Bud Selig
Bud Selig
Allan Huber "Bud" Seligis an American baseball executive who currently serves as the Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball. Previously, he served as the ninth Commissioner of Baseball. He initially served as the acting commissioner beginning in 1992 before being named the official commissioner in 1998. Selig oversaw baseball through the 1994 strike, the introduction of the wild card, interleague play, and the merging of the National and American Leagues under the Office of the Commissioner. He was instrumental in organizing the...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSports Executive
Date of Birth30 July 1934
CityMilwaukee, WI
CountryUnited States of America
We have the toughest program now in American sports, ... and I'm proud of that.
While I would prefer to resolve this problem directly to the Players Association and jointly implement a much stronger drug-testing policy, one modeled after our program in the minor leagues, I gladly will accept whatever help is offered by Senator McCain to achieve our ultimate goal,
Yes, we caught quite a bit of heat. But in the end, the only thing that really matters is how did it end? And we ended up with the toughest steroids program in American sports.
Number one, let me say that the program we have is working, ... There's no question about that.
Perhaps, most damaging, it encourages our young fans to use these horrible substances, ... While I would prefer to resolve this problem directly with the players' association and jointly implement a much stronger drug-testing policy in major league baseball, one modeled after our program in the minor leagues, I understand the need for swift and resolute action.
Back in March, I said that everyone who tests positive will be suspended and that has come to pass. While I believe the suspensions show the current program is working, they underscore the need for an even tougher policy. There is a deeper issue confronting baseball. It is the integrity of the game and that transcends the viability of the program.
I'll say this, it is a fair statement to say the program is working. It's the integrity issue that transcends it. That's why we not only need tougher penalties, but we need to go to independent testing so there's nobody who doesn't understand that we are serious. Same thing with amphetamines.
I'm very comfortable telling you today that my program will rid the sport of steroids. I spent a lot of time talking to trainers, doctors, general managers, managers, players. I've devoted my life to this now.
I don't think that's true at all. There's no facts to support that and we're doing everything we can. We've taken care of the present future. Senator Mitchell has complete autonomy to go do whatever he has to do, wherever he has to go. In the meantime our minor league program is in its sixth year.
While I believe the suspensions show that the current program is working, they underscore the need for an even tougher policy, ... There is a deeper issue confronting baseball. It is the integrity of the game and that transcends the viability of the current program.
I think we've made some considerable progress. I think we have some work to be done, though.
It is not precluded from being decided and announced during the playoffs,
Yesterday was a day I was proud to be commissioner of baseball, ... We had a problem and we did something about it. We had a problem. The sport had a problem. This is a problem that had to be solved. If not, somebody else was going to solve it in a more draconian way.
We celebrate new records, that's what we do. We're being consistent. There's nothing to read into that.