Bud Selig

Since the whole instant replay fiasco came out,  I try to keep my nose out of these controversial stances. I'm all for the integrity of the game and all the same for improving the game as our standard of living allows.

However, after tonight's recent game of the Tampa Bay Rays vs the Minnesota Twins, I have opted to break my silence. 

The game of baseball is rich in history and luster, but in the last two decades or so, the game has fallen out of favor in many baseball cities.

The NCAA is powerless to stop the complete destruction of the Big 12. Nebraska has already joined the Big Ten (now the new Big 12 - or maybe Big 16 soon), and teams such as Texas, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and others could soon follow.

Other teams are being courted by the Pac 10.  

These big conferences are doing it for money, to create new rivalries, and gain leverage over other conferences with regards to bowl games and TV contracts (i.e. more money).

When is Major League Baseball going to learn to have some morals and values?

It starts—and ends—at the top. And that means commissioner Bud Selig.

He’s old and in charge. He wants to let the world know—and he’s too freaking stubborn to make one single change to America’s Pastime.

Like it or not, commissioner Selig, we live in the year 2010.

We live in a world with social networking, instant messaging, and texts.

We live in a world with instant replay.

When, oh when, is MLB going to wake up and face reality?

Bud Selig is reportedly "very comfortable" with his decision not to award Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga with a perfect game.

Glad we could get that out of the way, Bud.

Professional sports' most aloof commissioner remains just that.  The other side of his aloofness (you know, aside from arrogance) is that he's also utterly out of touch with fans.

You remember fans, Bud?  The ones who used to follow baseball before your lockout.  The ones who used to follow baseball before they found out all of their heroes were juicing. 

Remember the days when you rounded up as many kids in the neighborhood as possible in order to play a baseball game at the park?

Tennis balls, wooden bats, and short orange cones were usually the equipment of choice, as you didn’t need a glove to play outfield and even the kid with Velcro tightened sneakers, tube socks, and a smothering mom could hit a tennis ball 400 feet.

Of course, the act of organizing and playing out a full game was rarely possible.

For any person involved in professional sports there is often a discussion of what their legacy will be after they leave the sport.  Even players who were never all-stars can leave a legacy as a hard worker, great teammate, or role player.

Some peoples' legacy can be defined by a single event, such as a great win or a heartbreaking loss.

When an umpire blows a call to stifle Detroit’s Armando Galarraga and the 21st perfect game in major league history, hijacking and wrecking much of an impeccable mark in sports, then we assume that a fraudulent sport may be rigid or even the worst call in Major League Baseball history.

On June 2nd, 2010, Armando Galarraga pitched a perfect game. The first in the Detroit Tiger's illustrious history. 

This 28 year-old native Venezuelan didn't pitch a perfect game, though. At least not according to the record books. 

Jim Joyce, the firstbase umpire that night, called the runner safe. On the last out, in the last inning, of what should have been a perfect game.

Commissioner Bud Selig is going to have a very interesting press conference.

Commissioner Selig needs to address two issues.

First, Commissioner Selig needs to commend Armando Galarraga for how he conducted himself last night. Galarraga should have been heralded this morning for the perfect game he threw against the Cleveland Indians last night.