When the MN Legislature convenes January 20, "the Twins
stadium battle will begin anew," according to Jay Weiner of
the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Senate Majority Leader Roger
Moe, who along with other legislators yesterday met with
three lawyers representing MLB: "It will be on the agenda.
... I think we have until the end of the ('98) session to
pass a stadium bill that doesn't have the public involved in
it, except issuing bonds." The MLB lawyers also visited MN
Gov. Arne Carlson's office, Twins suitor Clark Griffith and
team Owner Carl Pohlad to "gather information." The Twins
had no comment (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/17). In St.
Paul, Patrick Sweeney writes that the six legislators who met
with MLB lawyers said they came away "convinced" that MLB
owners are "unlikely" to approve moving the Twins to NC until
MN lawmakers "have taken another swing at a stadium bill."
(ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 12/17). But in NC, Tim Newman,
VP/NC Baseball, said that he believes the letter of intent
signed between Pohlad and Don Beaver that set a November 30
deadline for a stadium plan was binding: "Unless [MLB] tells
us that their interpretation of the letter of intent differs
from what we believe it to be, I would say it's too late"
(Justin Catanoso, Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 12/17).
