Crist, baseball and Bill Murray

[Edmund D. Fountain | Times]  Gov. Charlie Crist, rear center, hosts the Governor's Baseball Dinner at Tropicana Field, which actor Bill Murray said he was honored to visit "just before they tear it down and build a new place."

This little tidbit from today's St. Petersburg Times sports section about Gov. Charlie Crist's baseball dinner last night at Tropicana Field:

PRO-STADIUM: Gov. Charlie Crist and MLB president Bob DuPuy made a pitch for the Rays' planned new stadium during the Governor's Baseball Dinner at the stadium they hope to leave, Tropicana Field. "We'll get it done," DuPuy said. Most of the 18 teams that train in Florida were represented, with guests including Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, actor Bill Murray and managers Dusty Baker, Jim Leyland, Maddon and John Russell.

Comments

Not a day goes by that our pandering do-nothing Governor will get his photo op.

Well Mr. DuPuy, why don't you 'get it done' with someone else's money? It is beyond amazing that the 'Governor' and others would even remotely consider this right now with the money problems that exist in Florida. Although I don't argue that the proposed new stadium is nice, sports teams ought to pay for their own crap instead of sticking it to the public. We already pay out the nose for everything else and these teams have MORE than enough money to cover this kind of crap. You, Mr. 'Governor', ought to be ashamed of yourself.

Great event for all of Florida that marks the start of spring training.

Glad Charlie was doing this rather than helping a fellow R win a special election. It is not a coincidence that the rise of Charlie's popularity is in direct proportion to the decline of the GOP in Florida. Charlie is so focused on expanding his personal political base, he has forgotten that he is his party's leader in Florida. He has the shortest coat tails ever and that is sad given that his numbers are so high.

You all are complaining about how the Governor is not doing his job. But its your own damn fault for voting him in the first place. Republicans do not represent the working class. They represent the richest of the rich!

Wow, a photo op with Cal Ripken and Bill Murray! Cristi, keep up the good work! Oh, not in Tallahassee again?

2:37: Don't staffers at the Governor's Office have anything better to do than waste their time on this blog?

[terminator]

as the great Ronald Reagan used to say:
"there he goes again".
does this guy ever do anything for the benefit of the "people" he purportedly represents?
the economy is going down the tubes fast, he didn't keep his promise to "hold education harmless", the property tax and property insurance issues are a total mess and this guy is out self promoting as usual (yet somehow he retains approval ratings over 70%)?
Where will the money come from to build the stadium Charlie?
Let me guess: tourist development taxes will be siphoned off or some scam like Miami-Dade is currently pulling by using affordable housing and empowerment zone money.
You guys are friggin UNBELIEVABLE.
when in the heck will Florida residents get their heads out of their collective doo doo holes?
and Bill Mirray is soooooo over the hill dudes!

I love the way that Republicans "represent the richest of the rich!" when a large majority of some of the richest regions in the US are heavily demokrat.

Bill Murray and Charlie Crist.....both play the role of "The Man Who Knew Too Little"

I'm Sailing!

2:54
Just like most Democrats, you just go on spouting untruths.
I am a Republican, and by no means rich, nor are my Republican friends. In fact, I agree with 3:22
As to a new stadium, I don't think this is a good time for anyone else to try to reach into my pocket.

Terminator...apparently you are unaware that the presence of Major League Baseball in Florida generates billions of dollars...this is an economic development event that the Governor SHOULD attend...in case you are not aware of it...Tallahassee is not the center of the universe...the Governor does not need to be, and should not be, in Tallahassee all the time....

4:09 - The fact is that he rarely is in in Tallahassee, you know, actually working.
Say what you will about Jeb, but he had an incredible work ethic, unlike the current occupier.
2:54: Yes, we voted for him but were fooled. Never again.

CC=ONE TERM

[Tim]

I attended the dinner and it was a terrific event. I'm glad Charlie Crist realizes the importance of celebrating baseball in Florida and he brought back this dinner. Jeb just ignored it. Spring training brings in tremendous revenues for our state! The figures are incredible. St. Pete particularly will reap huge economic benefits from the waterfront stadium. Oh, and Bill Murray is incredibly entertaining on and off the stage. He is a class act.

[Tingler]

The pied piper of St Pete is at it again. He just got us a prop tax cut, well not really as the legislature is going to tax us an additional 11 cents per gallon of gas to make up for the short fall from Amend 1. (extra $4 per week for my household = $208 per year) So now my $252 tax cut is worth $44. Now he wants more $ from the taxpayers for a new stadium for the triple A Rays! Charlie and the Rays are bush leaguers!! It's big businesses fault??

