PNC Park

==Ground Breaking==
A big gala was held in the evening, with fireworks of course, for the ground breaking of PNC Park. I screamed, once, "Where's Sophie."
My kid was in a stroller. We walked over and took in some of the buzz.
The next day and for another day to follow, I, along with my small child, stood with the pickets. The African American Trade Union folks held a picket for the first week or so of the building of PNC Park. I was there, in support of their cause. I didn't say much or network like a politician should or could. At the time, I was there to do the right thing and didn't have any ambitions or expectations of one day running for office. 
In the weeks and months to come, the air was taken out of that labor group. They struggle had surged past them and defeat followed. A few of the battles delivered some gains, but they were too few and far apart.
==Opening Day==
PNC Park's opening day was but a month before the May, 2001 Primary that had a close race between Bob O'Connor and Tom Murphy. 
Sadly, just before the stadium opened, #8, Willie Stargel, died. Pops was gone. So too was the engagement from the past such as "We are family" and "Chicken on the Hill with Will." 
PNC Park's bad mo-jo increased with the heavy-handed prohibition of outside snaks, drink containers, and bottled water larger than certain sizes. This was no Kennywood. And the prices were major league as well. Sadly, the team's performance never quite matched the price tag of the venture for the citizens.