Thursday, July 17, 2008

Thursday: My So-Called Blog

Controller fears 'unjust' Steelers sale (Trib, Carl Prine)

Don't get excited -- it's about the sale of the team, not the sale of development rights by the Stadium Authority.

The letter warns that any sale that ends the 75-year ownership of the Steelers by the Rooney family would violate a "permitted transfer" of the club spelled out in the 2000 lease agreement between the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority and the parent company of the team, Pittsburgh Steelers Sports Inc.

Controllers can just go out there and term transactions unjust and/or illegal? Then again, what's stopping them?

The Tribune-Review comes prepared: Flaherty's right and Flaherty's great call.

We admit this strikes a chord with the Comet over what we have been considering "Pittsburgh's even-more-blind spot" when it comes to sports teams.

##

Barden signs casino transfer (Trib, Mike Wereschagin)

The arrangement must be approved by the state Gaming Control Board...

Momentum is building to block this transfer, and instead go through some semblance of a competitive selection process. If anyone has a problem with that, they'd better start organizing now. We don't imagine that Don Barden has a ton of leverage remaining.

##

Despite progress, state to still monitor city finances (P-G, Rich Lord)

"There's a lot going on behind the scenes to begin to address those [long-term] issues," [Michael Lamb] said, noting a push for statewide municipal pension reform that might steer more aid to distressed cities.

Really? That would be wonderful news! Tell us more!

##

Lawyer: URA's Ford not target of Fed's probe (P-G, Rich Lord)

Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Pat Ford, on paid leave while the State Ethics Commission reviews his receipt of gifts, "has received assurances from authorities that his cooperation with them is of 'mutual interest,'" his attorney said yesterday.

Welcome aboard!

1 comment:

  1. Bram -- Pittsburgh's blind spot when it comes to sports is going to be very obvious about 8-8-08. That's when the Olympics begin. They went ahead and scheduled the Beijing Games right as the Steelers are getting started on mini-camp. For pete's sake. Golly.

    That's a blind spot.

    Is Pittsburgh a good place for creating literate Olympians here?

    Go figure.

    What the city does with the Steelers is hardly blind -- unless you mean like LOVE is BLIND kinda always sexy ga-ga blind.

    Talk water polo, springboard diving, or say, team handball -- then you got the can't see it kinda blind spot that is way worse than the drunk on you blind, wink, wink doubt spot.

    But, there is good news. At 10 am Friday -- Marty Griffin, KDKA, to talk about a school sports and facility use matter. Tune in.

    ReplyDelete