[Chi]

How long before the Prom King/Photo Opp Wh@re/Gov announces that he's brought in the right person to run the socialist insurance program that is Citizens - Chuckles announces... Fidel as the new head of Citizens; Yup, that sounds about right.

[Mark]

Crist is a complete joke. I'm sorry I voted for him.

[Wayne]

Crist is such a JOKE. He is the epitome of the Empty Suit. Smile, Charlie and get your picture in the news. Congrats on being inducted into the St. Pete High Sport Hall of Fame. I don't know of anyone LESS deserving ever being inducted into something like that. A mediocre, average at best "athlete" like you getting in their Hall of Fame only diminishes the honor for those TRUE athletes who actually deserved it. I guess your daddy is still at work for ya, huh???

HEY CHUCK! … ever seen one of these before? You know, it’s where you’re supposed to be.

http://www.coyoteblog.com/photos/uncategorized/capital_2.jpg

SOMEONE PLEASE FIND US A GOVERNOR!

Love,

“The People” of a state on the verge of collapse due to an absent Governor and a boatload of puupets known as a Legislature!

[Kyle]

The headline should have read "Crist seen doing the rounds on the "big ball guys". Plans on doing it every spring."

[john]

as far as the vote most local modern elections that I have been involved in have answered the question, who do I not want running the show more. neither of which is very good. CC doesn't give a RIP about FL he is looking to run the nation. and a lot of you seem to think that is a good thing FOTFL

I heard charlie didn't even get an autograph he was to busy flapping his lip. you know, just like the picture did you hear that I am the most do nothing Governor in the Country and now I'm going to be VICE PRESIDENT. OHHHH the wonder of it all

does charlie look like a turtle or is that the camera angle.

http://www.myrnaloycenter.com/images/franklin.jpg

[Not a fan of corporate welfare]

4:09, if you think baseball generates "billons" in revenue for this state you are seriously deluded or a shill for the Mr. Sternberg!

Study after study has shown that sports stadiums do NOT pay for themselves. And the stadium that the Rays want to build is "baseball-only," not a multi-purpose stadium like The Trop. So there will be no revenue from RV shows, home shows, senior fairs or the like.

Rays, pay for your own dang stadium!

[Tuck]

Crist is showing why he is Governor: extraordinary vision that many people apparently are lacking.

The proposal WILL NOT cost the taxpayers additional money.

Check out this address for the real deal: majorleaguedowntown.com

I am a republican and I am ashamed that Crist is my governor. I thought he would really care about the people of Florida. First thing he did was ran out and found a rich woman to help him through his sexual issues. then he goes to islands on our tax dollars. I have yet to see what he does in tallahassee. What a shame he takes such advantage of the people that trusted him. He is a media hound and likes his pictures. McCain and everyone else sees it to. He hasn't worked since he got there. Photo op, dinner, photo op, dinner etccc....
To governor Crist:
You owe the middle class working people of Florida a big apology for taking advantage of our trust. Enjoy the rest of your term, and the rest of my hard earned tax money.

[terminator]

4:09
Can you just get him there "part" of the time at least!

Tuck:
time for your meds. so where will the money come from?

Tim:
major league spring training is dying in Florida. there are less and less teams every year.
most have relocated to Arizona where it's cheaper, closer for many west coast teams and the economic climate is much more positive than Florida's
Do you really think Charlie gives a rat's *ss about baseball?
He just wants to hang around some celebrities and get his picture in the paper.

[Richard]

When you can afford to pay your employees million dollar salaries then you should be able to afford to pay for the building they work in. Why should the taxpayers have to pay even 1 cent for any stadium or arena for a sports team. Hey maybe the taxpayers will buy the company I work for a new building and then my employer can afford to pay me millions a year.

[Tuck]

Terminator – you really should read more before you post misinformed comments. Maybe they didn’t mention that in “Terminator Training”.

The Rays' owner is putting up part of the money for a new stadium. The rest will come from money raised during the sale of the Tropicana Field site.

The taxpayers will pay NO NEW money for the proposed new stadium. Understand?

Maybe you're thinking that the money raised in the Trop's sale should go towards something more meaningful, say education, fire rescue, or law enforcement? Sorry, the money legally can't be spent on any of those things.

Hey, opposition to the new stadium is being routinely voiced. However, I have yet to hear another idea for development of Al Lang field. We can't let that wonderful property lay dormant forever. It wouldn't be fair to downtown St. Pete and its residents.

Plus, consider that both Al Lang field and Tropicana field currently raise no tax money. Redeveloping the Trop site with taxpaying businesses and housing developments will boost our local economy.

