Face to Watch

When dirfctor of Minor League operations Jimmie lee solomon '78 banned the use pftobaccoproducts in all Minor League baseball stadiums in 1994 the first person he fined was basketballsuperstar Michael Jordan. Jordan, who had temporarih left die Chicago Bulls to try baseball, had a cigar in his mouth during a game in Chatanooga, Tennessee. Doling out discipline to the likes of jordan comfis with the territory when you are in charge of all of Major League basebll's 17 minor Leagues and 175 Salomons main responsibilities are to negotiate and enforce the Professional Baseball Agreement, the goverming document of the Minor League. Solomon recently negotiated a new which will keep Major League basebaal matched to Minor League affiliates for the next ten years.

One of the most important contracts he negotiated however, was personal When Solomon was appointepdirector of Minor League opertions in 1991 by then commissioner of Major Fay Vincent, he'struck a deal that would allow him to work from Washington, D.C.. where his daughter was in the middle of high school The single father decided to live 250 miles from where he works the league's headquarters are in New York City because he didn't want to interrupt his daughter's education.

Baseball is only one of the sports Solomon follows personally and professlonally. While earning his history degree at Dartmouth, Solomon was a standout in Brack and football. After:graduating with honors from Harvard Law School in 1981, he spent ten years with Baker & Hostetler in D.C., where he was introduced to many aspects of sports Jaw. As an attorney he advised the National Football League Management Council, bandied National Football League arbitration. and represented a. number of professional football and basketball players.

Solomon