maintain independence and separation of powers? The guys doing the hiring and who the Commissioner ultimately works for still own the operation. Whether it be the NCAA, the NFL, the NBA, etc. the concept of independent oversight by a commissioner seems more ivory tower than practical. It would be analogous to you and I owning a business but, granting unfettered access to somebody we hire to approve our decisions and govern our behavior. It is tantamount to relinquishing control and no business owner relinquishes control to anything other than the government and/or government appointed regulatory authorities. You pay somebody, you control them.