From: oxley@pdn.paradyne.com (Don Oxley)
Subject: Re: Suncoast Monstrosity
Organization: AT&T Paradyne, Largo, Florida
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 11:41:14 GMT

In article <1992Aug18.130956.28490@leland.Stanford.EDU> altus@leland.Stanford.EDU (Steve Altus) writes:
>In article <1992Aug17.222341.4774@odin.corp.sgi.com> luigi@sgi.com (Randy Palermo) writes:
>>>
>>> ... from what I'VE seen i must admit that the fans in 
>>>Tampa/St. Pete deserve a team much more than the ones here.
>>>
>>Why do you say that the fans in Tampa/St. Pete deserve a team more then the
>>FANS in SF? Is it because they built a dome to steal a team from someone
>>else? That can be pushed through with a small minority of the population
>>and politics. Is it because the FANS of the Bay Area voted down the stadium
>>proposals? Couple of facts here: 
>>
>
>   [ Bunch of stuff deleted that you read before ]
>
>I said what i said because it's what i observed to be true in one-to-one
>interactions with people in both places.  I don't expect everyone to agree
>with me.  The only reason i posted was because i've interacted with the 
>fans in both places -- the BASEBALL fans, and the people -- in the 
>"other" Bay Area seem to have a better concept of the game and what it
>means to American culture.  Because a lot of them will go to games no
>matter how the team is doing;  to support the team, to see the other
>teams, and just to see a baseball game!  
>
>
>Don't get me wrong;  i love the (SF) Bay Area, and i love the people.  I
>would much more likely be here than in Tampa.  But from what i personally 
>have seen, i just don't think the fans here deserve a team as much as the
>people in Tampa.  
>
> -- steve altus


First of all, I am from Tampa and still live here.  And I might add
I like it.  But anyway, I don't feel that Tampa is trying to steal
a team from anyone.  Aggressive at getting a team, YES!  To say that
the dome was built with political influence would be a correct
statement, but the dome was built mainly to get an expansion team
into Tampa Bay.  Why?  Because we desire it and deserve it.

The Tampa Bay area is hungry for baseball.  Each year we get just
a taste of it during spring training, but we hunger for it very
much.  And we have paid a price, but have yet to obtain a team.
I said above I do not feel that we are trying to steal a team, but
have solicited teams that have announced that they are for sale or
interested in a new area.  Examples, the Tampa Bay Baseball Group
(TBBG) at one time purchased a portion of the Twins.  It was 
offered and they bought it.  It was approved, and they were a partial
owner.  But MLB came along and said, if you sell away your share to
local interest, you will be looked upon most favorably during expansion.
They complied.  Another example, the Rangers were for sale; we were
interested, but a loop hole in the minority owner aggreement stopped
the buy.  And again, Chicago used Tampa to get a new stadium in
Chicago.  And again with Seattle.  All these teams were offered for
sale, or approached Tampa with an interest in the bay area.  Let's
not even talk about expansion.

Now the Giants.  Again, the owner announced he would sell to the
first offer on his desk.  That is not stealing.  We want baseball
very badly here.  And I agree with Steve that we deserve it.  We
offer fans willing to buy in access of 20K season tickets already.
We offer a good marketing area.  We offer a new stadium, even if
we do have fake grass and a roof.  We want the game here.  Baseball
is big in this area, and we want it here full time.  As to whether
or not we deserve a team more than SF, I cannot say for that is a
subjective opinion.  I have been in SF, and went to the Stick while
there.  It's a nice place to visit, but I prefer my home here in
Tampa.  And I, along with many other baseball fans, want baseball
here.  Why?  BECAUSE WE DO DESERVE IT!


DonO

--
Don Oxley     |Internet: oxley@pdn.paradyne.com|"It is better to keep your mouth
AT&T Paradyne |UUCP:     uunet!pdn!oxley       | shut and appear stupid, than to
Largo, FL     |--------------------------------| open it and leave no doubt."
(813)530-8282 |  Opinions are mine, not AT&T   |               -Mark Twain