So It's Come to This

It was just one sentence, buried at the very end of the wire service round-up in today's paper. But it's something important I think more people should be aware of:

The Royals would host the All-Star Game sometime between 2010 and 2014 if voters approve a sales tax to fund Kauffman Stadium upgrades.

This is a step below the extortion attempts we've seen in Miami, Saint Louis, Minneapolis, and Montreal over the last few years. But it's still pretty awful.

Perhaps Baron Budhausen and his cronies have learned, and are now offering the carrot instead of the stick. But what happens if the good citizens of Kansas City decline the Baron's generous offer? How long until the song and dance about "the future of baseball in Kansas City" gets trotted out for the cameras?

One more thing: is this a precedent we want to set for scheduling All-Star Games? Do we want cities to be obligated to fork over tax money for the privilege of hosting the Home Run Derby?

I can understand MLB's desire to showcase its newer ballparks. But the only team with a recently-built yard that's been shut out of the All-Star Game has been the Giants, and they're going to be getting their shot soon. I guess MLB figures that they can leverage the All-Star Game to get a government windfall.

I guess if Kansas City doesn't come up with the dough, the Baron can schedule the game for Pittsburgh again...