AntiRust: Hockey in Pittsburgh: Now I'm Offended

I have been thinking about developments in the arena talks for a few days. I should stop. Because I think it is going to drive me insane.

Our man Mario recently made headlines by calling the government's arena offer "offensive." Offensive? I can see "disappointing." Or maybe "insufficient." Or "sucky compared to what governments elsewhere are offering." But offensive seems utterly, completely and irrevocably asinine. (Update: The actual quote uses the phrase "our people were offended and disappointed." Same deal.)

Mario has a business. And he wants the government here to give that business some money. If the government is not sufficiently generous, he is threatening to leave. Fine. So they offered him something. Take it or leave it. Look. I can dream up all sorts of businesses that I could claim will revitalize the city, or save it in some other fashion. If I present that plan to government officials and they offer me $120 million in subsidies instead of $140 million in subsidies, wouldn't I have to be kind of precious to be "offended"? (These numbers are used as examples. Exactly what they hash out to be in this case remains to be seen.)

But even worse is this report regarding Governor Rendell's take on the whole affair. He thinks it's absolutely natural for Ron Burkle, the billionaire owner of the Penguins, to drive a hard bargain:

The governor said yesterday state and local officials "can still tweak [Plan B] a little bit." He described his conversation with Mr. Burkle, a friend and supporter, as "friendly."

"Look, Mr. Burkle is a great businessman. You don't accumulate the type of resources that he accumulated without being a smart businessman. He's trying to get every advantage ... We want to make sure the resources we devote to this are appropriate, not too much and not too little," he said.

Look. I'm no ethics guru. But I would be a little less glib about the fact that Burkle is a friend and a supporter. And about the fact that this dude has accumulated such a vast array of "resources." Isn't it customary for people who come to the taxpayers with hat in hand to, you know, actually NEED some money? Or isn't it at least customary to ACT that way?

Forbes recently placed Burkle's net worth at $2.3 billion. That means he could build a $300 million arena on his own. And still have exactly $2 billion left over. Or build four such arenas. And still have a billion left over. And he'll need those billions. Here's snippet of his profile in Forbes:

Recent transactions: invested $100 million in Sean (P. Diddy) Combs' Sean John clothing line... Longtime Democratic fundraiser a close friend of Bill Clinton; former President calls Burkle's 757 private jet "Ron Air."

I think it is ridiculous to give Air Ron a single penny to build his damn arena. Others might disagree. But isn't it going a little far to say that it's "offensive" if we don't give him exactly what he wants, when he wants it?

Absurd. Truly absurd.

A pox on this cursed arena.

Update Two: Sheesh. It's been a bad couple weeks for Mario's feel-bads. Here's what he had to say when that other dude backed away from his plans to buy the Pens:

"We were shocked and offended that Mr. Balsillie would back out of such an important deal at the last minute - and less than a week before a decision on the funding of a new arena that will have far-reaching implications on our franchise, our city and our region," Lemieux said in a statement. "As a result, we intend to retain Mr. Balsillie's deposit because we believe him to be in breach of our agreement."

Well, Mr. Lemieux, I am shocked and offended that you are shocked and offended. As a result, please mail me that deposit.