January 31, 2007

Royals seek subsidized iPods

And if you're wondering what teams do with their tax subsidies for stadium improvements, look no further than Kansas City, where the Royals are trying to use part of a $250 million stadium renovation package approved last April to buy new computer and video gear for their clubhouse so that players can, for example, play back opposing pitchers' motions on their iPods.

Jackson County officials were not pleased to hear this, but team officials, report the K.C. Star, think it's a perfectly appropriate use of taxpayer dollars:

"It is an important piece to major-league teams," said Kevin Uhlich, the Royals' senior vice president for business operations. "Hopefully, it will make the team better."

Does this mean that next Uhlich is going to ask the public to pay for a pitching staff?