Donald Fehr has stepped down as baseball player's union head and inserted in his place is Michael Weiner. He sounds Jewish and he is. Weiner's just had his first news conference where he spoke about expanding the first round of the playoffs starting in 2012. The players want it and Weiner wants to give it to them.
"Weiner was unanimously approved as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association during the annual meeting of its executive board in Scottsdale, Ariz. The 47-year-old Harvard graduate was hired by the union as a staff lawyer in 1988 and was promoted to general counsel in 2004. He succeeds the 61-year-old Fehr, who had been in charge since December 1983 and in June announced his intention. During bargaining in 2002 and 2006, Weiner was among the union's chief negotiators. He praised management for 'a recognition that the union is a fixture in the game' but admitted some baseball owners may push for a tougher proposals in bargaining to replace the contract that expires in December 2011." -cbssportsline.com
But Weiner is also proud of his Jewish heritage he has even been teaching Sunday school for fourth and fifth graders at the Jewish Center of Northwest Jersey. His rabbi, Ellen Lewis, said of Weiner “Anybody who can teach Sunday school to a bunch of fourth and fifth graders can handle just about anything.” - nytimes.com
This is a great honor for Weiner and the players union seems happy with their new leader. He brings a quirky smile, a laid back attitude, and intelligence to the position. And most of all he is a big fan of the game (even if its for the Bronx Bombers).
Good luck to Weiner.
And Let Us Say...Amen.
-Jeremy Fine
0 comments:
Post a Comment