Worst Commissioner in sports

The thing to remember about Selig is that he was basically thrust into the role following a remarkably unstable 7-8 year period that featured the Terminator tenure of Peter Ueberroth, the sudden death of Bart Giammati and the cluster fuckage that was Fay Vincent.

He wasn't secure enough in his position to prevent the '94 strike and his handling of PEDs is a black mark, but he's grown into the job and now, after 20 years, he's gotten the game pretty stable, with steady growth and an operation that seems to have solved the problem of competitive balance that many feared would be the result of unfettered free agency. Right now, he's the best of the bunch.

 

Bettman is the worst, but Goodell is awful. Years ago when people complained about NBA players getting into trouble, Stern used to point out that football players got in as much/more trouble, but since (most) football players weren't marketed individually like NBA players were, no one cared. Stern had a point.
Well, Goodell to the "rescue". Now, when a football player gets arrested, he gives the story legs by A. Day one story of the arrest B. Day two (or longer) story of "awaiting reaction from Sheriff Goodell" C. Day whatever story of punishment. Most people think players get in more trouble today then they ever did. Most people are wrong. Goodell's idiotic sheriff routine keeps this stuff in the public eye.
Totally agree with whoever posted above about reevaluating Selig in 20 years. Very impressive run the last 10 years or so. Labor peace, making money, smooth sailing, fans are happy.
Stern stayed way too long and is too interested in short term entertainment to the detriment of long term credibility. If/when an NFL team strategically rests players, fans are OK with it, knowing the goal is a championship. NBA? Forget it, can't ruin the spectacle, even for a night. If integrity of the game is in one corner of a room, and Vince McMahon, Globetrotters, Ice Capades are in the other corner, which corner would Stern look more at home in?

 

You're slipping.

 

Big East footbal schools said to Fat, Bloated Do-Nothing Chief John Marinatto in 2011, "Yo, stugots, we need to expand the size of the football league. TeeSeeYou is nice, but we can't rest on our laurels. We have to keep being proactive."

Marinatto, after much thinking and watching of the 1985 Final Four on BetaMax, said, "How about we bump Villanova up to Division 1-A?"

It was then that Syracuse and Pitt said, "WeGottaGetDaFuckOuttaHere," and made arrangements to join the ACC.

The Big East could have been a damn serviceable football league - Not SEC good, but serviceable - but the basketball mafia didn't give a shit.

 

Another vote for Bettman as the worst. Lockouts should be the last resort, and it would be nice if it actually added stabiliy to the game. Instead, I think it's going to kill hockey in a lot of non-core markets.

The best? For all the sins of the steroid era, Selig. There's labor peace, the game is thriving and solid TV deals are in place.

Stern and Goodell? Even though Stern has short-timers disease, he and Goodell both strike me as attention-starved children. Goodell figures to lose some stature after the Tagliabue decision, that's for sure.

 

They're not "commissioners", but as stewards of IndyCar, the Hulman family is hard to beat in terms of sheer incompetence.

 

He was one of the driving forces of the '94 strike. He united the owners and got them to stand firm for the first time, even if meant wiping out the postseason and starting '95 with replacement players. They believed if they stayed together for once, they'd come out with a salary cap.

The idea was that replacement players would cause the union to crack for the first time. The union players would see games being played without them, they'd be missing out on good money, and they'd start crossing the picket line.

It may have played out that way if it hadn't been for the court ruling that went against MLB and kept the existing system intact.

Selig was a ringleader, not a bystander in '94.

 

Bettman is the worst.

Stern is making a late push to challenge him.

Goodell just took a HUGE hit with the Tagliabue ruling. Unbelievable he allowed that to happen.

Selig -- for Christ's sake -- is currently the best commissioner.

HERE's the answer to the lockouts:

http://www.thenation.com/blog/170585/meet-lockout-lawyers-destroying-sports

 

Listing Commissioners in order from best to worst:

(1) Selig. Two decades of labor peace. Franchise values have never been higher, same with TV rights.

Tied (2) Stern and Goodell: Stern and Goodell have alienated their players; obviously Stern is about to retire and it will be interesting to see how the NFL players react to Goodell going forward.

(3) Bettman. Read Jonathon Gatehouse's fantastic biography, The Instigator. Gatehouse paints a very thorough picture of a brilliant, arrogant man. As others here have alluded to, Bettman has insulated himself with a group of eight powerful owners. The issue is whether the eight owners can or should override the remaining 22.

 

Nothing to stop the other 22 from leaving -- except their own fear and greed.