July 15, 2005
When Selig speaks, trees die
MLB grand vizier Bud Selig had plenty of time during the All-Star break to sound off on various stadium debates. If you were hoping for anything substantive, of course, you'll be sadly disappointed:
- On the Minnesota Twins: "I called [Gov. Tim Pawlenty], and we had a very nice conversation. I told him how I felt, and he explained the situation to me, and we agreed we'd stay in touch with one another." Twins president Jerry Bell called this "a huge sign."
- On the Florida Marlins: "They keep saying they still think they're going to get something done, they need to get something done. If they're optimistic and hopeful, I am, too. ... I'm always concerned about teams that need new stadiums, and it's obvious they do. That's not a secret. Somehow there has to be the political will and the private-sector will to get a stadium built. I mean, they are struggling mightily." Though, one can't help noting, not as mightily as the new-stadium-bedecked Cleveland Indians.
- On the Tampa Bay Devil Rays: "If you look at the basic demographics, it should be a good major league market, and the fact that they've struggled as much as they have is obviously - it's always a concern."
- On having the league subsidize stadium funding as the NFL does: "Frankly we're not in the economic position to do that. We haven't done that for anybody." Well, except the Cardinals and the Yankees and the Mets and the Giants....
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