[terminator]

tuck:
no need to get defensive. you're talking to a guy who's been there done that having worked on several South Florida stadium initiatives.
let's face it, the bottom line is: they ALWAYS end up sucking off the public trough in some way, shape or form.
it always starts with: it will be paid for entirely by the team or mostly by the team then by the end of story, taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of millions.
then before bonds can be paid off on the current stadium, pro franchises are already pining for another new stadium to be financed (yep) once again by the taxpayers.
if the devil rays stadium is constructed without any public tax dollars being utilized, I'll kiss your butt on opening night right there on the pitcher's mound!

I can't believe it. These dirt-bag politicians are out to destroy St. Petersburg. I have no problem with a new stadium. Build it at Toy Town and if it's such a good deal, the billionaire team owners and their cronies should pay for it.

Monopolies are unamerican.
Major league baseball, and their farm teams, are monopolies. They are allowed to totally prevent outside competition. Profits go to Republican donors to Bush politicians etc. Charlie started working for minor league team as lawyer, after he FINALLY managed to pass bar exam.

Bush boys have been keeping him working on up their "farm club" in jobs where he didn't really do much to get paid. Especially when paid by taxpayers. He's paid for Bushbot.

Empty chair Charlie --- all title, no governance. All hat, no cattle. Look for the little puppet strings from Jeb.

Taxpayers ALWAYS end up losing money on financing sports stadiums. DUH.

But their "loyal" robots get sweetheart "ownership" deals to funnel scammed cash to their greedy pockets.

PLAY BALL??? For what price, sports fans?

Free tickets to the skybox to watch the latest braindead steroid junkies pretend to be heroes for millions.

School teachers are heroes. But hear the lazy useless selfish politicians WHINE about getting class sizes down to where ALL children have a real education. Boo Hoo. They might have to cut off tax breaks to crony corporate donors if they spent OUR DOLLARS on educating OUR CHILDREN.

How many days of the 60 day legislative sessions will Christi be in Tallahassee. I'm setting the line at 12 boys, put your money down now. 12 days, 12 days, hurry before the line moves!

How many days of the 60 day legislative sessions will Christi be in Tallahassee. I'm setting the line at 12 boys, put your money down now. 12 days, 12 days, hurry before the line moves!

[Rebecca]

I really don't understand why anyone would be opposed to a major league ballpark aat Al Lang and redeveloping Tropicana Field. People seem to make up their minds without understanding these projects. Redeveloping the Trop would generate hundreds of millions that cannot be realized with the dome there. Why not take a portion and fund the new ballpark? Both projects will create huge economic opportunities and turn a wasteland of parking lots into beautiful new shops and parks. Think about the costs and benefits rationally and think about the future. In the long run these projects will put dollars in the city's coffers and make it less likely we'll experience tax increases!! And don't anyone dare call me a schill for the Rays. I'm sick of all these selfish people in One Beach Drive thinking they own this city and slandering anyone who actually believes in progress. I support the stadium for my own benefit, not that of the Rays. I don't even like baseball!

Is that Jerry Maygarden in the picture on the right side?

Thanks Rebecca,

I hope Stu pay's you overtime for staying up so late to post that.

My wager is 18 days total (that's including the weekends). And I'll also double that bet with you that of those 18 days, he doesn't come into the Capitol until 10 a.m. at the earliest.

Let's go, ante up.

I'll go 10 days. I think that's the name of the "Beachless Tanning Club" Chuck belongs to. It's also the number of hair dye treatments he needs a month to maintain that silvery quaff that excites the blue hairs into blind faith.

I am thinking longer - Charlie won't give up an opportunity to get in front of the cameras to spew his meaningless rhetoric... people will fall for it, and in the end, he will position himself right in the middle of tough issues claiming himself to be the uniter. This of course will be done because of the self promotion aspect.

But then again, he could get his lunch handed to him a couple times early in session if our beloved press corp would finally start asking hard questions - putting him on the spot, and actually pointing out to their readership when he fails to provide details or a congnizant plan. If that happens, he will run off into the night, never to be seen again.

I am thinking longer - Charlie won't give up an opportunity to get in front of the cameras to spew his meaningless rhetoric... people will fall for it, and in the end, he will position himself right in the middle of tough issues claiming himself to be the uniter. This of course will be done because of the self promotion aspect.

But then again, he could get his lunch handed to him a couple times early in session if our beloved press corp would finally start asking hard questions - putting him on the spot, and actually pointing out to their readership when he fails to provide details or a congnizant plan. If that happens, he will run off into the night, never to be seen again.

12:09 and 10-
I disagree with you on your first point because there's no Frenchman

Press won't revolt from this lovefest because they're currently in fear that their papers are going to cut them. The need to report something and the easiest avenue is soft ink.