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The “Don’t F** Your Bro” Selig Theory

Bud Selig still hasn’t turned in his book report yet to the A’s about a new stadium, and doesn’t seem to intend to anytime soon.  This week he said (for about the 100th time), “It’s a very complex situation…This is another situation where it’s better to get it done right than to get it done any faster.”  Is a stadium relocation in the Bay Area more complex than the investigation on the steroid era?  The Mitchell report was completed in 21 months, including the history of the use of illegal PED’s, the effectiveness of the current MLB Drug Prevention Program, recommendations regarding the usage of past illegal PED’s, future prevention practices, and the names of 89 players who used PED’s.  That was all completed in 21 months by a government worker…it’s been over 28 months since Selig’s “expert team” was assigned to the relocation committee.

Selig has been very adamant about leaving his position when his term expires after the 2012 season.  My new Selig/stadium committee/report theory: Selig does not want to  release the report while he is in office.  It’s a lose-lose situation either way for Bud if the report comes out while he is in office.  If he approves the A’s in San Jose, he will infringe on the Giants territory (an organization who’s fan base is still continuing to grow around the country), have to go through proceedings to determine a payoff from the A’s to the Giants for territory infringement, and still find the funding/additional pieces of land needed from the city of San Jose.  Governor Jerry Brown also just cut all California municipal redevelopment agencies which are needed in San Jose for the stadium and updated transportation options.

If he reports the A’s must try and build a new stadium in Oakland, he ruins the ownership of his frat bro and longtime friend, Lew Wolff.  Lew has been trying to leave Oakland since he took ownership and has spent millions and millions of dollars in stadium planning and relocation studies.  If Bud recommends a stadium in Oakland, Lew would no doubt have to sell the team and he wouldn’t be too happy with his “bro’s” recommendation.  After his continued statements of a new ballpark not working in Oakland, he has basically lost the Oakland area support and it will be very difficult for him to go back on his word and regain the Oakland fan base.  Because of the long time friendship and the #1 golden frat rule (don’t f*** your bro), Lew will not give the recommendation for a stadium in Oakland while in office.

Selig has had a relatively successful commissioner’s office tenure.  He was obviously a mess during the steroids era investigation (but it now seems PED’s and testing procedures have been successful) and the All-Star game screw-up in 2002, but for the most part has done a good job advancing the game.  He has helped implement video instant replay, an interleague schedule, the Wild Card playoff spot, and baseball seems to be the only sport right now with a solid agreement between the owners and players.  The last thing Selig wants to be remembered for is the Bay Area territory infringement mess on the increasing Giants fan base or breaking a longtime relationship with Wolff.  Presidents and Commissioners are historically remembered for the manner on how they left their office position, not necessarily what they accomplished while in office.  Selig does not want to retire from his position leaving a flood gate open for criticism on territory infringement in his last few months in office.  20 new stadiums have opened under Selig’s Commissioner’s term (Arizona, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colorado, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Arlington, St. Louis, Washington DC, Queens, Bronx, Minneapolis, and Florida next season), I don’t expect another one.

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