There are several versions of what happened between Ron Oester and the Cincinnati Reds. Oester is sticking to his, and general manager Jim Bowden is sticking to his.

        “I'm a man of my word,” Oester said. “I can live with what happened. I talked to Jim (Bowden) and I told him if he can live with what he did — screwed up my life and my family — then fine. It's his conscience.”

        Oester said he first found out he was out of the picture for the Reds manager's job when team spokesman Rob Butcher called Friday morning and said there was going to be a press conference to introduce Bob Boone as the manager.

        Bowden says the Reds turned to Boone after Oester didn't accept their offer by a noon Thursday deadline.

        “We were very clear on that,” Bowden said.

        Said Oester: “I was never told it was a final offer. I thought we were still negotiating.”

        Oester was offered the job Thursday morning by Bowden.

        “I was ecstatic,” Oester said. “I told him I was really looking forward to it.”

        Then Oester and Bowden met with chief operating officer John Allen about a contract. Oester was offered a two-year deal at $300,000 for 2001 and $350,000 for 2002.

        Oester said he told them he wanted the job but thought he deserved more money. He says Allen left the room to call chief executive officer Carl Lindner about getting more money.

        “When John left the room,” Oester said, “Jim leaned over and whispered in my ear: "Stick to your guns. We don't have anyone else.'”

        Said Bowden: “I said he was our guy. Ron mentioned Lloyd McClendon's contract in Pittsburgh. He said (McClendon) was getting ($400,000, $500,000 and $600,000). He said he thought he deserved as much. I agreed. But I said I didn't know if we could pay that much.”

        Oester said he left shortly thereafter, thinking negotiations still were open and the job still was his.

        “I called back and said I really want this job. I need a little bit more money,” Oester said.

        He thought Allen and Bowden were going to Lindner to get a better offer.

        The next time Oester heard from the Reds was Friday, about the Boone press conference.

        “I was shocked,” Oester said. “I'm still trying to figure out what happened.”

        Bowden mentioned the noon Thursday deadline.

        “He called back at 10:57 and rejected the offer,” Bowden said. “John said we should move on to the other candidates. I asked John if I could call Ron. I did. I told him a lot of people take offers under market value for opportunities. I did that here when I took the general manager's job.”

        Oester, again, sticks to his version.

        “Jim can say whatever he wants,” Oester said. “I think he believes his own lies.”

        While Oester was expecting a call back from the team, the Reds had moved on in their search. First, Bowden contacted Willie Randolph, the New York Yankees third-base coach who had been brought back for a second interview Wednesday.

        “We had talks with Willie Randolph, but he was never offered the job,” Bowden said. “It was obvious that he would not fit into the economic picture here.”

        Boone was offered the job Friday morning. He quickly accepted and signed for the same package Oester rejected.

        Oester, 44, is uncertain what he'll do next.

        He remains under contract with the Reds. He did not rule out returning as part of Boone's staff, and Boone has offered him a job.

        “I'm not sure,” Oester said. “I'm really still in shock. This hasn't been a good day.”

        Oester grew up in Cincinnati. He starred at Withrow High School and spent his entire 17-year professional playing career with the Reds organization. He played second base for the Reds from 1978-90.

        “I've always been a Red,” he said. “I played hard and worked hard. Now this ...”