Jim Alexander: Why is it, Mirjam, that the commissioners of our major sports leagues are such … well, goofs? (I had another word in mind but I’m being nice, kind of.)
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred’s tone-deafness regarding the sport he administers is well established by now. Roger Goodell’s main tasks with the NFL seem to be image protection (defend The Shield at all costs), driving up TV revenue and taking the product all over the globe.
The NHL’s Gary Bettman established his fecklessness long ago; during a period where the games were on a cable network with little reach, he responded to the outcry by saying fans should “call your local cable operator.” And Don Garber (MLS) and Cathy Engelbert (WNBA) each have had their moments, the former for selling his league’s soul to Apple TV+