Not to suggest Be'elzeBud deserves to be identified with even as sympathetic a figure as Lando Calrissian--or that Linda Cropp is remotely as cool as a Sith Lord--but that quote struck me as the right headline for my DC Baseball Shenanigans post.
The DC sports punditry is frickin' ballistic over the DC council--in particular, Linda Cropp--performing its democratic function to try to keep DC from being the next locality to hand out oodles of corporate welfare to a sports franchise. Read the Washington Post for your updates. News items mentioned below won't have links; you can find them at the Post or ESPN or what have you.
Latest word is that MLB, in a fit of pique, has suspended all promotional operations in DC (baseball operations--e.g. player signings--continue.) They are also offering refunds on season ticket deposits. Someone needs to explain to them that this is how a democracy works--I know in Chicago, if the Mayor-pharaoh gives you his word, it's done. But Mayor Williams didn't have his ducks in a row here.
Linda Cropp is among those positioning her self for a mayoral run, and some have accused her of grandstanding--in particular, by wavering between support and sabotage. The first vote (bills have to go through two readings) was postponed from November, as is her power as Chairperson. Then she stuck this private funding amendment in very late in the session--she certainly could have put it in early, when it could be debated by less weary councilpersons. Some interesting takes by a local political reporter are in this Post online chat transcript from today.
Be'elzeBud isn't going to want to take any deal with private financing, even if it is somehow found. But here's why I think they end up in DC anyway:
1) No viable alternative. This is the biggest, richest market--they really wanted someone else to come through with a stadium for free so that they didn't have to deal with Angelos's territorial issues, and no one did. No one will now either--there's no sudden upswing of political will, plus MLB is over a barrel. And with the Marlins casting about, looking for a home, the last thing needed is to try to develop two viable options where none exist.
2) This isn't Portland or Vegas screwing with them, it's DC. Various political critters have cast their eyes at steroids, the anti-trust exemption, etc. Unless MLB controls the spin so that the DC city government takes all the flak--so far, so good on their part, btw--they may have to worry about irking people in a position to cause them other troubles.
3) The players association wants a permanent home found. That was part of the push to be out of Montreal by 2005--players were getting tired of the Montreal/San Juan nomadic existence. Taking them back to Montreal will draw howls from them, at a time when they really need the union to come along peacefully on the steroid issue. This is minor, and MLB is stupid enough not to act sensibly on this, but it's there.
4) Contraction can't occur until 2006. I don't think they can get the Twins out this time--the popular and political will in Minnesota will prevent that--but the Marlins might be a option, since Loria is at the heart of this mess anyway. But I can't imagine baseball is willing to take crowds of 300 for a doomed team for two years--certainly not in Washington, and if they go back to Montreal now it'll be even worse. They do hold an option on Stade Olympique that needn't be exercised until Dec. 31--the stated date that an agreement in DC must be settled. But they're not going to want to let this fester, with 29 owners paying to prop up a dummy team. It's already, after only two years, beginning to smell as bad as it looks.
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3 comments:
Steve,
I have been following this story avidly in the WashPost. I should have known that you would have your eye on it. Basically I agree with everything you say. What I like especially is your contrarian analysis of just who is over the proverbial barrel. Spot on, as the British would say. The Washinton press corps seems to be piling on Cropp as though she has made the blunder of the century; they are trying to outdo each other in expressions of outrage. Somehow she is seen as morally lacking for not going quietly in handing over to baseball owners oodles of cash that could go to black schoolkids. The argument is that it is her back that is to the wall, that she is the one who is isolated. The received wisdom today is that it is Cropp who will promptly have to concede defeat to MLB. In fact, as you so eloquently point out, if she doesnt back down, it will soon become clear that it is Ichabod Selig who finds himself way up Shit Creek.
Will
Well, don't kid yourself and think there's any money for schools. The "public" money would come from taxes that are directly related to baseball games, and a business tax that wouldn't pass if it was being proposed to fund schools.
The biggest problem I see is that baseball really is a clique of billionare bullies. They're perfectly capable of ignoring all logic and picking up their ball and going home.
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