Me with Drayton McLane Jr, the owner of the Houston Astros and sponsor of the McLane Lecture.
Me with Drayton McLane Jr, the owner of the Houston Astros and sponsor of the McLane Lecture.
On Wednesday, April 22nd, I had the unique privilege of being in the same room as Drayton McLane and Bud Selig. You may be wondering: How? I was at the 2009 McLane Lecture, on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Campus, which was sponsored by Drayton McLane Jr, the owner of the Houston Astros. His speaker at this event was MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.
The Commissioner talked about how "Baseball Is A Metaphor For Life." He also talked about how he believes that baseball will persevere in these tough economic times, and he also talked about how baseball has the toughest drug testing program of all the major sports. He then talked how Baseball's proudest moment will forever and always will be when Jackie Robinson became Major League Baseball's first African American baseball player.
During the Question and answer session, we really got to see a side of the commissioner few outside of the owners get to see. During the Q &A Session, after Commissioner Selig had said that baseball had the sport's toughest testing program, the first two questions in the Q&A were about steroids. The Commissioner said "This is going to be a great Q&A because after I say baseball has the toughest testing program in sports, the first two questions have been about steroids." The Commissioner of Baseball was showing off his sense of humor. The fourth question in the Q&A was about how the New York Yankees could spend $400 million dollars in the worst economy since the Great Depression. "That's what they've done. They have to live with what they've done." Selig said. The final question was asked by Bill Jones, the mayor of nearby Temple, asking about possible expansion. The Commissioner used this question to again showcase his sense of humor.
"I Can Assure you one thing. Temple has no chance to get a Major League Baseball Team." The Commissioner said jokingly. Selig then responded that he thought Baseball had a fine balance at thirty teams. He said there would be no more expansion during his tenure as Commissioner.
That was the final question, then the Commissioner answered questions from the media.
I then met with the person whom this lecture is named, Drayton McLane Jr. I asked him how he got to purchase the Astros, what it was like to be in Minute Maid Park every game day, and then we started talking about the ballgame the day before. The Astros had their closer, Jose Valverde. on the mound in the ninth inning. Valverde loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning, but he came back to get the next two batters to pop up and the ballgame ended with an Astros victory. He said "It felt good to get that win, but you can never feel too good after a win, or too bad after a loss."
After the media was through questioning Selig, they opened the floor for pictures and questions. This is when I got to meet Commissioner Selig.
You may be wondering: what did you say to him? Here's what I said to him.
There was so many things that I wanted to ask the Commissioner, but I knew I wouldn't have had time to ask them.
I said "Mr. Commissioner, I think It's great that a Milwaukee Brewers fan like yourself is finally willing to embrace a Chicago Cubs Fan."
The Commissioner replied "Well, I like the Cubs too, but don't tell Drayton McLane I told you that."
I was joking with the Commissioner of Major League Baseball! It was awesome!
A UMHB staff member then took the above picture.
After I was through joking with the commissioner, I then went back to McLane and asked him if I could get a picture with him. He gladly obliged.
I was in Baseball Heaven on Wednesday the 22nd. This is a day that I will remember for the rest of my life. The fact that I met a team owner and the Commissioner of my favorite sport was incredible!
As I was leaving the Lecture, I then said words spoken for a much different occasion, but these words could not have been more true.
These words were spoken by Lou Gehrig at Yankee Stadium in 1939.
"Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth."
