Nate Dybvig

As if it were yesterday the memory remains etched in my mind. As his pudgy frame rounded first, a single arm thrust to the sky told the story that the announcers could not. Kirby Puckett had just launched the game winning home run in the 11th inning, shifting the series momentum back to my beloved Twins. The seventh game seemed like a formality to me. I had faith in my team and believed that they could do no wrong.

My how times have changed.

While I still enjoy watching the Twins, the management of the organization has forever spoiled my taste for baseball. While I don't blame owner Carl Pohlad entirely for my loss of interest, his pouting over lost money has definitely been the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. While it would be much easier to blame major league baseball for allowing player contracts to spiral way out of control, ultimately it is Pohlad who has chosen to stay in their game.

If I ran a company that was losing $15 million a year (as Pohlad claims to be), I would have two options. If I had the money to sustain the losses while I restructured the organization, there would be a chance I could save the company. If I were not able to sustain the loss, I would have no choice but to sell the business or declare bankruptcy. Forbes Magazine listed Pohlad as the 124th richest man in the world this year. With an estimated net worth at $1.4 billion dollars, Pohlad has the luxury of choosing his path. Where I draw the line is when he determines that my tax dollars should support his team.

The example that stadium proponents love to use is Northwest Airlines. The state did provide money for the business to retain its service in the state. The primary fact conveniently left out by these people is that the thousand jobs that were saved by this move dwarf the hundred or so that the Twins provide for the same amount of money. Two dozen millionaires and a hundred front office people is not the same as a thousand baggage handlers and ticket reservation employees.

If I were to tell my employer that I needed $5 million dollars a year to work for him, he would laugh hysterically as he was helping load my possessions into a big box. If he said yes, the paper would fold, and I would be stuck living off my first big paycheck as I sought work elsewhere.

I doubt suburban legislator Loren Jennings or any of the other politicians who are currently jumping to the aid of the Twins would give a second thought to the demise of The Brainerd Daily Dispatch. I guess the difference is that despite my constant invitations, people are not lining up at the door and paying $10 a story to watch me type.

It is time for a state to stand up to major league athletics and tell them enough is enough. If they are going to run a business that they cannot afford, let them deal with another reality of the American economy, bankruptcy. I have absolutely no problem with Glen Taylor paying Kevin Garnett $126 million over six years. The problem I anticipate having is Taylor suddenly noticing that his arena is not profitable enough. People need to understand that these arenas aren't changing. It's the owners' mismanagement that is making once profitable teams beg.

Call me if you need help moving, Carl. I just hope that as a final parting gesture you also pay movers much more than the market can bear.

Ryan Thomas

The Twins and Vikings are threatening to leave town if they don't get a new stadium and the year is 1977, but soon the Metrodome will be built and everybody lived happily ever after.

Wow! It kinda feels like an episode of "The Twilight Zone."

Fast forward 20 years. The Twins and Vikings are threatening to leave town again. For the sake of simplicity, let's just focus on the Twins situation. Afterall, the Vikings are locked into a lease for a few years and as I like to say, "If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done."

Carl Pohlad wants the state to build him a new ball park, and who can blame him but a few no-name politicians who want to make a name for themselves ("No, sir. I'm the man who ran pro sports out of Minnesota!"). The Twins are an asset to the state for tourism dollars and a stadium would be an investment to that end. Like spending a dime for a $50 bill.

A few years back, the state bought the Target Center. Nary a fuss was raised.

A few years back, the state bailed out Northwest Airlines. Not an eyebrow raised.

A few months back, St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman makes a deal to build a hockey arena for a future NHL team. Banners reading "Coleman for Governor in '98," raised.

Many years back, Metrodome built. Not a politician unseated.

Shucks.

Minnesota is known nationally as the "Welfare State" because of its habit of liberally throwing money at anybody who wants it.

When Farmer Brown has a bad year in the field, the state says, "OK. You gave it your best. Here's $250,000 for your troubles."

Politicians have a bad habit of having criminal histories longer than their Pinoccio-like noses (Skip Finn, Bob Johnson, Dave Durenberger, Marion Barry, Bill Clinton et al). Yet they find it "morally objectionable" to expand gambling to get this thing done.

Thousands and thousands of times, I've run these thoughts through my head and still I cannot understand the double standard this turns into. Oh, well somehow it's fine to do all that other stuff, but not for the Twins.

Publicly funded or not, the Twins need a new stadium to stay in business. Not simply because it is impossible to watch a baseball game in the Metrodome, but also because the Vikings get all the concession, parking, luxury suite and signage monies. A new stadium can cure all these problems.

Luckily there are a whole slew of funding ideas before our fine Legislature. Pohlad is willing to pay for a good chunk of it and this would cost Minnesotans mere pennies spread out over 30 years.

The state should pay for part of the new stadium because the Twins are the only thing to bring tourists to Minneapolis in the summer. Do you think they would come for our word famous operatic singers, the plays, the musicals, the symphonies? That's a good one.

I have a saying about that too. The only difference between Minnesota and yogurt is that yogurt has culture.

The casino is the way to go. In Wisconsin they had this fight, and finally built a casino that's building their Milwaukee Brewers a stadium. They expected to bring in just $30 million a year. They're bringing in more than $100 a year. Morning! Time for our wake up call.

Ted Mondale had this to say in a Dispatch story Wednesday: "Those same people who currently go out for dinner and a Twins game will find other sources for their discretionary entertainment money."

I have heard of these other sources. It's called Wisconsin.