Owners approve Reds sale; Selig preaches Nationals patience

Under pressure from Major League Baseball, Schott sold her controlling shares for $67 million to Lindner's group in 1999.

Owners also heard reports on the unsettled situation with the Washington Nationals and the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Sale of the Nationals by major league baseball has been held up until the District of Columbia Council approves a lease agreement for a new stadium.

"You know, life doesn't always move just as you'd like it," Selig said. "Of course, if I had my druthers, this would have been over a long time ago. But there are a lot of things that have happened, and I wouldn't do anything differently.

"I know I've heard some criticism of us, particularly in Washington, which I think is unfair but everybody's entitled to their opinion. But look, if you were buying a team the first question you'd ask is, `What's the stadium situation and what's my lease?' "

Selig said he had talked to eight prospective owners and has reached a conclusion about each.

"When I know we are getting close, I'll make a decision," he said.

DuPuy said that all announcements regarding sponsorship and other details of the World Baseball Classic are on hold while baseball awaits a decision from the Bush administration on whether Cuba will be allowed to compete on U.S. soil.

"We're still waiting to hear," Selig said.

One word that didn't come up is "steroids." Selig's brief meeting with the press on Thursday was in the same room that baseball announced a toughened anti-steroids agreement, a deal that was revised again in November with even tougher penalties.

"How well I remember," Selig said of that packed news conference a year ago.