Baseball players and owners signed an agreement for a new labor contract Tuesday, a deal that makes baseball the first North American professional major league to start blood testing on human growth hormone and expands the playoffs to 10 teams.The five-year deal collective bargaining agreement makes changes owners hope will increase competitive balance by pressuring large-market teams to rein in spending on amateur draft picks and international signings.Other highlights of the deal include:• Players will be required to play in the All-Star Game unless injured or excused.• Instant replay will be expanded to include decisions on foul lines and traps, subject to an agreement with umpires.• Players, managers and coaches may not use smokeless tobacco products during televised interviews and may not carry them in their uniforms.• Players arrested for DWI will be required to undergo mandatory evaluation.• Players will start wearing improved batting helmets manufactured by Rawlings by 2013.An initial positive test for HGH would result in a 50-game suspension, the same as a first positive urine test for a performance-enhancing substance."This was very important to me," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said. "This really is in everyone's best interest." Source: ESPN
Yeah but let's be real. The 1994 MLB learned their lesson. Without Cal, Mark and Sammy the MLB is still in the tank. The NFL didn't lose any games so while the fan's aren't incredibly happy, the world wasn't over. The NBA is going to lose the entire season and they've already shown that their fans aren't as important to them as their money is so that might make it harder to rebound. And I also see this happening in the future because these guys just want their money. That's the end of that. MLB did it right and learned their lesson. Let's just hope the NBA learns as well.
"Players will be required to play in the All-Star Game unless injured or excused." This made me giggle. Stupid asses get voted in and then don't show up. It's sad this had to be added to the contract "Players, managers and coaches may not use smokeless tobacco products during televised interviews and may not carry them in their uniforms." So spit it out when the game is over and can you not carry it in uniform while playing???
