DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH? BUS COMPANY WANTS TEAM'S SHUTTLE ROUTE

          Southwest Charter Lines bus company wants to run the
     downtown shuttle bus system proposed for D'Backs games,
     "saying it can do a better job than the city and avoid
     sticking taxpayers with the bill," according to Chris Fiscus
     of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC.  Southwest Charter approached the
     Mayor and Phoenix City Council yesterday about shuttling
     fans to and from Bank One Ballpark for "about" $2 per round
     trip.  The company said that would save the city $124,000 in
     operating fees.  Fiscus reports that initial reaction from
     the city "were mixed" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/17).  In AZ, E.J.
     Montini writes, "you told local politicians you don't want
     them giving any more of your money to the [D'Backs.] ... You
     said you don't want the city funding a shuttle bus system
     for the team; that the Diamondbacks have enough cash to pay
     for such a thing. ... And you know -- when it comes to a
     vote -- the Diamondbacks will get exactly what they want. 
     As they always do" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/17).