detained by the Baker Act, he was released back on the streets three times.

Davonne Bess, ex-Hawaii star receiver, a former Dolphin and Lion, arrested again, borderline psychotic and schizophrenic after continued incidents. The latest, flashing a knife at a police officer, making out as if he was about to pull a gun, barricading himself in his car and his home, before SWAT teams went in and got him.

Stanley Wilson, ex-Lions DB, and the son of former drug troubled Bengals running back Stanley Wilson. The son shot late last week, breaking into a house in Portland,while totally naked. Now reports, he tried to enter four different houses at all hours of the day, mumbling to himself and to occupants.

Lawrence Phillips, now buried in a pauper’s cemetery, his life snuffed out when he hung himself in a prison cell, while facing the death penalty for killing a cellmate last year. Philips, with a history of mental issues and domestic abuse cases, was in prison for 31-years on felony assault charges. Solitary could not keep him from ending his life.

Johnny Manziel, in a lifetime downward spiral cluster of incidents. Drugs, alcohol binges, auto accident, house vandalism and domestic abuse, with his father going public this week saying he was giving up trying to save his troubled son.

There are no answers to the mentally ill. They’re on the streets everywhere. Drive down Imperial Avenue, just beyond Petco Park. While the Padres players are parking their SUVs, Mercedes and Cadillac’s in the garage, the homeless and the ill are parking their shopping cars waiting to be fed at a soup kitchen. They wander the streets all hours day and night, not knowing where they are, and sometimes who they are.

The NFL list of those in trouble is no different than the who’s-who, who is on the street in Anytown, USA. Except we know the former players, because they performed for us on any given Sunday in our stadiums and on our televisions.

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