The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 2, 2002 - 9A Owners surpised NEW YORK (AP) - Baseball's chief operating "We were ve officer said he was surprised yesterday that the play- tion," said DuPh ers' union interpreted the commissioner's no-lockout "While touri pledge as a possible prelude to a change in work rules repeatedly caut after the World Series. and expect the v "Our pledge to protect the integrity of the season Now the pla was designed to allay the concerns of our fans and the not fear a work players," Bob DuPuy said. Fehr was in The pledge he referred to was made Tuesday by reached for c Bud Selig, who said owners wouldn't lock out players Bouris said. during the regular season or the postseason, and Pledging not wouldn't attempt to impose new work rules through and the postse the World Series. players have sig Union head Donald Fehr immediately reacted to The sides ha Selig's statement, interpreting it as a threat to either Nov. 7, and ne change work rules or lock out players right after the unproductive so World Series. Because the In 1994, the union expected a change in work rules season strike i and struck on Aug. 12, wiping out the World Series for ball's ninth wor the first time since 1904. The walkout lasted 232 days. Selig claims by MLBPA's reaction ry surprised by Mr. Fehr's hostile reac- uy, who is Selig's longtime lawyer. ing the spring training camps, (Fehr) ioned the players to save their money worst in the form of a work stoppage. yers, media and fans know they need stoppage initiated by the clubs." Kansas City, Mo., and couldn't be comment, union spokesman Greg to lock out players during the season ason means little to the union since ned their 2002 contracts. ve been without a labor contract since egotiations for a new deal have been far. union fears work-rule changes, a late- s possible this year. It would be base- k stoppage since 1972. owners had a $232 million operating loss last year and that teams need vast economic change. The union is skeptical of the claims of losses and doesn't agree with Selig's claim that the sport must end the disparity in revenue among the teams. "The union's claim that our pledge rings hollow is totally without merit," DuPuy said. "Economic action by the clubs during the course of the 2002 season would generate considerable financial benefits to the clubs. "But, we have declined that option because we do care about our fans, our players, and the integrity of the game." 'M' bASEBALL AND SOFThALL WERE CANCELLED YEST~ERDAY AP PH( On Tuesday, baseball commissioner Bud Selig promised that the owners wouldn't lock out the players - until after the World Series in October. Harwell to advertise for grocery franchise TROY (AP) - Detroit Tigers play- by-play man Ernie Harwell is making his debut in a different kind of broad- cast as the baseball season begins. Harwell, who is retiring from work in the broadcast booth after this sea- son, will be featured in a series of 10 new radio spots for the Kroger Co. of Michigan. The ads will be launched in con- junction with the Tigers' home open- er April 5 against Cleveland at 2:00 p.m. The 84-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster announced last month that this year, his 55th in the booth and 42nd with the Tigers, will be his final season. The 30-second spots promote the brand new "Great Meals at Kroger" campaign. "We're excited and proud to work with Ernie, especially during his final year with the Tigers," Kroger Co. of Michigan President Jon Flora said in a statement. Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. is the nation's largest retail grocery chain. r J x 1' I 44 40 b b Work. Leisure. Work.L . Leisure. Work. Why have Leisure. not both? Detroit Pistons' Corliss Williamson, center, and Indiana Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal (7) exchange words on Tuesday night after Williams pegged O'Neal in the head with the ball, following a flagrant foul. Detroit won the game 96-77. O'Neal suspended two games by NBA NEW YORK (AP) - Jermaine O'Neal of the Indiana Pacers was sus- pended for two games without pay yes- terday and fined $10,000 by the NBA for throwing punches, and three team- mates received automatic one-game bans for leaving the bench in a game against Detroit. O'Neal was ejected with 1:16 remaining in an 89-84 loss to the Pistons on Tuesday night after a hard foul on a driving Corliss Williamson, who then slammed the ball off O'Neal's back. The two started jawing at each other before O'Neal threw an elbow as Williamson backed away Williamson was not suspended, but the league fined him $5,000 for throw- FORTUNE What does a job at Ernst & Young give you? The best of both worlds. After all, 100 BEST the focus of our business has always been its people, and we are devoted to helping COMPANIESQ TO WORK FOR R them realize their career goals while encouraging their personal aspirations. The result is you'll be challenged, but you'll also be rewarded. Maybe that's why we've been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For," four years in a row. So why not bounce on over and see for yourself? I I I