Fire Sale good for Portland. . .

Josh Beckett, gone. Mike Lowell, gone. Carlos Delgado, gone! Sounds like the 1997-98 off season after Jim Leyland led the Marlins to their first World Series over the Cleveland Indians. The Marlins, after giving up on a new stadium in Miami have given the thumbs down (Or a raised digit) to South Florida. Look for greener or wetter pastures westward. Portland and Las Vegas are the leading contenders, but given Baseball history on gambling, Black Sox, Pete Rose, etc... I think Portland maybe the only US Contender.

Portland has a Stadium finance plan(but a little short) in order, and is the largest City in the US with only one Major sports franchise. Sure, hockey would be a better fit given the Blazers poor public relationship and a Sports arena a NHL team owner could buy and reap both Hockey and NBA suite and premium seat, parking and food revenues. But Hockey would have to sell tickets for an overlapping season with Basketball and Baseball would have more games in the NBA off season, in a city that loves to come out, sit in the sun and watch the Boys of Summer.

Animal