Selig is ready to act for the sake of the game.(Bud Selig)(Brief Article)(Interview)

Bud Selig frequently draws criticism as an "all-talk, no-action" commissioner. Well, Selig is talking again, and he's vowing action on everything from revenue disparity to enforcement of the strike zone.

From his Milwaukee office, Selig recently answered questions about his array of concerns.

TSN: What is the state of the game?

Selig: We're in the midst of a remarkable renaissance. We drew 73 -million at the major league level last season, 37 million at the minor league level. Those are numbers that nobody ever dreamed about, especially back in the nightmarish days of '94 and '95. People talk about TV ratings. Given the world we live in, everyone's TV ratings are down. I feel good about where we are from that standpoint. We've made some great national television deals. The central-fund revenue is excellent.

The problem is, we have internal problems. Underneath, there are some problems that are very, very complex and need to be solved.

TSN: With the chances of the players approving a salary cap and owners adopting a true revenue-sharing plan seemingly remote, what else can be done to get a new labor agreement?

Selig: We've had public negotiations in the past and they've been very harmful to a lot of people in a lot of ways. I'll be very blunt: I'm trying to avoid that, trying to avoid the mistakes of my predecessors. All I can tell you is that I understand (the players') position and that I think they understand our position.