[Speed Gibson,
Friday May 5, 2006 at 12:18am]
I'm not convinced
I keep hearing that the Twins will leave or be the victim of contraction should the stadium effort fail. I'm not convinced. We've heard this before. Wasn't the drop dead date in 2005, that we couldn't wait for a November referendum? Well, the deal's still alive, actually stronger than ever. If we had simply put it on the ballot last fall, this referendum requirement question would be moot, right? Oh, yeah, wait, it might not have passed, which would mean what, Mr. Opat? But I'm not convinced that it wouldn't pass, either.
I am also not convinced that the Twins will stay the 30 years of the new "iron-clad" lease if we do build the stadium, given Major League Baseball's current situation. Is our problem to solve, or baseball's? And can a baseball operation with 30 plus teams afford not to be in at least the top 20 markets?
I am not convinced that the new stadium in and of itself will fund and inspire more spending on quality players. As we've repeatedly seen in almost every sport, money alone doesn't buy championships.
I am not convinced that the proposed location will work to significantly increase revenue, what with most games played at night in a high crime area, conveniently adjoining the garbage burner.
Even Joe Soucheray admitted one day that he really has nothing to argue for this other than "I want it" and his callers made their displeasure known. I don't think such a referendum would pass in Garage Logic.
There was a time when our Governor turned Prime Minister wasn't convinced, either. Ironically, it may be the likes of Senator Steve Kelley and his over-reaching counter proposal that will save us all.
I am also not convinced that the Twins will stay the 30 years of the new "iron-clad" lease if we do build the stadium, given Major League Baseball's current situation. Is our problem to solve, or baseball's? And can a baseball operation with 30 plus teams afford not to be in at least the top 20 markets?
I am not convinced that the new stadium in and of itself will fund and inspire more spending on quality players. As we've repeatedly seen in almost every sport, money alone doesn't buy championships.
I am not convinced that the proposed location will work to significantly increase revenue, what with most games played at night in a high crime area, conveniently adjoining the garbage burner.
Even Joe Soucheray admitted one day that he really has nothing to argue for this other than "I want it" and his callers made their displeasure known. I don't think such a referendum would pass in Garage Logic.
There was a time when our Governor turned Prime Minister wasn't convinced, either. Ironically, it may be the likes of Senator Steve Kelley and his over-reaching counter proposal that will save us all.