By JIM JENKS
The Philadelphia Inquirer

Eighteen sports editors took part in the commissioners' meetings April 21-22 in New York. This is a report from those meetings.

"Nobody said this would be dull, and it isn't."

With that opening line, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig began his session. He was joined by Bob DuPuy, MLB president and chief operating officer; Rob Manfred, Executive VP Labor Relations and Human Resources and Rich Levin, Director of Public Relations. 

Bud Selig

Selig touched on a variety of topics, but it was no surprise that after his appearance in front of the Committee on Government Reform, steroids and drug testing dominated the day.

"We start with the premise that this group has fought for tougher drug testing. We couldn't take another work stoppage and we did what we could (in the most recent collective bargaining with the Major League Baseball Players Association)," Selig said. "It needs to be tougher and we need to toughen the penalties."

When asked to be more specific, Selig said that he would "save the details" for MLBPA executive director Donald Fehr.

He did. A week later it was announced that the commissioner sent a letter to the union asking for new penalties that would include a 50-game suspension for a first offense, 100 games for a second offense and a lifetime suspension for the third violation. Fehr responded that the union is willing to discuss the new penalties and "negotiate at the table and not in the media."

	OTHER REPORTS
	MLB: Bud Selig NHL: Gary Bettman NHLPA: Bob Goodenow NBAPA: Billy Hunter NBA: David Stern NYC 2012: Daniel Doctoroff USOC: Steve Roush NCAA: Miles Brand

The policy would not only cover steroid use, but amphetamines. He discussed with the sports editors his desire to ban amphetamines in the major leagues.

"We should clean up amphetamines, but the bottom line is to rid this sports of steroids," Sleigh said.

Touching on variety of topics, the commissioner was hitting to all fields:

On the Baltimore-Washington situation: "I know Peter's (Orioles owner Peter Angelos) concerns and there is validity to them. The market can sustain two franchises. I expect that both franchises will pay into revenue sharing. That's how I measure success."

On contraction: "I think things have changed. Economics have changed for the better. Contraction is not on the radar at all."

On revenue sharing: "Is the system perfect? No. But it is better than it was. What happened with the Marlins and Angels could not have happened 10 years ago."

On Barry Bonds: "I've said in the past, I don't want comment on hypotheticals. Time will tell. ... If he breaks the record, we will celebrate that like we've celebrated things in the past."

On Pete Rose: "There is nothing new since last year. ... I really don't know (about the next year)."

On stadium security: "There is no excuse for game interaction between players and fans. We had a special security session in January. I do have concerns."

On teams needing new stadiums: "The Twins won three straight divisions and they say they can't compete. The Twins do need a new ballpark. ... Washington, Florida, Minnesota, Oakland (need new stadiums) and St. Louis is getting one. We can't leave people in parks where (teams) can't survive. There is no other place to go but stadium revenues."

On rules changes: "I like things the way they are."

On his tenure as commissioner: "2009. I can promise you I am gone."

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