Baseball Guru
02-06-2002, 11:09 AM
BY ARON KAHN and JIM RAGSDALE Pioneer Press
Will the Minnesota Twins' near-death experience build sympathy for a complete recovery in the form of a new ballpark? The outlook appeared positive Tuesday as Gov. Jesse Ventura handed the patient a very big bouquet.
The day started with Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announcing he wouldn't pursue "contraction" until next year, an inevitable decision after a series of Minnesota court rulings. By the end of the day, political leaders were talking about life after 2003.
None other than Ventura, who mere months ago was saying the Metrodome was younger than his son and didn't need to be replaced, spoke forcefully about the need for a new revenue-boosting ballpark for the home team.
Ventura said in an interview on WCCO radio that Selig's decision "gives us the opportunity to see if . . . the right combination can be put together to build them a viable stadium to play in."
He added, "And you know if need be, I'm not ruling out . . . that I wouldn't call a special session this fall to take care of a baseball stadium issue."
In a legislative session likely to include the paring of funding for education and basic services, the comment from the governor lifted the spirit of at least one Minnesotan.
"Wow," said Twins President Jerry Bell, who unsuccessfully tried to wring public financing out of the state Capitol for six years.
Ventura also said the Twins would have to let lawmakers and him examine their books before pitching any help their way. "Fine," Bell said.
The governor and House Speaker Steve Sviggum had been warming toward a variety of user fees to help finance a new Twins ballpark, and Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe had put his name behind that effort. As long as the general taxpayer doesn't get hit, the leaders say they want to help the team.
Sviggum, the leader of the Republican-controlled House, is a crucial vote because members of that chamber have been more reluctant to say yes to public financing of a ballpark. It is he, more than other leaders, who believes an ownership change is necessary to marshal enough votes.
Sviggum said he believes Twins owner Carl Pohlad disappointed and deceived Minnesotans too many times in attempting to get public financing. The speaker and Ventura have said they're impressed so far by Alabama businessman Donald Watkins, who is negotiating to buy the Twins and contends he also can finance a ballpark.
"I'm extremely happy for the team and its fans," Watkins said Tuesday from Birmingham, Ala. "I'll keep working every day on moving forward through the acquisition process."
Watkins is scheduled to meet today in Minneapolis with Mayor R.T. Rybak, who is trying to find a way to build a ballpark near Target Center.
"It's inappropriate to build a stadium before addressing the needs of school kids, the homeless and basic core services," Rybak said. But if a ballpark can be built after providing for the other needs, he's for it.
Rybak also said he would fight attempts to use state financing to move the Twins to St. Paul. St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly is pushing strongly for a Twins ballpark in his city and backs legislation already introduced for that purpose. Rybak, before meeting with Watkins today, will meet with businessmen who support a stadium in downtown Minneapolis.
Baseball had attempted to fold the Twins and Montreal Expos but was thwarted by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which obtained an injunction that forced the Twins to honor their 2002 lease. The state appeals court upheld the injunction, and, Monday, the Minnesota Supreme Court refused to give the matter any further hearing.
"While the clubs would have preferred to contract for 2002 and begin addressing the economic issues immediately," Selig said, "events outside of our direct control, including yesterday's court decision in Minnesota, have required us to move the date of contraction to 2003."
Ventura said Major League Baseball, without a collective bargaining agreement with players or any way to limit salaries, is "not out of the woods." Any stadium project would have to include a contribution by the Twins' owner, revenue from various fees assessed to those attending games, and perhaps the sale of so-called seat licenses to ticket-holders, he said.
"They can't come and hit my checkbook," the governor said, referring to the state's budget. "I've got enough problems."
Some of Ventura's stadium ideas result from the deliberations of the stadium task force, which recently recommended the construction of two stadiums, the second to be shared by the Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota football team. Legislative leaders say they doubt both stadiums could get approved this year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Will the Minnesota Twins' near-death experience build sympathy for a complete recovery in the form of a new ballpark? The outlook appeared positive Tuesday as Gov. Jesse Ventura handed the patient a very big bouquet.
The day started with Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announcing he wouldn't pursue "contraction" until next year, an inevitable decision after a series of Minnesota court rulings. By the end of the day, political leaders were talking about life after 2003.
None other than Ventura, who mere months ago was saying the Metrodome was younger than his son and didn't need to be replaced, spoke forcefully about the need for a new revenue-boosting ballpark for the home team.
Ventura said in an interview on WCCO radio that Selig's decision "gives us the opportunity to see if . . . the right combination can be put together to build them a viable stadium to play in."
He added, "And you know if need be, I'm not ruling out . . . that I wouldn't call a special session this fall to take care of a baseball stadium issue."
In a legislative session likely to include the paring of funding for education and basic services, the comment from the governor lifted the spirit of at least one Minnesotan.
"Wow," said Twins President Jerry Bell, who unsuccessfully tried to wring public financing out of the state Capitol for six years.
Ventura also said the Twins would have to let lawmakers and him examine their books before pitching any help their way. "Fine," Bell said.
The governor and House Speaker Steve Sviggum had been warming toward a variety of user fees to help finance a new Twins ballpark, and Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe had put his name behind that effort. As long as the general taxpayer doesn't get hit, the leaders say they want to help the team.
Sviggum, the leader of the Republican-controlled House, is a crucial vote because members of that chamber have been more reluctant to say yes to public financing of a ballpark. It is he, more than other leaders, who believes an ownership change is necessary to marshal enough votes.
Sviggum said he believes Twins owner Carl Pohlad disappointed and deceived Minnesotans too many times in attempting to get public financing. The speaker and Ventura have said they're impressed so far by Alabama businessman Donald Watkins, who is negotiating to buy the Twins and contends he also can finance a ballpark.
"I'm extremely happy for the team and its fans," Watkins said Tuesday from Birmingham, Ala. "I'll keep working every day on moving forward through the acquisition process."
Watkins is scheduled to meet today in Minneapolis with Mayor R.T. Rybak, who is trying to find a way to build a ballpark near Target Center.
"It's inappropriate to build a stadium before addressing the needs of school kids, the homeless and basic core services," Rybak said. But if a ballpark can be built after providing for the other needs, he's for it.
Rybak also said he would fight attempts to use state financing to move the Twins to St. Paul. St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly is pushing strongly for a Twins ballpark in his city and backs legislation already introduced for that purpose. Rybak, before meeting with Watkins today, will meet with businessmen who support a stadium in downtown Minneapolis.
Baseball had attempted to fold the Twins and Montreal Expos but was thwarted by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which obtained an injunction that forced the Twins to honor their 2002 lease. The state appeals court upheld the injunction, and, Monday, the Minnesota Supreme Court refused to give the matter any further hearing.
"While the clubs would have preferred to contract for 2002 and begin addressing the economic issues immediately," Selig said, "events outside of our direct control, including yesterday's court decision in Minnesota, have required us to move the date of contraction to 2003."
Ventura said Major League Baseball, without a collective bargaining agreement with players or any way to limit salaries, is "not out of the woods." Any stadium project would have to include a contribution by the Twins' owner, revenue from various fees assessed to those attending games, and perhaps the sale of so-called seat licenses to ticket-holders, he said.
"They can't come and hit my checkbook," the governor said, referring to the state's budget. "I've got enough problems."
Some of Ventura's stadium ideas result from the deliberations of the stadium task force, which recently recommended the construction of two stadiums, the second to be shared by the Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota football team. Legislative leaders say they doubt both stadiums could get approved this year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.