BALLPARK NEGOTIATIONS RESUME

Williams to Seek Baseball Revisions - The Post
Cropp Pushed to Limit Deal's Cost
Hizzoner is being pushed by the "present" council members to increase leverage in ballpark financing. Apparently, they seem to think that Williams is Darth Vadar and Bud Selig is Lando Calrissian; "I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further." The reverse is probably true, though perhaps not completely -- Jack Evans seems to think so and I will take his word over Linda Cropp's, wouldn't you?

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Smaller Companies Still Worried About Tax for Stadium - The Post
Work it out guys, we do not want anyone going broke from taxes. There must be a way.

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Ballpark measure may gain support - The Wash. Times
We heard similar statements prior to the last vote. We also learn that Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich, when not forbidding state employees to speak to certain reporters a la Jesse Ventura, is thinking of suing MLB to block the move if a deal is not struck with Peter Angelo$. Gee, how do you think that would go over in say, Montgomery County? Also, MLB has to vote by Monday to move them here. Oh and Bud Selig is in town today, if you see him, thank him for the Nationals.

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PENN $TATE

Penn State economic impact: $6,100,000,000 - CDT
Wow. I do not believe this is really an accurate number, but even if it is half that, which is more likely, that is an incredible figure. Perhaps Harrisburg will wake up next time appropriations come up, but likely, they will use it to justify less funding.

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DEE-FENSE

Bradley makes plans to improve defense - The Collegian
Tom Bradley wants the defense to pressure the opponents more. I like this line of thinking.

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CAGERS ARE 4 - 2

Nittany Lions use hot shooting to down Knights - CDT
This is a big win for men's basketball, on the road no less. Hopefully the winning will continue tomorrow night and especially on Monday night when they come to D.C. to play Georgetown. We will be there and the Alumni Association is holding at pep rally. Should be lots of fun and it is a chance for me to wear my bball jersey acquired on ebay.

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OFF THE CUFF NATS NOTES

Usually I just give you news and comment, rather than semi-thoughtful analysis. My early morning deadline prevents me from doing much more than the "clips." This is why I switched the WWN logo to a certain cable news network font, since it is instant/soundbite information, though not even punditry most of the time.

I am going to hold off on buying any merchandise yet, waiting for the council to formally approve funding. Should that happen, I will buy all of my Nationals merchandise in D.C. since they are paying for the ballpark it seems right for me to contribute to their economy. I recommend others do the same. I really want one of those blue caps.

It would be really fun to ambush an anti-ballpark rally. Think of it, we could get all the D.C. baseball bloggers together, sneak in to their crowd, grab the microphone and start yelling, "this is a good deal people!" As they pulled us off the stage, we could assume passive resistance positions and sing songs from Damn Yankees (the musical, not the band).

On the other hand, I could see how stooping to the level of the opposition has some downsides as well. What do you think?

Linda Cropp comes off as incredibly self-serving, spineless, and blows with the political winds. Her name is on the ceremonial home plate that was signed at the Sept. 30 press conference, but she keeps throwing monkey wrenches in the works. I was there and she was excited as anyone. Of course, if she becomes one of seven to approve funding for the ballpark in SE, all will be forgiven. As I said earlier, I want them to approve the funding so that we never have to worry about D.C. politics again. We get the ballpark built and we can pay attention when we need a good laugh.

Youppi! I wish I had thought of that headline that The Nats Blog ran on November 30. It was the first blog to post the good news, at 6:23 p.m. I posted at 6:37, as did Ball-Wonk. I should have posted earlier, so I could have been first, but I was too busy running around celebrating and looking (fruitlessly) for TV coverage. Oh and Youppi is welcome to come along with Brad Wilkerson and company, but if he wants to stay in Quebec, I hope the Habs adopt him -- provided they ever play again.


I think I figured out a way to get the opposition to reverse their stance against the ballpark. After reading the article Get 'em while they're hot: Ballpark franks go organic in USA Today, I concluded that we can reach out to all the activists, hippies, earthmothers, wiccans , etc. who are against the ballpark by going one step further and offering a "cruelty free" section of the ballpark. There they will not have to be surrounded by the tyranny of the food chain since the concession stands will only serve organic, meatless products. They can take in the game with their wheatgrass smoothies, brown rice, shade grown coffee and tofu while they discuss what the Nats turning a 5-4-3 double-play does for their child's self esteem and electing convicted drug criminals to public office. Also, official Nationals clothing can be made of hemp and proceeds from their section can go to their favorite charities like Free Mumia. Or at least that is what we can tell them.

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posted by WFY @ 5:59 AM | |