Baseball must end disparities
ADAM JUDE
The past few weeks have
brought about a lot of sor
row and pain, and most
of you, like me, are proba
bly still grieving from the tragic
experience.
And I’m sorry to bring the sub
ject up in this time of mourning,
but I think it’s an appropriate
time.
I have to talk about those Yan
kees and how the baseball world
must finally overcome the strong
hold of the flamboyant owner
George Steinbrenner.
I know, I know, it’s the off-sea
son, and no one wants to hear
about the richest franchise in
baseball history anymore, espe
cially me. Because just like you, I
despise the Yankees with a pas
sion.
It killed me to see a Subway Se
ries (not that I actually watched
any of the five games) because no
body outside of New York cared
what happened.
I would have rather watched
“Dawson’s Creek” or Tom Green
having surgery on his testes than
watch the Yankees win another
World Series ring.
It’s absolutely ridiculous and
disgraceful that Major League
Baseball has let the greatest game
in American history go to shame
— by letting someone buy the
World Series.
Yep, you heard right: The best
team in baseball is the best team
in baseball because of money.
Aren’t you surprised? (And can
you sense the sarcasm?)
With the addition of outfielder
David Justice, pitcher Denny Nea
gle and seven other mid-season
acquisitions, the Yankees’ $92
million opening-day payroll sky
rocketed to a record $115 million
by October. Now, I didn’t see too
many other teams completely
make over their rosters halfway
through the season. While there’s
nothing illegal about that, it hurts
the rest of the league, it makes
baseball a miserable game to
watch, and it has to stop.
The National Football League
has a salary cap. The National
Basketball Association limits its
teams’ budgets (although there are
a ton of loopholes).
So why does baseball insist on
being unlimited in its spending?
To be honest, I have no idea.
Perhaps Commissioner Bud Selig
is secretly a die-hard Yankee fan
and loves to torture the rest of us.
Granted, low-budget teams
such as the Chicago White Sox
(ranked 21st in the payroll with a
$36 million budget) and the Oak
land Athletics ($32 million) had
successful seasons and made it
into the playoffs. But if these
teams expect to keep their for
tunes in the near future, they had
better expect to fork up some seri
ous bonuses.
Other small-market teams, such
as the Minnesota Twins (with the
lowest total salary, $20 iriffiion)
and the Milwaukee Brewers,
should be given a fair cut in the
league and the opportunity to
compete on the same level. If not,
these franchises may have to relo
cate.
The Kansas City Royals’ owner
is one of the wealthiest in the
game, yet his team is one of the
worst. This, in part, is because the
Royals can’t bring in any revenue.
In fact, hardly anybody can. Since
the 1994 strike, the league’s 30
teams are collectively in debt by
more than $2 billion.
Only three teams have made
a profit in the last six years.
And, surprise, guess
who’s atop the list?
Yep, the Yankees,
along with Cleveland
and Colorado.
I know, those of you
out there who call
yourselves baseball
fans and claim to
love the Yankees
will e-mail me
and tell me that
the Bronx Bombers
have patiently built
this dynasty over
the past decade
and deserve all
success they get.
That’s a crock.
The Yankees
are so good because
they have so much
money. Period.
They can afford
to buy everyone
and everything and
do so without the
thought of the con
sequences that
will result to
this great
game.
While Selig has appointed com
mittees to work on these dispari
ties, nothing has yet been final
ized. But it needs to happen, and
it needs to happen immediately to
guarantee a balanced league.
Some suggestions have been
made to put a tax on teams with a
payroll greater than $84 million,
while others have recommended a
revenue-sharing system.
These sound like legitimate
ideas, but the only true way to
eliminate the disparity is a salary
cap. Smaller market teams must
be able to compete, and a salary
cap would at least ensure poten
tial success.
If there was a salary cap in base
ball and the Yankees had still won
four of the last five titles, I would
still be extremely frustrated, but at
least I would feel better about the
whole situation.
Then, at least, I would have
known that everyone else had a
fair chance.
Adam Jude is a bitter Seattle Mariners fan.
He can be reached at ajude34@yahoo.com
Football
continued from page 8
ping up the title this weekend.
“Oh no doubt, [Oregon State’s]
going to be ready, and hopefully
Arizona can go down there and
take care of their part, and we can
handle our business up here,”
Bauman said. “Even if they don’t,
we can win it if we win out.”
