No Way

Those of you who have known me for more than 1 minute know that I have always been a huge advocate for a new, outdoor baseball stadium for the Minnesota Twins. Baseball should not be played indoors, on plastic. Therefore, for the last ten years, I have sent countless e-mails to politicians, showed up at community hearings, and even testified on behalf of the stadium in front on the Hennepin County Board in August on 2006. I became obsessed by the topic, as many of you know. This is a major reason my wife created this blog.

Every stadium plan was rejected for various evil reasons until last spring, when a bill was finally passed by the Minnesota Legislature to finance a new stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The bill was given the blessing of Hennepin County and the Governor. Beautiful renderings of the outdoor stadium with real grass, blue sky and downtown as a backdrop were made available to the public (and added to this blog). A project team was formed that meets monthly, and famed HOK was named as the design team. The tax to pay for the stadium became official in Hennepin County on January 1st, 2007. Even though the process has taken ten years (easily) off my life, all is good - right? That is what I thought until I sat down last Sunday morning with my cup off coffee, slippers made by Maura and my Sunday paper. I then proceeded to read Sid's column:

http://www.startribune.com/507/story/907211.html


What the hell? Hennepin County is having problems buying the land?? I seriously had to read this six times before I could believe it. Honestly, what the hell? They said "SCRAP the project?"

I have to honestly ask if some evil force of nature is trying to drive me insane. What have I done to deserve this kind of crap? Now, don't worry readers. I don't have this kind of passion for a Vikings or Gophers stadium - just baseball. People have accused me of being paranoid, but I truly will not believe this stadium will be built until I am sitting in it with a beer. Maybe not even then.

Actually, I never expected something as stupid as not being able to buy the land to derail the stadium plan. I expected Chief Hiawatha's bones to be found as they excavated the site, and have it declared holy land and made into a Green Space for the Euphorians. Wait a second - I have to breath into a bag...........

OK. I'm going to save some serious swearing and rage for the day this thing falls through for real. In the meantime, I'm just going to assume that Sid is still bitter about the Twins leaving WCCO for KSTP 1500 AM. Just like he is bitter about the Wild and Xcel Energy Center ending up in St. Paul instead of Minneapolis. After all, Grandpa Sports is getting senile.

Right?