THE FUTURE OF BASEBALL!

One of the most exciting events included in this week's MLB All-Star week is the Futures Game. The roster includes minor league players from the USA versus the World. The global reach of the game will be shown with tomorrow's All-Stars from Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Japan, Korea, Panama, Italy and others. These players would be the star representatives of their countries in the 2016 Olympic Baseball played in Tokyo, Rio, Madrid, or Chicago, the bid cities for 2016. Many were first round picks in 2008 and have played in previous Olympic competition. All have a taste of international play and have shown a desire to represent their country if Baseball is to return to the Olympic Games. The 2016 Games are 7 years away and these are the roster names you will see if their respective countries qualify!

MOVING AHEAD TO 2016

Thanks to Jake Fehling and Paul Seiler of USA Baseball, we now have the signatures of all college All-Stars committing to play in the 2016 Games if chosen. We hope to add to those names the present MLB All-Stars as well as players chosen for the "Futures" game next week in St. Louis. Our next steps will be identifying how the 2008 Beijing tournament would have looked with representative "best" players. Placing 2 to 5 players on each team having players on MLB rosters we hope would satisfy the demands of the IOC. Nothing more we can do to help our cause. We have traveled around the world telling our story, demonstrated the unique elements of our game, showing baseball as the national sport of many countries on almost every continent, describing the social and economic strengths of baseball, and on and on. We can only hope the IOC leadership respects our answering those same issues that voted baseball out for 2012 in Singapore. I hope they are listening!

BEST PLAYERS FOR 2016

One of the most important statements made to the IOC Executive Committee by MLB and MLBPA was the commitment of "Best Players" to participate in the 2016 Olympic Baseball tournament. I think it's important to eliminate any confusion on this important issue:the commitment is to release a number of "Best" players to those countries requesting specific players for the tournament. We are talking about a competition that will take place seven years from now. The stars of tomorrow are yet to be determined and we have been honest about not misrepresenting could be or would be! Our presentation included player statements from tomorrow's stars. It may be that we need statements from today's stars and we can do that as well.

DON FEHR

Don Fehr, a great friend of International Baseball resigned today as Executrive Director of the Major League Players Association. Don had discussed this decision with MLB players as early as spring training this past year. He traveled with me to Lausanne last week to help in our presentation to the IOC. He plans to stay on until after the this year's World Series which will allow his continued support with our Olympic bid thru the Copenhagen vote.

BASEBALL'S CIVIL RIGHTS GAME

Today, Bill Cosby, Muhammad Ali, Oscar Robertson, Hank Aaron, and many other sport stars will be in Cincinnati, Ohio to watch a regular season game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. The game is part of a program to connect the African-American community with the game of Baseball and all the life lessons that are part of the game. Former President Bill Clinton along with others will receive awards at a luncheon. 

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in sports in 1947! 

Baseball has certainly demonstrated a leadership position in providing opportunities in sport for all people of all races, creeds, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. Another good reason to return the global game back to the 2016 Olympic program!

ELECTION AN DUES

IBAF will be electing new officers soon. It's important that all federations insure their dues are up to date to be eligible to vote!!

ALL OR NONE

IOC president Rogge finally made it clear: "the IOC Executive Committee will select two sports for the Copenhagen congress. The IOC members present will vote only on the sports presented. No other sports will be considered!" Of course this may mean members vote no. Copenhagen should be interesting but so will be the time between the August 13th announcement of the two and the October 6th vote by the congress. Lots of idle talk but it usually goes nowhere. We need to continue to support our cause.