Mecker-Ecke » cGuirk, Pittsburghs Bob Nutting,

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. - Bud Selig concluded his final baseball owners meeting as commissioner after two days of basking in praise for the job hes done during more than 22 years in charge of the game.Thursdays meeting followed a gala in Seligs honour the previous night in a tent on the property of a desert resort hotel.A remarkable collection of speakers, Selig said. There was a lot of emotion, a lot of history, and it was more emotional than I thought. I have to admit that. ... It was really just a wonderful night.Selig, 80, took over baseball as chairman of the executive council in 1992 after helping force Commissioner Fay Vincents resignation. Despite saying he would never take the job permanently, Selig was elected commissioner in 1998. When he is replaced by Rob Manfred on Jan. 25, Selig will have been in charge of baseball for the second-longest term behind Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who held the job from 1920-44.Speakers at the dinner included former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, hired by Selig to investigate the use of performance-enhancing drugs by players. Columnist George Will spoke, as did former columnist and current MSNBC contributor Mike Barnicle. Hank Aaron, among many Hall of Famers on hand, introduced Selig.They talked about Seligs accomplishments, including drug testing and two decades of labour peace that followed a series of eight work stoppages from 1972-95 that culminated in cancellation of the 1994 World Series.Each speaker, Manfred said, noted that everything Bud accomplished was as a result of his ability to bring unity among 30 owners.It is a tribute to his ability, his personality and his personal skills, Manfred said, that he could produce the kind of unity that has literally revolutionized the game.Selig noted he had overseen three generations of owners.Although there was opposition to Manfred from some owners, Selig said it has been a remarkably seamless transition.Weve done it the way baseball is supposed to do it, Selig said, with class, dignity that makes me happy.Selig headed the group that bought the Seattle Pilots in bankruptcy court in 1970 and moved the team to Milwaukee, where it was renamed the Brewers. He became the owner head baseballs labour committee before he was put in charge.In 92 when I took over, things were not good, he said. In fact, theres no other way to say it: It was a mess. But I knew in the early and mid 90s one thing as we moved forward is we have to do things together.His first owners meeting was in St. Louis and it was a disaster, he said. There was agreement on nothing.Unifying and changing the game was a long-term project, he said.The 90s were tough, tough on me, tough on everybody, Selig said. But I knew early on that we had to do things that we had to do. The system was not working. The system was an anachronism. I used to kid that this is the system of the Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds. And I wasnt being facetious. Nothings changed since the 30s, and there was just unhappiness everywhere.Selig said hes been given many mementos as his retirement neared.Ive gotten letters from a lot of people — owners, general managers, players — the last four weeks, he said. Im carrying some of them around. Theyre really heart-wrenching.Selig will become commissioner emeritus this month, and MLB will keep his Milwaukee office intact. He isnt sure exactly what that role will entail.He said he had enlisted the help of Doris Kearns Goodwin to write a memoir. He is sure he will stay busy.I go to the office every day, Selig said. That wont change.NOTES: Owners elected their executive council: Texas Ray Davis, St. Louis Bill DeWitt Jr., Atlantas Terry McGuirk, Pittsburghs Bob Nutting, Minnesotas Jim Pohlad, the Chicago Cubs Tom Ricketts, the New York Yankees Hal Steinbrenner and Tampa Bays Stu Sternberg, Toni Kroos Real Madrid Jersey .com) - The Vancouver Canucks recovered from a fluke goal early last time out to knock off one of the top teams in the league. Kiko Casilla Real Madrid Jersey . According to a release sent by the league, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were the only team to exceed the cap. Their total salary expenditure of $4,417,975 was $17,975 over the salary cap of $4. http://www.realmadridfcprohop.us/Luka-Mo...-Madrid-Jersey/. Goergl, the 2011 world champion, started 28th after the other top contenders had already gone down but had the fastest time at each interval. Goergl finished the demanding 3-kilometre Kaelberloch course in 1 minute, 47. Raphael Varane Real Madrid Jersey . -- Houstons All-Star tandem of James Harden and Dwight Howard refused to let the Rockets give in to fatigue. Custom Real Madrid Jerseys . Best has been bothered by concussion problems and hasnt played since Oct. 16, when the Lions lost to San Francisco. After starting 5-0, Detroit has lost four of six, beginning with that game against the 49ers.NEW YORK -- The NBA says because there was no "clear and conclusive" evidence on instant replay that their call on a ball out of bounds was wrong, referees correctly stuck to their original ruling late in Oklahoma Citys victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. The Clippers believed the Thunders Reggie Jackson had knocked the ball out of bounds with 11.3 seconds remaining, but officials ruled it Oklahoma City ball. After going to replay, the call stood, and the Thunder rallied to win the game.dddddddddddd. Clippers coach Doc Rivers was livid, saying the Clippers were "robbed," but NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn says Wednesday in a statement that: "In order to reverse the call made on the court, there has to be clear and conclusive evidence. Since no replay provided such evidence, the play correctly stood as called with the Thunder retaining possession." Blackhawks Jerseys Store Cheap Wild Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Penguins Jerseys Store Capitals Jerseys For Sale Blues Jerseys Store Cheap Kings Jerseys Adidas Lightning Jerseys Stars Jerseys For Sale Cheap Predators Jerseys Ducks Store Sharks Jerseys For Sale Cheap Sabres Jerseys Rangers Jerseys For Sale ' ' '