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PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. - Bud Selig concluded his final baseball owners meeting as commissioner after two days of basking in praise for the job hes done during more than 22 years in charge of the game.Thursdays meeting followed a gala in Seligs honour the previous night in a tent on the property of a desert resort hotel.A remarkable collection of speakers, Selig said. There was a lot of emotion, a lot of history, and it was more emotional than I thought. I have to admit that. ... It was really just a wonderful night.Selig, 80, took over baseball as chairman of the executive council in 1992 after helping force Commissioner Fay Vincents resignation. Despite saying he would never take the job permanently, Selig was elected commissioner in 1998. When he is replaced by Rob Manfred on Jan. 25, Selig will have been in charge of baseball for the second-longest term behind Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who held the job from 1920-44.Speakers at the dinner included former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, hired by Selig to investigate the use of performance-enhancing drugs by players. Columnist George Will spoke, as did former columnist and current MSNBC contributor Mike Barnicle. Hank Aaron, among many Hall of Famers on hand, introduced Selig.They talked about Seligs accomplishments, including drug testing and two decades of labour peace that followed a series of eight work stoppages from 1972-95 that culminated in cancellation of the 1994 World Series.Each speaker, Manfred said, noted that everything Bud accomplished was as a result of his ability to bring unity among 30 owners.It is a tribute to his ability, his personality and his personal skills, Manfred said, that he could produce the kind of unity that has literally revolutionized the game.Selig noted he had overseen three generations of owners.Although there was opposition to Manfred from some owners, Selig said it has been a remarkably seamless transition.Weve done it the way baseball is supposed to do it, Selig said, with class, dignity that makes me happy.Selig headed the group that bought the Seattle Pilots in bankruptcy court in 1970 and moved the team to Milwaukee, where it was renamed the Brewers. He became the owner head baseballs labour committee before he was put in charge.In 92 when I took over, things were not good, he said. In fact, theres no other way to say it: It was a mess. But I knew in the early and mid 90s one thing as we moved forward is we have to do things together.His first owners meeting was in St. Louis and it was a disaster, he said. There was agreement on nothing.Unifying and changing the game was a long-term project, he said.The 90s were tough, tough on me, tough on everybody, Selig said. But I knew early on that we had to do things that we had to do. The system was not working. The system was an anachronism. I used to kid that this is the system of the Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds. And I wasnt being facetious. Nothings changed since the 30s, and there was just unhappiness everywhere.Selig said hes been given many mementos as his retirement neared.Ive gotten letters from a lot of people — owners, general managers, players — the last four weeks, he said. Im carrying some of them around. Theyre really heart-wrenching.Selig will become commissioner emeritus this month, and MLB will keep his Milwaukee office intact. He isnt sure exactly what that role will entail.He said he had enlisted the help of Doris Kearns Goodwin to write a memoir. He is sure he will stay busy.I go to the office every day, Selig said. That wont change.NOTES: Owners elected their executive council: Texas Ray Davis, St. Louis Bill DeWitt Jr., Atlantas Terry McGuirk, Pittsburghs Bob Nutting, Minnesotas Jim Pohlad, the Chicago Cubs Tom Ricketts, the New York Yankees Hal Steinbrenner and Tampa Bays Stu Sternberg, Chris Rusin Jersey . 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The Senators will put the busy off-season and training camp behind them when they open their regular season on the road. They kick things off Friday against the Buffalo Sabres and then head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on Saturday.GREEN BAY, Wis. - Sam Shields availability for the Green Bays game Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons is in question with the Packers cornerback yet to be cleared from a concussion.Coach Mike McCarthy said that he would give Shields every opportunity to play against the Falcons. Shields was listed as questionable Saturday on the Packers final injury report before the game.The five-year veteran got hurt while making a tackle during the second quarter of last weeks win over New England.Youre either in the (concussion) protocol or youre not in the protocol, McCarthy said. Once the player comes out of that and hes cleared, then it becomes the decision of the coaching staff or in conversation with the player to see if hes ready to go.Certainly, the Packers would like to have Shields available against an Atlanta offence that gained 500 yards against Arizona last week.The Falcons receiving group, featuring Julio Jones, might be bolstered if veteran Roddy White can return from an ankle iinjury.ddddddddddddWhite, who has 37 catches in his past five games, was listed as questionable after returning to practice as a limited participant Saturday.However, cornerback might be the Packers deepest group, with Shields partnering with Tramon Williams as starters. Davon House and Casey Hayward are capable backups.Cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt said he makes sure to give all his top players ample snaps on the practice field, so its not as if the Packers are rushing to get the reserves ready.Those four guys get equal reps so the preparation hasnt been any different, Whitt said. All four guys have been on every top receiver and played well. I like what we have.Defensive tackle Mike Daniels (back), guards T.J. Lang (ankle) and Josh Sitton (toe) and outside linebacker Nick Perry (shoulder) are probable. Daniels, who is third on the team with four sacks, is going to be full strength for Monday, McCarthy said.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '