Wow. What the Post-Gazette editorial board lacks in good sense it certainly makes up for in timing. Scroll down one post to my snarky bit on using Sidney Crosby and the Penguins as a redevelopment strategy. A few hours later the PG posted this editorial, headlined "Sid's stats: Another reason to keep the Pens in Pittsburgh":
Although Mario Lemieux, who built a Hall-of-Fame career while on the team, is making headlines these days for talks on numbers that may lead to a new Penguins commitment to Pittsburgh, it's young Crosby's stats that are the essence of hockey. The goals, the assists, the points have always mattered more to the fans than lease terms, revenue and profit margins.
Unfortunately, the business of sport cannot produce one without the other. That's why it's essential that the mayor, the county executive and the governor reach a quick and fair deal with Mr. Lemieux on a new Downtown arena.
Huh. Remember a few years ago when the Pirates were demanding a new stadium? One of the reasons supporters cited in that case was that the Pirates sucked. And that the sucking was a direct result of a crappy stadium. And that the new stadium would result in less sucking. (It didn't.) Now we seem to have a complete reversal. The public has to pay for the Penguin's arena because the team doesn't suck.
So I wonder. Is there some magical historical or current winning percentage that make supporting a team with government money a bad idea? Say, a .635 average? Maybe something between .5432453 and .5432457?
Honestly, is "Sid the Kid" REALLY the reason the Post-Gazette supports public funding of an arena? Did the editors change their mind about that just a few short months ago when Crosby started playing for the Pens? Or have they supported tax dollars for the Steelers and the Pens and the Pirates for years, regardless of winning percentage?
The P-G was against saving Pitt Stadium -- despite the fact that a huge, green Post Gazette sign was in the endzone there. The editors there do the corporate dance and often play along the party line of those in power. The P-G was always a friend of Tom Murphy, Rooney family and others with cash and free lunch.
The status quo is getting the P-G in the graveyard.
Posted by: Mark Rauterkus | January 11, 2007 at 06:08 AM
sam, blogs are soo 2006...check out flickr...no e.
Posted by: sean mcdaniel | January 11, 2007 at 08:07 PM