Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Seligian Shenanigans
The Washington Post just wrapped up a series on how DC or Northern Virginia is about to be the newest area to be screwed over by Major League Baseball. After the All-Star Game, Bud Selig is going to announce where he's going to plunk down the team he stole from Montreal.
The series is in three parts. The first looks at the remarkably shady dealings that brought us Miller Park. I knew the dealings for that stadium reeked of corruption, but the Post's writers get all the details in order, and it's even worse than I thought.
The second looks at the remarkably shady dealings that brought MLB ownership of the Expos.
And the third looks at the shady dealings still to come, as Selig and his cronies arrive to loot the local treasuries of the DC area to the tune of around $350-400 million.
These articles are some of the first mainstream articles I've seen to argue strenously against Selig and his stadium-building boom. They're well-researched and well-written, and if they don't make you mad about the tax money being funneled into the pockets of billionaires, then maybe you should go here. The other thing this article does is make me more impressed with Peter Magowan of the Giants and the Cardinals ownership group. Magowan built the first privately funded stadium since Dodger Stadium (Which, it's important to remember, was built on land that was basically given to the O'Malleys after the low-income people living there were booted.); the Cardinals ownership is trying to do the same, getting some assistance, but not much.
The Post requires you to register, but I bet you all can figure out what to do.
Levi: This doesn't belong here, but I liked it so much that I had to put it somewhere. From E.J. Dionne, "The plural of anecdote is not data."
He's using the statement as a clause to introduce a bunch of anecdotes that he's using kind of like data, but it's still a succinct, sharp way to pinpoint what's wrong with reasoning from anecdotes.
Steve: Thanks alot, Levi. Just when I've really been enjoying this baseball season and the tight divisional races you go and dig this up. Grrrrr.
Well back at ya! How about that little league blooper that lost the game for the Cardinals last night? And my grandma can throw harder than Matt Morris.
Levi: Fortunately for my soul, I wasn't able to see the game last night, and by the time the radio broadcast came in, all I heard was Mike Shannon saying, "Totals and highlights in a moment."
I think that probably should have been "highlight," since Suppan's pitching seems to have been the only one.
But we're back at 'em tonight. And how many times--apologies to Toby--can the Pirates beat you, really?
Jason: If any other business were run like Major League Baseball, it would be bankrupt and OUT of business.
Levi: Like will soon be the case with the NHL, which seems to be run kind of like MLB, but with worse hair.
Steve: "And how many times--apologies to Toby--can the Pirates beat you, really?"
Apparently at least three times.....
Levi: Thank god tomorrow's an off day. This team sounds like it badly needs a day off.
And John Mabry might have had the worst day ever. He hit into two double plays, left ten men on, and managed to make six outs if you include the DP outs. Poor guy.
The series is in three parts. The first looks at the remarkably shady dealings that brought us Miller Park. I knew the dealings for that stadium reeked of corruption, but the Post's writers get all the details in order, and it's even worse than I thought.
The second looks at the remarkably shady dealings that brought MLB ownership of the Expos.
And the third looks at the shady dealings still to come, as Selig and his cronies arrive to loot the local treasuries of the DC area to the tune of around $350-400 million.
These articles are some of the first mainstream articles I've seen to argue strenously against Selig and his stadium-building boom. They're well-researched and well-written, and if they don't make you mad about the tax money being funneled into the pockets of billionaires, then maybe you should go here. The other thing this article does is make me more impressed with Peter Magowan of the Giants and the Cardinals ownership group. Magowan built the first privately funded stadium since Dodger Stadium (Which, it's important to remember, was built on land that was basically given to the O'Malleys after the low-income people living there were booted.); the Cardinals ownership is trying to do the same, getting some assistance, but not much.
The Post requires you to register, but I bet you all can figure out what to do.
Original comments...
Levi: This doesn't belong here, but I liked it so much that I had to put it somewhere. From E.J. Dionne, "The plural of anecdote is not data."
He's using the statement as a clause to introduce a bunch of anecdotes that he's using kind of like data, but it's still a succinct, sharp way to pinpoint what's wrong with reasoning from anecdotes.
Steve: Thanks alot, Levi. Just when I've really been enjoying this baseball season and the tight divisional races you go and dig this up. Grrrrr.
Well back at ya! How about that little league blooper that lost the game for the Cardinals last night? And my grandma can throw harder than Matt Morris.
Levi: Fortunately for my soul, I wasn't able to see the game last night, and by the time the radio broadcast came in, all I heard was Mike Shannon saying, "Totals and highlights in a moment."
I think that probably should have been "highlight," since Suppan's pitching seems to have been the only one.
But we're back at 'em tonight. And how many times--apologies to Toby--can the Pirates beat you, really?
Jason: If any other business were run like Major League Baseball, it would be bankrupt and OUT of business.
Levi: Like will soon be the case with the NHL, which seems to be run kind of like MLB, but with worse hair.
Steve: "And how many times--apologies to Toby--can the Pirates beat you, really?"
Apparently at least three times.....
Levi: Thank god tomorrow's an off day. This team sounds like it badly needs a day off.
And John Mabry might have had the worst day ever. He hit into two double plays, left ten men on, and managed to make six outs if you include the DP outs. Poor guy.
Labels: bud selig, Cardinals, giants, miller park, nationals
