The past, the future and the unchanging of sports on this Tuesday morning, with a distinct touch of sadness.

The past has claimed the voice of the Yankees’ Mel Allen. Through the 1940s, 50s and 60s, his voice more than any other represented that select few who were the voices of major league baseball. He was of and about New York and the Yankees and DiMaggio and winning.

Their era passed in the 1970s. Cable TV, 500 channels and every game broadcast twice detracted from the dominance voices like Allen had over the game and its fans. Today clubs have one set of announcers for cable, one for over-the-air TV, one for pregame, one for postgame, and another for radio. Voices, voices everywhere, not the voices everywhere.

I know a broadcaster who has a picture of Allen and the late Red Barber over his desk, their arms wrapped over his shoulders. It’s a reminder of what to strive for, of excellence. Those who remember, listen closely tonight. That whisper from heaven is Allen and Barber together – “How about that?”

The future calls to Wayne Gretzky, but from where? GM and coach Mike Keenan would like to keep him in St. Louis if only to save face. Gretzky and Blues teammate Brett Hull are represented by the same agent, who is working on contracts for both.

Gretzky won’t stay if Hull isn’t signed for the same duration. They both want big dollars. The catch is that both detest Keenan. The words from both during the playoffs regarding Keenan are not printable. Both would stay for the money, but it is an ugly relationship at present.

If not St. Louis, Gretzky could end up in Toronto. Their coaching situation must be resolved, but Gretzky has business ties there and a loyalty to Canadian hockey interests. New York GM Neil Smith says the Rangers are not interested, even if No. 99 would like to finish his career with Mark Messier.

The unchanging note in sports, besides the Bulls winning, is the constant effort necessary to keep pro sports owners out of the public till. Now it’s the Milwaukee Brewers threatening to move because the public wisely voted down a bond issue for a new stadium.

Could it be the public actually understands there are greater needs for which to use bond money in Milwaukee? Baseball owners don’t think so, and have begun their charade. They are threatening “emergency” meetings to help the Brewers move.

The media joins right in, repeating every owner’s threat and wondering how Milwaukee could survive without turning $160 million over to the Brewers’ “private” enterprise.

Why are there never stories about those who stood up and said “no?” Why are there never stories about how the money is needed for school supplies and updated books? Why are the books of major league teams never opened for full public inspection?

Further, why are teams private businesses until they need public money? Why isn’t the borrowing ability of teams, based on franchise value, ever cited as a source of money?

Answer is: GREED. It’s as unchanging as life itself. Such battles are forever. Milwaukee is just the latest stop.