The 5.5 Hole

From the Office of the Commissioner, Allan H. "Bud" Selig:

Dear Teams,

Let me first start by making a simple request; if I mandate something and it is unpopular, please do not tell the press about it. Take some responsibility yourself. However, if I mandate something and it is popular, please direct all media requests and praise to my office.

I'd like to take a moment to clarify some happenings from September 11, 2011. Now some may accuse us of simply looking for profit on this day. I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of a monetary gain from our agreement with New Era, but I can tell you all, the league needs money. But for the sake of explanation, and this is to be the response from all teams, we were trying to present a uniform uniform -- The double word is my favorite part of the argument.

I'd like to take a moment to point out New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon. While he has allowed his players to hurt my feelings and throw me under the bus, he did not put up a fight when told first responder hats could not be worn. You should all take note. I can only wish the rest of the league's owners had the same, healthy fear of my wrath.

Finally, I am thoroughly disappointed with Joe Torre. Mr. Torre was supposed to be able to convey the league's ban on silly hats with a sense of authority. As one to have worn these hats in the past and robbed baseball of additional profits (neither confirmed or denied) from New Era, it seemed fitting to make him the face of our ban. Yet, Mr. Torre failed to exude the confidence that a message from myself, the commissioner, deserves.

So for future reference gentlemen, we are a business and we do enjoy profit. But when approached by media, we should convey a league approved response. This has been a tough time for me. I have feelings too, and the Mets players were allowed to trounce all over those feelings with the truth.

- Bud Selig, your commissioner and voice of reason

It is now September 12th. The mourning, tributes, and moments of silence will have to wait another year for most. Though for the victims, the families of the victims, and those in and around the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, the remembrance is year round. A small token here and there can change a person's outlook. It can take feelings of sadness to pride and feelings of hatred to feelings of unity.

But Major League Baseball chose money over tribute. The cash registers were ringing in the heads of MLB executives when they once again (they tried this when the Mets returned to play in 2001) told players, the Mets players especially, they could not wear first responder hats. That while they could wear them during pre-game, they were obligated to wear the New Era hats that the entire league was wearing. That even though this was a team, much like the Yankees who were on the road, representative of New York's loss and recovery, they could not put down the New Era brand for one day ten years after the last time it was done.

Today the world can go back to capitalism personified. Baseball, New Era, and all other profiteering organizations can seize any opportunity they want to make a dollar today. But yesterday was not about money or contracts. Yesterday was not about exposure or marketing. It was about tribute.

Major League Baseball failed in that respect. Bud Selig failed in that respect. Joe Torre failed in that respect. And they should all be ashamed.