The other way the Ducks (8-1
overall, 6-0 Pac-10) can win the
tight race, is if it beats Oregon State
Nov. 18 in the Civil War, regardless
of what they do against Cal. How
ever, a win over the Golden Bears
at least guarantees Oregon of hav
ing a share of the league title.
For Oregon State, the road to
Pasadena got a little tougher with
Washington’s comeback victory
over the Wildcats last weekend.
The Beavers must win their last
two games and hope for a Husky
loss, but Washington’s remaining
two games are against UCLA at
home and Washington State on the
road.
Oregon State head coach Dennis
Erickson is trying to just get his
team focused on the task at hand,
and not worry about how the
Ducks and Huskies do.
“It really makes no difference
what happens in either of those
games, if they win, lose or draw,
because we’ve got to win,” Erick
son said.
Washington will go to the Rose
Bowl if it wins its final two games
and the Beavers take care of the
Ducks.
Frankel fever
One week, he’s on the most
wanted list of a few Ducks fans,
and the next he’s getting his name
chanted by them.
Oregon’s kicker Josh Frankel
has certainly experienced the
highs and lows of being a kicker
this season, after missing crucial
kicks in some games and knock
ing through the game-winning 47
vard field goal against Washing
ton State.
The overtime kick against the
Cougars marked his career-long,
edging the 46-yard boot he con
nected on earlier in Saturday’s
game.
For his efforts, Frankel was
awarded the Pac-10 special teams’
player of the week.
“You know, there’s probably a
few games this year where I
should have gotten the Pac-10
goat of the week,” Frankel said.
“I’m extremely grateful that not
only the coaches stuck with me,
but also my teammates. We don’t
give up on each other.”
CONSCIOUS PRODUCTIONS
presents
REGGAE’S FIRST
Grammy Award winner
ot Black Uhuru
Apple Gabriel
Rocker T
Papa's Soul Kitchen
Big B & Ras Cool
M aljpPOl
MM Ir rvti
IP OF THE WORLD
5 Exit 199 Eugene, Or
iaturday, Nou. 11
show^t 8pm • all ages
Hotel Rooms Auaflable
Sponsored by HOUSE OF RECORDS
for more nfc Top o‘ the World &B5-9434
SKILL ENHANCEMENT
Quantum Hypnotherapist
20% DISCOUNT 8
2 TO STUDENTS f
~ >
<c 317 West Broadway Suite 110
< Eugene, Oregon 97402 s
jjj 541-344-7809 z
WELLNESS IMAGERY
FaceGore-Tex
Jacket from
Berg's and
receive
a Fleece
Vest or
backpack
Free!
($70 Value)
13th & Lawrence • Eugene • 683-1300 * www.bergsskishQp.com
Advertise li» the ®0£
Classifieds a*e«*a*af
Burton • Santa Cruz
• Ride * Rossignol •
Salomon *K2
YOUR SNOWBOARDING
HEADQUARTERS
SmmiLcmJ- Slcj.
13tk I Lnraw • bpae • M3-IM • mJMrinkUMpxM
0105581
Looking lor <i forcer
you can benefit from?
Being an American Family
Insurance agent has its advantages
■ The ability to manage and
operate your own business
■ Unlimited earning potential
■ Excellent incentive programs
and bonuses
■ Career Training
■ Advancement opportunities
If you’re interested in
representing a strong, growing
and friendly company,
contact the District Manager
in your your area:
District Manager, Guy Hardwick,
at the Career Center
on November 9, 2000,
call 503-585-4401
for more information
All Your Protection Under One Roof
Home Office—Madison, Wl 53783
http://www.amfam.com
American Family Insurance seeks qualified
Individuals of all backgrounds.
©1997 American Family Mutual Insurance
Company and its Subsidiaries
he Oregon Daily Emerald is seeking a volunteer to seive on
its Board of Directors.
The Board meets monthly to oversee broad policy issues including
financial, leyal and personnel matters. It does not yet involved in
day-to-day operations, and it is not involved in content decisions.
This three-year term is open to any community member,
student, faculty member, or employee of tbe UO.
Board Search Committee
300 EMU
or email to emeraldarore50n.uore30n.edu
LAST DAY TO APPLY
Oregon Daily Emerald