In Minneapolis, efforts to put a stadium spending limit
referendum on the ballot in November "suffered a setback
Thursday when election officials announced that only 5,090
of the 10,000 petition signatures were valid," according to
Jay Weiner of the Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE. A total of
8,155 signatures of registered Minneapolis voters is needed
to put the referendum on the ballot. Petition organizers,
now have 10 days to gather the necessary signatures to reach
the 8,155 threshold (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/15).
GARNETT BLOCKING TWINS? A STAR TRIBUTE editorial, on
Kevin Garnett's rejection of a six-year, $103.5M contract
offer from the T-Wolves and the impact that may have on the
Twins, said, "The Timberwolves franchise will survive this
infuriating episode. The Twins, however, cannot be expected
to remain in Minnesota if Garnett's alleged greed becomes an
excuse for denying them a new ballpark. ... Like Garnett,
the Twins can be free agents after the 1998 season -- free
to go wherever they can get the kind of deal they want. The
only difference is that the Twins would leave with better
reason" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/15).