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It was way back in 1992 when the young Brett Favre took his first snap as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Almost twenty years later, just about the whole country is fed up with him and is anxiously dying for the day he finally retires, not just when he says he will. Still, it can’t be denied that he has become 1 of the most respected players ever to play in the National Football League, and the sport definitely has benefited from Favre’s many successes.

There is still another man in sports with the same story. A guy who, at the ripe old age of 76, is not that much older than Favre himself. I’m, of course, referring to no other than Bud Selig, the long-time commissioner of Major League. Selig, who began his career-defining job way back in 1992 like Favre — has contributed hugely to the world of baseball. As acting commissioner from 1992 to 1998, Selig saw baseball through the strike-shortened 1994 season and instituted the “Wild Card” expansion to the playoffs, which enables four teams from each league to have the opportunity of playing baseball in October.

In 1997, Selig also launched Interleague Play into the regular season, which noted the 1st time when teams from the NL (National League) battled with teams from the AL (American League) on the same field outside of the All-Star Game and World Series. Since its inception, Interleague Play has become a yearly fan-favorite tradition and permits fanatics from, say, New York or Chicago watch as the Mets take on the Yankees or the Cubs play the White Sox.

Selig also should be honored for killing the prospect of another work stoppage in 2002. Furthermore, he oversaw 2 expansion teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays, both of whom have seen some achievements during their short histories. In addition, he is mainly the responsible person for the international competition known as the World Baseball Classic.

Regardless of all the progress Commissioner Selig can account for, he has, like Favre, done his lasting mark, and it’s time to hang up the towel. In the past few years, Favre has made some questionable calls, to say the least, and the same can be said for Selig. After announcing the MLB All-Star game a draw in 2002 for the 1st time in the history, Selig confessed to being “terribly saddened” by the game’s turn out. Selig made a decision to take what was already the best all-star game in all of sports and change it.

Throughout every midsummer classic after 2002, the team who won was awarded home field advantage in the World Series. The All-Star game is expected to come at a time when the players get a couple of days off during the demanding season; they don’t need something so decisive at stake during their “vacation.” They want to take in the monster home runs during the annual Home Run Derby and have a good time playing with the best in the league. Selig hoped this more “meaningful” All-Star game would catch more viewers’ attention, but ratings have shown that the changes have done nothing of the sort — and in fact ratings have dropped during the years immediately following the trasformation.

What got me thinking about the MLB commissioner’s need to retire during these past few weeks was his insane idea to expand the playoffs by putting more wild card teams, again. There are several reasons why the present eight-team system should remain in place. The players and managers already participate in 162 games during the regular season, and the World Series has consistently been extended into November. Any more playoff games and the season might become so demanding for the players. Numerous players and managers have expressed their with Selig on this issue.

Think of the exciting race this year that stemmed from the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants? The one that did not conclude until game 162? Well, in an expanded playoff system the September push would have been worthless, as would many of the other excellent regular season pennant races we’ve seen. Selig’s thinking for desiring to expand the playoffs is because other sports have more. Everyone knows the NBA and NHL playoffs are detting diluted by letting .500 teams, and sometimes teams with losing records — into the playoffs. If the top 8 teams from each league made the playoffs, the 1980-1982 Florida Marlins would have snagged the last seed in the NL. The New YorkMets would have been 1 game short of tying for the 8th seed, which is absurd if you know something about their terrible season. Widening the playoffs would only make what many sports fans call the best post season among the big 4 sports change even worse.

Many of us also know of the evil that has haunted the MLB for the last twenty years. Several of our beloved players are now known-steroid users and have eroded the integrity of America’s pastime. I know Selig cannot take the blame for the poor ambiance of the 1980s and 1990s and he did a fine job exposing the evil, but he will permanently be linked to the controversy. With his retirement, baseball can finally put the issue totally to rest. Although the occasional user gets discovered now and then, I think it’s safe to say there is no longer such a serious problem with performance-enhancing suppliments in the MLB. Once Selig is gone, that chapter in baseball history can finally come to conclusion.

Keeping with the Brett Favre comparison, before his contract expiring in 2009, Commissioner Selig stated his decision to retire. When the time came, however, his contract was extended through the 2012 season. Selig since has said he plans on retiring when his current contract is up. Maybe after that, he will play for the Minnesota Vikings, as they will probably be looking for a new quarterback.

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Last for our review of Easton baseball bats would be the V12 Ozone. The unique feature of this model would be its all aluminum component. No composites are placed on this V12 Ozone instead V12 scandium alloy was used throughout the entire bat. The stiffest in all the Easton products, the V12 Ozone baseball bat has a flex rating of 100.

With a Moment of Inertia or M.O.I. of 60, the V12 Ozone baseball bat has the lowest swing weight among the Easton 2010 models. Upon using this model, it would give you a very light feel. If you are one of the loyal players that opt for all aluminum 1-piece design, this model is just right for you. Aside from its characteristics, this V12 Ozone model is also the most affordable of all the Easton baseball bats at $200 and would fit your budget.

To continue the review for the famous Easton baseball bats, let’s now look at the SV 12 models. Just like the Synergy and Stealth models, SV 12 models also used the Easton’s IMX composite technology but only on its handle. For the baseball bat’s barrel, SV 12 used the V12 scandium aluminum alloy.

The SV 12 models are composed of 2-piece hybrids and differ on the flex ratings. For the three SV 12 models, the most flexible would be the Ozone 65 with the lowest assigned number after the model. Ozone 90 and 95 would be expected to be stiff. Unlike the Stealth models, the Moment of Inertia or M.O.I. of the SV 12 models are a bit lower with the 70 mark. This would give the SV 12 models a lower swing weight and a lighter feel. These models are quite cheap compared to the Stealth and Synergy models at $300.