In terms of teaching candidates, Marquette could do a lot worse than MLB Commisioner Bud Selig, who was named an adjunct faculty member in sports law last week. Then again, it could do a lot better too you know, like someone who actually has a Ph.D. and a face that doesn’t scare away small children.
Selig has been giving lectures at Marquette the last couple years, and apparently his addition to the staff was more of a formality than a job offer. He won’t be a full-blown professor. He won’t be grading tests or homework assignments.
But whatever way you slice it, this could end up being a smooth move for Marquette. From what I hear, he’s a rousing speaker, which is interesting because he didn’t have much to say this year when the Washington National’s outfielder Nyjer Morgan tried to karate chop Florida’s pitcher Chris Volstad’s head in half. Maybe press releases aren’t his thing.
I wonder what other talents and methods the commish will bring to the table.
He would probably have a pretty sweet T.A. Being the former owner of the Brewers, maybe he’d call in for outfielder Ryan Braun or first basemen Prince Fielder. Or he could go old school and make Bob Uecker his assistant. No matter who he picks, Selig will probably make outfielder Corey Hart grade all the term papers for having the worst facial hair since Grizzly Adams. Gross.
The best part of a Selig-taught class would have to be the presumed disregard for the university’s academic honesty policy. If he handles teaching anything like he handles baseball, Selig’s principles on cheating would be simple: none.
If Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds can hit the juice like thirsty third graders and wallop balls out of the solar system without getting reprimanded, then I think students will be OK taking a few peeks on their midterms.
That is, of course, if the class is still going by midterms. Selig’s track record suggests he doesn’t always like to finish what he’s started. Remember the 2002 All-Star game right here in Milwaukee? Ended in a 7-7 tie. Way to give the fans their money’s worth. I can only imagine the conversation Selig had with his cronies:
Crony: “Hey, Bud, both teams are out players. What should we do?”
Selig: “Really, and the game’s not over? Why does baseball have to take forever? I should have been commissioner of women’s beach volleyball.”
Crony: “Yeah, it’s 7-7 in the 11th inning. Any ideas?”
Selig: “How bout we just call the game a tie, down a few Miller Lite’s and brats and puke on the Hank Aaron statue?”
Crony: “Genius. That’s why you’re the boss.”
Honestly, I’d take a Selig-taught class in a heartbeat. You’d get some great insight from a guy who has been the head honcho of America’s past time for 12 years. You’d get the lenient cheating philosophy, the famous guest speakers and the slight possibility that Selig will stop teaching halfway through the year and give everyone a tie (hooray for apathy!).
The only downside? He’s a Badger alumnus. Oh, well. You can always exact revenge on Selig with a poor review on ratemyprofessor.com
Jeff Engel • Dec 7, 2010 at 2:29 pm
R.W. Wright,
I understand your argument about Selig’s tenure, but it’s really just a technicality on what his literal title was from 1992-98.
In any event, I don’t have to explain the column to you or the readers. It’s a column, and you’re obviously free to have an opinion about the opinions of Erik Schmidt. This is his space where he has the freedom to choose writing topics, within reason.
As the announcement about Selig being named an adjunct faculty member had just happened, the column was both timely and relevant to Marquette readers. Beyond that, the opinions are Schmidt’s, and you can agree or disagree with his points.
Thank you for your time,
Jeff Engel
Editor-in-chief
[email protected]
R.W. Wright • Dec 5, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Mr. Engel, thank you for your reply to my comments.
Your pride in and defense of The Marquette Tribune is good to see, although I question your claim about Bud Selig’s tenure as commissioner of Major League Baseball.
Selig, the ninth and current commissioner of MLB, was named acting commissioner in 1992 and elected by baseball club owners as official commissioner in 1998.
That means Selig has been commissioner for 18 years.
That error in reporting aside, this column by Erik Schmidt is silly and nonsensical. His ridicule of Selig rings hollow, contrived and forced.
Please explain to readers how this column works and why Tribune editors feel it was fine reporting and writing that warranted publication.
It really makes sense to you?
Jeff Engel • Dec 5, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Dear R.W. Wright,
While I appreciate and encourage your right to critique this column, I do not appreciate your attacks on the credibility of The Marquette Tribune. The Tribune always does its best to admit and correct our mistakes, both online and in print. I apologize for not responding to your comments sooner, but we are students and cannot be expected to monitor comments on the website 24/7.
Having said that, I do not believe this is not a case where we need to correct a mistake:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/mlb_history_people.jsp?story=com_bio_9
You’ll notice in the first sentence of Bud Selig’s bio on MLB.com that he was elected on July 9, 1998, which is a little more than 12 years ago. Now, you’ll notice later in that biography that Selig had been named Chairman of the Major League Executive Council when the previous commissioner resigned, in 1992. But he was not technically called the “commissioner” until 1998, even though he was already basically in the most powerful position. Marquette University noted in its press release that Selig has been commissioner for 18 years, both interim and permanent. The Tribune, however, decided to go with 12, for the number of years he has served as permanent commissioner.
Thank you for reading the Tribune online, and please feel free to contact me with any problems or questions.
Sincerely,
Jeff Engel
Editor-in-chief
[email protected]
R.W. Wright • Dec 4, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Does anyone at The Marquette Tribune read and perhaps even respond to comments posted here.
It has been pointed out that Bud Selig has been commissioner of Major League Baseball for 18 years, not 12, yet this error remains in this column.
It seems bizarre that a newspaper would learn of a mistake it has published and not correct that mistake.
Good newspapers never hold back from admitting to and correcting errors that they have published.
R.W. Wright • Dec 2, 2010 at 9:19 pm
This column makes no sense.
Why the bizarre and largely incomprehensible attack on Bud Selig, who, incidentally, has been commissioner of Major League Baseball for 18 years — not 12?
This column, if that is what one would call it, is illogical and unintelligible.
The writer and the editors agreed that this thing works? That it makes sense? That it is based on meaningful and valid thoughts, arguments and premises?
R.W. Wright • Dec 2, 2010 at 9:18 pm
This column makes no sense.
Why the bizarre and largely incomprehensible attack on Bud Selig, who, incidentally, has been commissioner of Major League Baseball for 18 years — not 12?
This column, if that is what one would call it, is illogical and unintelligible.
The writer and the editors agreed that this thing works? That it makes sense? That it is based on meaningful and valid thoughts, arguments and premises?