SAN DIEGO -- Tony Clark said hes "blown away" that he is the first former major leaguer to become head of the baseball players union.
E.J. Gaines Rams Jersey . The executive board of the Major League Baseball Players Association voted unanimously Tuesday to
appoint Clark to replace Michael Weiner, who died Nov. 21 of brain cancer. The
decision is pending a vote of the general membership. Clark was an All-Star in
2001 and played for 15 seasons with Detroit, Arizona, the New York Mets, New
York Yankees, Boston and San Diego. The 41-year-old was appointed deputy
executive director in July and had been acting executive director since Weiners
death. The executive board is meeting this week at Torrey Pines Golf Course in
San Diego. Clark went to high school in the San Diego area and played basketball
at San Diego State. After retiring during the 2009 season, Clark had
opportunities in broadcasting and coaching. Instead, he said he woke up one day
and told his wife that he should work for the players union, "having no idea
that we would be sitting before you, Dec. 3, 2013, in this capacity, but
appreciating all the while that Michaels vision for our organization, my
involvement with it, and the hope and having and making a difference for our
group, active and inactive and those that are coming next, was the final
decision-maker for me." Clark spoke on a conference call and then to a handful
of San Diego reporters. Clark joined the MLBPA staff in March 2010 as director
of player relations. He got active in union affairs after attending his first
executive board meeting in 1999. From there he became a team player
representative, before spending his last seven seasons as an association
representative. As a player, Clark was actively involved in 2002 and 2006
collective bargaining as well as negotiations on revisions to the Joint Drug
Agreement. "I expected to be tied to the hip with Michael for 20 years," Clark
said. "He rides off into the sunset, I ride off into the sunset, we ride off
into the sunset, having, Lord willing, affected the game positively. Blown away,
yes. Humbled, yes. Excited to carry on the vision that Michael put into place,
yes. ... Focused, not just now but going forward on what we stand for, who we
are and how weve arrived at the place weve arrived? Blown away, yes."
Jeremy Guthrie of the Kansas City Royals and free agent outfielder
Curtis Granderson spoke glowingly of Clark. Guthrie pointed out that Weiner had
been groomed before he took over for Donald Fehr in 2009, and Clark was groomed
to replace Weiner, "although the time came way too fast, much more fast than any
of us hoped or expected." Guthrie said he met with Weiner in 2012 after the
cancer has been diagnosed, and the two agreed that Clark appeared to be the best
candidate to eventually succeed Weiner. "Michael had the intuition, the
foresight, whatever it was, to bring Tony on board when he did and to have him
at his side," Guthrie said. "Tony clearly rose to the top as someone that wed
never necessarily had planned to see in this position, but when we needed to
find someone, his candidacy was clear, that he was someone prepared to do this.
"I think this is a unique time," Guthrie said. "Baseball changes a ton and our
union continues to progress and now we have a former player on board. I dont
think theres a better player thats ever been a part of this game, one as
prepared, one as intelligent, one as powerful, one as knowledgeable, as Tony, to
step in and do that. Its funny how things happen, but preparation has been on
our side." Granderson said that when the 6-foot-8 Clark walked into a meeting
Monday, he didnt have to say a word and the other players stopped talking and
took their seats. "That was an additional confirming moment for me as far as
this person demanding attention," Granderson said. "The information hes going to
provide is going to be of importance, no matter when hes speaking or what hes
speaking about. "The idea of him being a player, you never forget that as part
of his resume, but thats not all he is," Granderson added. "For some reason
people have coupled him to that category, but he is by far more than that and
will continue to be more than that. Thats just a chapter in his background. This
is a new chapter and there will be many new chapters."
Cory Harkey Rams Jersey .C. -- Mike Krzyzewski may have poured too much emotion into No.
Greg Robinson Rams Jersey . - Defenceman Robyn Regehr was placed on injured reserve by the Los Angeles Kings on Friday
with an upper-body injury.MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves will be
without centre Nikola Pekovic for a while. Pekovic had an MRI test Tuesday on
his right ankle that revealed bursitis, which is inflammation of the
fluid-filled pad that cushions the joint. The Timberwolves announced the
6-foot-11, 285-pound Pekovic will be kept off the court for seven to 10 days
before being re-evaluated. Pekovic was hurt in the first quarteer Monday at
Chicago.
Todd Gurley Rams Jersey. The Wolves have seven games in the next 10 days. Theyve won four of their last five, but they
havent been above .500 since Nov. 25. The 28-year-old Pekovic is averaging
career highs in points, rebounds and minutes per game. After missing 39 games
over the past three seasons with various injuries, he was finally healthy.
Ronny Turiaf will start in his place.
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