January 20, 2005
Marlins drop the M-bomb
Veiled threats to move the team weren't getting the baksheesh flowing, so Florida Marlins president David Samson escalated matters today, sending a letter to state house speaker Allan Bense that if the state doesn't cough up $60 million in sales-tax revenues over 30 years (present value: $30 million), then the team will leave South Florida. "Our landlord has informed us that it will not, under any circumstances, extend or renew the current lease; thereby, giving the Marlins no place to play in South Florida after that time," wrote Samson, eschewing his usual biblical metaphors for mere bad punctuation. "This entire transaction, and in fact the future of baseball in South Florida, hinges on securing a sales tax rebate from the state."
While Bense said he'd look into it, state senate president Tom Lee was less receptive, telling the Palm Beach Post: "I don't negotiate with terrorists." Call the black recon operatives!
