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Triangulation, or strangulation?
As Rush Limbaugh blasts away, George W. Bush insists he's not running against the GOP Congress.
By Jake Tapper
[10/06/99]

Bush: As compassionate as he has to be
Just how far will George W. reach out to minorities? As far as he can without alienating any bigots.
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[10/06/99]

Poster boys for the summer of hate
Meet Matthew and Tyler Williams, suspects in a series of Northern California hate crimes, now on trial for murder
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[10/06/99]

Homeboy in the 'hood
In the Democratic bastion of Harlem, George W. Bush further outlines his education plan while taking a swipe at the GOP.
By Jake Tapper
[10/05/99]

Throw the bums out
Al Gore's corporate team has struck out, so it's time for the vice president to bring some true believers on board.
By Joe Conason
[10/05/99]

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But maybe the best news of a good-news season was Major League Baseball's victory against its out-of-control umpires' union. Although the fight isn't over, baseball's handling of the umps' disastrous August "ultimatum" -- under the brilliantly destructive leadership of Richie Phillips, the umpires "resigned," then tried to withdraw their resignations, only to have baseball officials selectively accept the goodbyes of those they've been trying to bring to heel -- might have been its best move yet under controversial Commissioner Bud Selig.

Also Today Talking baseball with Hank Greenwald The best broadcaster you won't hear on the air talks about umpire arrogance, the home-run chase and "the Viagra of baseball." By Joan Walsh

It's no accident that the showdown with the umpires was the result of another smart move by Selig: hiring former Oakland A's general manager Sandy Alderson as executive vice president for baseball operations. The Harvard-educated ex-Marine's instinct for hand-to-hand combat made him a stellar addition to the commissioner's office this year -- and makes him a popular choice for commissioner-in-waiting among those in the know.

"I've always been a fan of Sandy's -- until it comes to dealing with him," said future Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, who has negotiated contracts against Alderson. "He's tough. He's just so sharp. And he has that poker face. I think he would be great as commissioner. He has the passion for the game. When baseball hired him, I thought that was a great move."

Many in baseball echo Eckersley. Although Bud Selig is a nicer guy than his detractors allow -- many depict him wearing horns, a pitchfork and a tail -- there is no denying baseball has lived through some tough times under his watch, most notably the tragic 1994 strike, which truncated the season and canceled the World Series.

Anybody waiting for a sign that things had changed got one in August, when Alderson handled the umps' ultimatum like the nerves-of-steel veteran he is. You did not have to be a Alderson admirer to enjoy his quote on the July day when Phillips incited his umpires to resign.

"This is either a threat to be ignored, or an offer to be accepted," Alderson told reporters. You knew right there the fight was over before it started.

Next page | Alderson vs. the village idiot