NYC engineers finished their inspection of Yankee
Stadium last night, "saying there was no structural damage
and the team could resume playing on the field next week,"
according to Charlie LeDuff of the N.Y. TIMES. Repairmen
are "working around the clock" to fix areas where concrete
has suffered water and ice damage, "particularly under the
pedestrian ramps that are cracked and breaking apart."
Officials said that the cosmetic work will be done by
Wednesday (N.Y. TIMES, 4/17). When the Stadium reopens next
Friday, fans will have to enter the park through plywood
tunnels to protect them from any falling debris" (Fan, Fitz-
Gibbon & Siemaszko, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/17). In related
news, NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was in AZ yesterday, where
D'Backs Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo gave him "a
personal tour" of Bank One Ballpark (AZ REPUBLIC, 4/17).
SWAP MEET: In N.Y., Jack Curry reports that Yankees
Owner George Steinbrenner "disputed the idea" that Tigers
fans have been "seriously inconvenienced" by the switching
of home series between the Yankees and Tigers.
Steinbrenner: "How is [Tigers Owner Mike Ilitch] putting his
fans at an inconvenience? We're trading one weekend for the
other." Tigers VP/Business Operations Dave Glazier, who
said the team expected 75,000-80,000 fans next weekend, on
this weekend's series: "It wouldn't surprise me if we had a
thousand or 10,000. I don't know what to expect. It's not
going to be real pretty." Steinbrenner said that he "will
do something" financially to compensate the Tigers for the
move (N.Y. TIMES, 4/17). In Detroit, John Lowe: "If Tigers
fans wonder why ... Steinbrenner is often considered
arrogant, they need wonder no longer" (FREE PRESS, 4/17).
