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Johnny_Blaze_47
12-15-2004, 10:35 PM
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20041215&content_id=922900&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp

Questions ahead for Nationals
12/15/2004 7:32 PM ET
By Jeff Seidel and Associated Press / Special to MLB.com

WASHINGTON -- The long-term future of the Washington Nationals remaining in the nation's capital seemed to be put on hold Wednesday following Tuesday night's surprise legislation by the District of Columbia Council.

The Council amended legislation to require private financing for at least half of the costs of building a new stadium. That provision was not contained in an agreement with the club in September and could very well jeopardize the league's deal with the District.

"The legislation approved by the District of Columbia City Council last night does not reflect the agreement we signed and relied upon after being invited by District leaders to consider Washington as a home for Major League Baseball," said Bob DuPuy, MLB's president and chief operating officer, in a statement issued Wednesday evening. "The legislation is inconsistent with our carefully negotiated agreement and is wholly unacceptable to Major League Baseball.

"Because our stadium agreement provides for a December 31, 2004 deadline, we will not entertain offers for permanent relocation of the club until that deadline passes. In the meantime, the club's baseball operations will proceed, but its business and promotional activities will cease until further notice. We thank the fans of Washington, D.C. for their support and enthusiasm, but given the present uncertainty, any ticket purchaser who entrusted us with a deposit may request a refund through the club's ticket office."

The team postponed a news conference scheduled for Wednesday to unveil its new uniforms.

Without private financing in place by June, no stadium would be built under the amendment that was pushed through the council by chair Linda Cropp.

Washington mayor Anthony A. Williams, who brokered the deal bringing the Montreal Expos to Washington, was disheartened by Tuesday night's turn of events.

"As CEO of this city, I'm deeply troubled about what happened," Williams said. "I'm saddened that we could go so far in five years and step back all that way in five minutes. Yes, baseball is in jeopardy. We had a deal and it was broken. The dream of 33 years is now, once again, close to dying."

Even so, Williams remained hopeful a deal could be reached. The District's agreement with Major League Baseball calls for a deal to be in place by Dec. 31, giving the city time to change course.

Chris Bender, spokesman for Williams, said that the bill can be brought up again for discussion when the D.C. Council meets again Tuesday if Cropp "agrees to re-agendize it and someone supports that motion from the winning coalition."

Both Williams and Cropp said that they'll use the next two weeks to try and keep Washington's baseball dreams alive.

"We've got 15 days to work through the deal -- and that's what we'll do," Williams said. "Today, we'll be in touch with baseball, we'll be in touch with the Chairman, we'll be in touch with Councilmember [Jack] Evans -- and we'll see what can be done."

The Nationals were scheduled to play the 2005 season at Washington's RFK Stadium. If the law stands, one option for baseball could be to have its search committee resume negotiations with cities that desire the team. Las Vegas; Monterrey, Mexico; Norfolk, Va.; Northern Virginia; Portland, Ore.; and San Juan, Puerto Rico also tried to land the franchise.

The group that tried to lure the franchise to Norfolk, Va., was prepared to revive its bid.

"I don't think we've ever stopped," said Will Somerindyke Jr., who is spearheading Norfolk's bid. "We always wanted to keep this area an option. If the opportunity arises for the [Nationals] again, we are going to be standing there along with everyone else."

Another option could be Las Vegas. Mayor Oscar Goodman campaigned at last week's Winter Meetings in Anaheim, arriving accompanied by showgirls wearing feathered headdresses.

Cropp repeatedly said on Tuesday both during and after the session that she wasn't trying to kill baseball in Washington but only wanted a fair deal.

Cropp had been pushing the importance of private financing for several weeks, even delaying one vote on the bill so it could research more about the subject. But nothing had materialized, and Cropp said she still wanted baseball and was not trying to break the deal that Williams negotiated with MLB officials.

From the start, baseball owners have insisted on a publicly financed stadium for the team be a component of any move.

When the council gave its initial approval to the law on Nov. 30, it called for the city to issue $531 million in bonds to finance the plan. Baseball owners approved the team's move Dec. 2 on the condition that financing be put in place consistent with the deal, and that arrangements to prepare RFK Stadium for use in 2005 satisfied Commissioner Bud Selig.

The Nationals open their season April 4 at Philadelphia and play their home opener April 14 against Arizona.

timvp
12-16-2004, 02:59 AM
What are they doing with my beloved Expos?

:depressed

violentkitten
12-16-2004, 07:34 AM
vj keefe baby

T Park
12-16-2004, 02:11 PM
Nice Job DC.

Dumbfucks.