In one of his final acts as mayor of New York City, Hizzonor Rudy Giuliani signed off on a tentative deal to build a pair of retractable roof stadiums for both the Yankees and Mets. That's right, the man Time magazine named the Person of the Year for being "an icon of steadfastness in the midst of chaos" declared on his way to the lecture circuit that a city facing a $12 billion deficit over the next three years should build stadiums for two of the richest teams at a projected cost of $1.6 billion.
And that's just the initial estimate. By the time George Steinbrenner picks out the imported marble for the luxury suites, you know the cost will be well over $3 billion.
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In addition to the thousands of deaths, an estimated
100,000 people will lose their jobs in New York due to Sept. 11.
And two of the game's richest teams each want an $800 million
stadium so they can increase their revenue streams?
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Fortunately, incoming mayor Michael Bloomberg took one look at the proposed deal, shouted "THAT $#*^%*&#@% GIULIANI!!!" and quickly said there was no money for such a thing. Still, he signed off Giuliani's provision that the city pay each team $5 million a year for each of the next five years to study the design and plans for new stadiums.
That's $50 million just so the teams can think about the stadiums. Sounds like another benefit concert is in order.
Virtually all the stadium schemes are disgraceful, but this one is particularly offensive. That the Yankees and Mets would have their hands out at a time like this is beneath even the usual standards of baseball ownership. Tony Pena never got that low in his crouch. In addition to the thousands of deaths, an estimated 100,000 people will lose their jobs in New York due to Sept. 11. And two of the game's richest teams each want an $800 million stadium so they can increase their revenue streams?
I just don't see the justification for the new stadiums, particularly for the Yankees. Sure, Yankee Stadium is old with cramped concourses, but it remains the most famous sports arena in the country and one of the game's most cherished ballparks. It may show its age, but I haven't noticed attendance suffering any because of that recently.
Nor are revenues a problem. According to major-league baseball's own figures, the Yankees took in more than $242 million last year. They need another stadium like TV needs another sitcom based in New York City. The Mets, meanwhile, took in $182 million. Yeah, playing in Shea Stadium must really be killing them.
And it's not as if the teams can threaten to move, the usual bit of blackmail used by teams. There is no way either team would ever leave the nation's largest and most lucrative market. You think the Yankees would say goodbye to their local television arrangement? You think the Mets would trade their local broadcast and marketing deals for those in, say, Sacramento? Yeah, and Rudy is going to donate his lecture money to Hillary's re-election fund.
The teams, of course, maintain that new stadiums would spur economic development beneficial to everyone in the city. Right. Stadiums always spur economic development. Everyone knows this. That's why the neighborhood outside Yankee Stadium is filled with a rose-lined pedestrian mall, outdoor cafes, a bandshell, mimes and fountains filled with frolicking children. Even in the offseason.
Economic development is a crock and every economist not employed by a team knows it. At best, stadiums spur a few bars and restaurants to open (though by no means always), and even when they do, they are simply siphoning off business from another part of the city.
Unfortunately, the sad truth is that no matter how reprehensible the scheme seems now, within a couple years the mayor will be digging the first spadeful of dirt at the construction sites of new stadiums. Once owners and politicians get their minds set on something, nothing can stop them.
I guess we should just be thankful the Red Cross isn't devoting Sept. 11 funds to the stadium projects.
At least I hope it isn't.
Lies, damn lies and statistics
In the time it took the Twins to replace manager Tom Kelly with Ron Gardenhire: the Yankees signed three free agents for a total of $152 million, extended manager Joe Torre's contract for three years and $16 million and traded for Robin Ventura and his $8.5 million contract; the Mets traded 10 players and acquired 10; Pokey Reese was traded twice and became a free agent; and Argentina went through five presidents. The Twins, meanwhile, signed no free agents, traded no one, lost Paul Molitor from the organization and sold all of about 450 new season tickets (not counting renewals). Thanks a lot, Bud, for helping make baseball a success in Minnesota. Would you like another low-interest loan from Carl Pohlad? ... Still hard to believe, but nine Hall of Fame voters didn't vote for Hank Aaron, 23 didn't vote for Willie Mays and 51 didn't vote for Rogers Hornsby in his second year of eligibility while not even Joe DiMaggio got in his first year on the ballot. Tim Wallach, on the other hand, did get one vote this year. ... The Yankees have a projected payroll around $140 million for next year, which is more than the combined payrolls of the two teams they beat in the playoffs last year (Seattle and Oakland, approximately $110 million).
From left field
How did this columnist vote in this year's Hall of Fame election? For Ozzie Smith, Gary Carter, Jack Morris, Alan Trammell, Goose Gossage and Jim Rice, while agonizing over Bert Blyleven and Steve Garvey before deciding to not vote for them (barely), nor Andre Dawson, Luis Tiant and Dale Murphy.
Only Ozzie made it of course, leaving the following All-Star team of Hall of Fame eligible players who at least deserve consideration for Cooperstown -- and in some cases (Santo, Carter and Morris) deserve admission without question.
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Pos., Player
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The skinny
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C, Gary Carter
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11 All-Star Games, three gold gloves, 298 home runs as a catcher
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1B, Steve Garvey
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10 All-Star games, four gold gloves, MVP
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2B, Lou Whitaker
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Three gold gloves, more RBI, higher average and almost as many home runs as Joe Morgan
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SS, Alan Trammell
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More gold gloves and All-Star Games than Robin Yount
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3B, Ron Santo
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More home runs, higher average and on-base percentage than Brooks -- and five gold gloves
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OF, Jim Rice
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Seven All-Star Games, three home run titles, MVP, 1,451 RBI
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OF, Andre Dawson
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One MVP, two second-place finishes, 438 HR, 318 steals
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OF, Dale Murphy
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Two MVPs, five gold gloves, 398 HR, 1,266 RBI
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SP, Jack Morris
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Five All-Star Games, 247 wins, no-hitter, 1991 World Series MVP
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RP, Goose Gossage
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Greatest reliever of the '70s and '80s -- and he wasn't afraid to pitch two or more innings
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Jim Caple is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
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