Hope you guys have had a chance to read Steve Duin's column in today's Sunday Oregonian. He says very well what many of us here at the OSC are thinking in the efforts to bring MLS and, eventually, MLB to our fair city. We don't need to do this twice when we can do it once, the right way, the first time ...

Anyway, here's the link if you haven't read it:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/ind...926203650.xml&coll=7

This isn't the only time Mr. Duin has reversed course. Five years ago, when the push was still on FOR the X-Poze, Duin gave us the old Libertarian argument about not spending public funds on MLB. (though he claims to be a huge MLB fan). Ironic that Duin would both condemn public funding, and five years later, criticize the city for not seeking baseball/football as opposed to soccer.

Similar note: The Oregonian was against lottery funds for the baseball park (5 years ago), but now has also reversed course; this time, requesting not lottery funds, (a voluntary tax) but public funding for a soccer stadium.

Funny how these things shake out. I believe PDX politicos favor public funds for MLS and not baseball due to Portland's desire to look and be perceived as European. In other words, MLB is too middle class, MLS is more chique as is more international.

Not that I'm complaining about the public funds for soccer. It's just that the hypocrisy gets to me.

Interesting also that the public has been largely silent about this tax increase; again diametricely opposed to their stance five years ago.

Bottom line, I'll take what we can get. As Archie Bunker once said:

"When in Rome, do as the "ROMANIANS."

Duin is a great writer, and there is at least a kernel of truth in this piece, but I'm not really on the same page as Duin on this...he pooh poohs MLS in PDX, but I would argue MLS IS major league in terms of interest on behalf of the NW cities--Seattle's new MLS team has apparently already sold 16,000+ season tix in anticipation of their 1st season next April--that is major league by just about any standard, and a season ticket total that many, many NBA teams would no doubt envy...were PDX to nab a MLS team, there would be an explosion of interest in this neck of the woods IMO...people just love soccer in the NW, especially in PDX--I am old enough to remember the mid70s, pre-Blazers '77 Championship, when the Timbers, not the Blazers, owned PDX...I'm not suggesting that will ever happen again, but I am sure that the Timbers, were they in MLS, WOULD be major league, at least in terms of interest on behalf of PDX's fine citizens...it would simply be huge, especially in a spiffed-up PGE, which is where the storied Timbers of the 1970s played...it is just an awesome area/environment...would I rather have MLB than MLS? Of course, but MLB is just not realistic at this point, and probably won't be for another decade or two...BTW, Paulson has asserted PDX isn't even ready for MLB now econommically, w/the lack of corporations in PDX--I don't know if I buy that completely, but it is food for thought...finally, MLS in PDX would be so popular, I think they'd have an excellent chance of selling out each and every game, assuming a 20K-ish capacity.

agree on all points. PDX should be ready for at least 25k per game. Also, MLB before Camden Yards was likely not drawing much more than MLS right now. Baseball's explosion is directly tied to the retro parks of the last 15 years.

And yes, I'm also old enough to remember the excitement of the mid and late 70's Timbers.

That's exactly it, CMM--what I was trying to say in a nutshell..."take what we can get" is exactly right...20,000 delirious fans for each and every Timber MLS game isn't something to scoff at or dismiss, as Duin seems too willing to do...BTW CMM, did you see/hear about the UW/BYU game a couple of days ago? Now, I'm ALL for the Huskies losing, and the more humiliating and deflating the better--however, the way UW lost that game to BYU, on a penalty on Jake Locker (has there ever been a better football name?) for understandably celebrating a last minute TD to probably send the game into OT or win it on a 2pt conversion...was grossly unfair to UW...another loss for the Fuskies? Yes, keep 'em coming, but please refs, make it fair and square.

I agree that Duin was probably taking MLS a little too lightly; I think the league has a good upside and believe Portland would be a good franchise in the league. I hope we can pull it off, even though I will admit to being a much bigger baseball fan than soccer fan.

My main concern - and this is where I do agree with Duin - is that I don't think Lents is the optimal site for a new baseball stadium IF we still have any future hopes of bringing MLB here. If, as Duin points out, we are going to ask the city for $40 million to renovate PGE for soccer, and $35 million for a new Triple A park, what happens 10 years from now when MLB finally decides to add two more American League teams? Does anyone honestly believe that the city leaders will pony up any more money to start a NEW downtown baseball stadium? "What, you want MORE money from us? We just built you a new baseball park 10 years ago!"

If we ARE going to build a new stadium, tbe best site for it will be wherever we hope to have a major league park, with the new one designed to be expanded for major league capacity. I could be wrong, but I see that as the best way to bring both MLS and MLB to Portland.

quote:

Originally posted by CEDAR MILL MADNESS:
This isn't the only time Mr. Duin has reversed course. Five years ago, when the push was still on FOR the X-Poze, Duin gave us the old Libertarian argument about not spending public funds on MLB. (though he claims to be a huge MLB fan). Ironic that Duin would both condemn public funding, and five years later, criticize the city for not seeking baseball/football as opposed to soccer.

Similar note: The Oregonian was against lottery funds for the baseball park (5 years ago), but now has also reversed course; this time, requesting not lottery funds, (a voluntary tax) but public funding for a soccer stadium.

Funny how these things shake out. I believe PDX politicos favor public funds for MLS and not baseball due to Portland's desire to look and be perceived as European. In other words, MLB is too middle class, MLS is more chique as is more international.

Not that I'm complaining about the public funds for soccer. It's just that the hypocrisy gets to me.

Interesting also that the public has been largely silent about this tax increase; again diametricely opposed to their stance five years ago.

Bottom line, I'll take what we can get. As Archie Bunker once said:

"When in Rome, do as the "ROMANIANS."

I don't see the hypocrisy - yet. The critiques before were over the methods of funding... we don't know yet how these will be funded other than a vague "self-funding" promise.

For reference, here's a couple of old Duin columns that discussed MLB2PDX:

http://obc.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/515605187/m/97...706035891#9706035891

http://obc.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/515605187/m/66...641006152#6641006152

I guess my point is that much of the community had an almost venemous reaction to the idea of a ballpark. The idea of major money for soccer has been met much more favorably by all.

In regards to Duin, I may have confused one of his pieces with that of Sarasohn. My most humble apologies to Duin. (as if he knows I exist).

Hey James, the dawgs got hosed. That was a terrible call and shouldn't have been made at that time.