Cannon Firing Line
Where's Batman When You Need Him?
By Ellis G. Cannon
PSR Publisher

Before we explore the headaches of today's professional sports commissioners, let's be clear. When we think "commissioner" there's only one - Gordon. Not Selig, Goodell or, even the best, Stern. Not Bowie or Peter, not even Rozelle.

No, Gordon. If an explanation is necessary, forget it, but know that being willing and able to fight crime is a big part of being a pro sports commissioner these days.

What we've seen in recent weeks-the legal, marketing, criminal, ethical, moral, PR and integrity issues surrounding professional basketball, football and baseball-just may be unrivaled in this country's history.

Pro sports have always had issues that mirror those of society, but rarely have they lined up so prominently at the same moment than in summer, 2007.

Heck, things have gotten so bad that if I were NHL top dog Gary Bettman I wouldn't even go out for the mail, let alone answer the phone.

No commish wants to go through what Bud Selig, Roger Goodell and David Stern are up to their elbows with, but Stern has the biggest issues. Any time a commissioner has the FBI on speed dial, you know it's bad, but, then again, all three of these guys do, so that's not such a big deal anymore.

Selig has to be conflicted with the entire Barry Bonds dilemma, including knowing so much of what will be written about him will be left to history. His is a moral dilemma, perhaps even more personal to him than what the others are dealing with and, to some extent, perhaps even more than the fans of his own sport. They seem to process the steroids era at times better than most imagined.

Goodell actually has an opportunity with the Michael Vick fiasco. Whether he's going tough guy on the likes of Tank, Chris and Pacman, or being a bit more measured in the early going with Vick, his ends remain the same - protect the NFL. This is a public relations issue intertwined with myriad legal issues, but that's nothing new on his watch. You have a sense he's looking at these situations as opportunities to deal with them head-on and reshape what has been a less than attractive image of his league.

As for Stern, he's dealing with the integrity of his product. That's core. Lots will depend on the scope of the gambling issue and his handling. It's always been nearly maestro, although he appears somewhat more stunned this time around. It's one thing dealing with a brawl; it's another when the sport is surrounded by suspicions and whispers. The quieter, the unspoken, can be as damaging as a more raucous, public riot.

In the end, these guys are becoming experts at crime fighting. To that end, like the great Commissioner Gordon, they may want to consider renting a phone - a red one.

Ellis Cannon's SportsLine Pittsburgh" airs weeknights, 6-8 p.m., on FM NewsTalk 104.7. Ellis is also a regular contributor on the "#1 Cochran Sports Showdown" aired Sundays at 11:35 on KDKA-TV.