Politicians and business leaders want to join a business that admits it's failing financially

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | The baseball season is about to start, but the real pennant race that is taking place features areas that don't have a major league team.

For some reason, politicians and business leaders in Washington, Northern Virginia and Portland, Oregon are going after the Montreal Expos and want to join a business that admits it's failing financially.

The three areas leaders need to convince the local constituency that bringing in a team will be beneficial.

In Portland, Mayor Vera Katz is saying that getting a team might help education if the city builds a stadium on a site the school district owns.

Instead of the usual political speak of how a team and stadium will generate jobs, and increase revenues, it would be refreshing to hear some straight talk about stadiums. That it's a loss leader and that some of the traditional ways of paying for a stadium, including car rental and restaurant taxes affect more local people than tourists.

A stadium and a team can create some publicity for the area. But it's an expensive plaything with a limited appeal.

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JWR contributor Evan Weiner is a radio commentator on "The Business of Sports" for Westwood One's Metro Networks. Comment on this column by clicking here.

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