ST. PAUL MAYOR FEELS NEW BALLPARK ISN'T A NO TWINS SITUATION

          The Twins' "dormant stadium debate showed signs of
     rousing from a long slumber" yesterday when St. Paul Mayor
     Norm Coleman addressed the situation in his annual State of
     the City address, according to Curt Brown of the Minneapolis
     STAR TRIBUNE.  While legislative leaders "downplayed the
     significance" of Coleman's "new push" for a Twins ballpark,
     team President Jerry Bell said that he was "encouraged" by
     Coleman's position: "It's nice to know the mayor is thinking
     of us" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/24).  Coleman added that
     he intends "to see what St. Paul can do to bring the ...
     Twins to our city."  Coleman: "I don't believe that we need
     to continue to cower from public opinion polls that say
     Minnesotans don't want a new Minnesota Twins stadium" (Kevin
     Duchschere, Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/24).  
          VIKINGS IN THE MIX: In St. Paul, Jim Caple writes that
     Vikings GM Tim Connolly "continued his team's push for
     public support for a stadium" with visits yesterday to MN
     Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, House Speaker Steve
     Sviggum and House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty.  Some talk
     has the Vikings sharing a stadium with the Univ. of MN, but
     Moe said "there is no appetite to get anything done this
     session."  Moe: "Is the stadium situation of the Twins,
     Vikings and Gophers football something that has to be looked
     at in the future?  Yes" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/24).

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