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OPINION
Florida flap: Is there a baseball bias in the Bushes?
By Mike Bianchi
The Orlando Sentinel/KRT
ORLANDO. Fla. Orl
ando has steadfastly refused
to build the Magic a new
basketball arena, but if Gov.
Jeb Bush has his way.
Orlando will contribute to
building the Florida Marlins
a new baseball stadium.
That’s right: Our baseball
governor is once against try
ing to be just like his big
bubba, the baseball presi
dent.
Gov. Jeb actually is
endorsing a plan being
debated in the legislature
that would provide S6O mil
lion in state subsidies to the
Marlins. In other words, he
wants Orlando. Jacksonville.
Tampa and everybody else in
the state to chip in so the
(South) Florida Marlins can
have a new $325 million sta
dium.
What next. Guv —a state
law mandating the Magic
trade Tracy McGrady to
Miami for Bimbo Coles to
help out the Heat in the play
offs?
And since the Dolphins
didn’t get the receiver they
needed in the draft, maybe
there should be an executive
order: The Jags must ship
Roy Williams to the Fish for
the rights to Clint Stoerner.
But. seriously, why would
anybody propose using our
state tax dollars to fund
sports stadiums? What are
we Habitat for Humanity?
Or Insanity? It’s arguable
whether local taxes should
be used to build plush new
playpens for billionaire
sports owners. It’s downright
unconscionable to use state
money.
"If Miami gets state
money for the Marlins, then
Orlando should get state
money for the Magic and on
down the line.” said state
Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando.
Actually, that seems to be
the master plan.
The South Florida Sun-
Sentinel reported that the
Marlins are "asking to keep
$2 million of the sales tax
the new ballpark would gen
erate every year for 30 years.
And they're essentially ask
ing to borrow a rebate des
tined for the Orlando Magic,
which has yet to cement
plans for a new arena. The
idea is that the state would
grant the Magic another
rebate to use later."
Admittedly, I'm all for
the Magic getting a new
arena, but. if it happens, it
should be paid for by
Orlando taxpayers not
taxpayers in Pensacola. The
same for the Marlins’ new
stadium: If Miami wants to
build it for them go for it.
Just count me out. please.
Astoundingly, this whole
scam is nothing new; it’s just
TAKE from IB
died a little."
Not that South didn’t try.
The War Eagles manufactured
numerous chances during the
opening stanza but couldn’t
find the net, often blasting high
or wide of the Paulding goal.
South striker Nelson
Alvarez, along with midfield
ers Cushman and Greg Bova
each came close several times
especially over the half’s
final 20 minutes but could
n't break through.
Yet the outcome rarely
seemed in doubt, with South
controlling the ball and keep
ing play in Paulding’s end for
much of the night South
keeper Kyle Swisher didn't get
his first touch in the flow of
play until 10 minutes remained
in the half.
“We didn’t get any pressure
from our opponents,” said
Dolleh, who will now look to
get the Eagles ready for a
tough battle with Salem
Region 8-AAAA’s No. 1 seed.
“I always consider every
team the same,” said Dolleh.
“I’ve got confidence in my
boys. If we play well, we can
beat anyone.”
the Marlins are seeking a
larger chunk than most.
Since 1993, the state report
edly has doled out nearly
S9O million in tax rebates to
14 pro sports venues.
The idea behind these
rebates is that sports venues
supposedly increase sales tax
collections, so, therefore, the
venue deserves a share of the
Beautiful hard bound collectors’ edition -
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money.
That’s ridiculous.
All businesses increase
sales tax collections. Does
that mean the new neighbor
hood Publix should get a
sales tax rebate? And why
not give the guy who owns
Sam’s Auto Parts a state
rebate on the first $2 million
worth of intake manifolds he
sells?
And, please, spare us the
rhetoric about the Marlins
being a tourist attraction.
Do you really think
Florida gets one additional
tourism dollar because of the
Marlins?
Pop quiz: Which of the
following doesn’t belong in a
list of Florida vacation desti-
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Friday, April 30, 2004
nations I. Disney World.
2. Busch Gardens. 3.
Daytona Beach. 4. Marlins-
Expos doubleheader.
A few years ago, Gov.
Bush vetoed a measly
$250,000 in legislature
approved tax money to keep
afloat the Florida Sports Hall
of Fame our only real
state sports museum. Bush
said then the money would
be better spent “on hiring
more teachers, restoring bur
environment and ... continu
ing our commitment to tax
relief.”
Little did we know that
the tax relief would be for
those who need it the least:
bloated billionaire sports
owners. 1
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