Angels flip off Snow White

The Angeles American League baseball team yesterday (September 26) broke off negotiations with the City of Anaheim over a deal for a renovated stadium. Negotiations had been going on for a year. The team would put $150 million of their own money into an overhaul of the Anaheim ballpark, but would get the parking lots for a lease of $1 a year. That's prime land, so Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait proposed splitting the profits from redevelopment of the land between the team and the city.

So now the indignant team is talking with Tustin. Says the Los Angeles Times, "It is unlikely that Tustin — or any other city in Southern California — would use taxpayer money to build a stadium for the Angels." (That is encouraging for realists who hope San Diego taxpayers won't get stuck paying for a Chargers stadium.)

Angeles owner Arte Moreno commented, "We can afford to build a new stadium."

"Then just fucking do it," comments Barry Petchesky, columnist for the sports blog Deadspin.