ESPN's Peter Gammons, on last night's melee at Wrigley
Field between Dodgers players and fans: "What [Bud Selig's]
office has to do is say -- to people like the Cubs -- is,
'alright, [if] you can't provide adequate security, fine,
we're going to shut off beer [sales].' The commissioner
should call down to the Cubs and say, 'Hey, we punish
players. We take money out of their pocketbooks. You don't
sell beer for your next seven games'" (ESPN, 5/17).
Louisville Mayor Dave Armstrong said that the city
"cannot afford to build a downtown sports arena on its own"
in its effort to land the Rockets, but "in the coming weeks"
he will "work on a joint financing plan" with Gov. Paul
Patton and Jefferson County Judge-Executive Rebecca Jackson
to present to the team. Armstrong said a proposal to issue
$175M in bonds to construct the arena would "financially
strangle" the city and that he "doesn't want to leave a debt
for future generations" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 5/17).
I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME: In
Philadelphia, Frederick Cusick writes that Flyers fans
arriving at the First Union Center last night for Game Two
against the Devils were handed a "little white card telling
them to behave." Text printed on cards read, "No Tolerance:
... Any behavior that is out of order, participants will be
arrested and charged. Ticket/building privileges will be
revoked. Spotters are located throughout the stands
watching for any potential problems." Comcast-Spectacor
Ventures President Peter Luukko said the game "went very
well," adding that only six fans "were to be charged with
disorderly conduct for allegedly throwing stuff on the ice
or other misbehavior" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/17).
CONLIN'S ADVICE TO PHILLIES: In Philadelphia, Bill
Conlin wrote on the Phillies' opposition to Mayor John
Street's Chinatown ballpark site: "Now it might be time for
[Phillies President Dave] Montgomery and his partners to
take a step back. ... Consider listening to the words of
the torch song that advises: 'Get out of town before it's
too late, my friend'" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 5/16).
