Skip to main content
The largest online newspaper archive
A Publisher Extra® Newspaper

The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • D1

Location:
Orlando, Florida
Issue Date:
Page:
D1
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

Orlando Sentinel: PRODUCT: DESK: DATE: EDITION: ZONE: PAGE: D1.0/ DEADLINE: 22.15/ OP: COMPOSETIME: 02.03CMYK COLORSTRIP: Orlando Sentinel OrlandoSentinel.com EDNESDAY PRIL 28,2004 ECTION FINAL Derby darling Kristin Mulhall, 21, tries to become the 1st female and youngest trainer to win the Kentucky Derby with Imperialism. D3 Lightning go up 3-0 Tampa Bay mobs Brad Richards after he scored the winning goal in OT to lift the Lightning past Montreal. D3 THE INSIDE PITCH Jerry GreeneD2 BaseballD4-D5 NFLD5 VarsityD7 INDEX Orlando has steadfastly refused to build the Magic a new basketball arena, but if Gov. Jeb Bush has his way, Orlando will contribute to building the Florida Marlins anew baseball stadium. right: Our baseball governor is once again trying to be just like his big bubba, the baseball president.

Gov. Jeb actually is endorsing a plan being debated in the legislature that would provide $60 million in state subsidies to the Marlins. In other words, he wants Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa and everybody else in the state to chip in so the (South) Florida Marlins can have a new $325 million stadium. What next, Guv a state law mandating the Magic trade Tracy McGrady to Miami for Bimbo Coles to help out the Heat in the playoffs? And since the Dolphins get the receiver they needed in the draft, maybe there should be an executive order: The Jags must ship Roy Williams to the Fish for the rights to Clint Stoerner. But, seriously, why would anybody propose using our state tax dollars to pay for sports stadiums? What are we Habitat for Humanity? Or Insanity? arguable whether local taxes should be used to build plush new playpens for the local billionaire sports owner.

downright unconscionable to use state money. Miami gets state money for the Marlins, then Orlando should get state money for the Magic and on down the said Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando. Actually, that seems to be the master plan. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that the Marlins are to keep $2 million of the sales tax the new ballpark would generate every year for 30 years.

And essentially asking to borrow a rebate destined for the Orlando Magic, which has yet to cement plans for a new arena. The idea is that the state would grant the Magic another rebate to use Admittedly, all for the Magic getting anew arena, but, if it happens, it should be paid for by Orlando taxpayers not taxpayers in Pensacola. The same for the new stadium: If Miami wants to build it for them go for it. Just count me out, please. Astoundingly, this whole scam is nothing new; just the Marlins are seeking a larger chunk than most.

Since 1993, the state reportedly has doled out nearly $90 million in tax rebates to 14 pro sports venues. The idea behind these rebates is that sports venues supposedly increase sales tax collections, so, therefore, the venue deserves a share of the money. ridiculous. All businesses increase sales tax collections. Does that mean the new neighborhood Publix should get a sales tax rebate? And why not give the guy who owns Auto Parts a state rebate on the first $2 million worth of intake manifolds he sells? And, please, spare us the rhetoric about the Marlins being a tourist attraction.

Do you really think Florida gets one additional tourism dollar because of the Marlins? Pop quiz: Which of the following belong in a list of Florida vacation destinations 1. Disney World. 2. Busch Gardens. 3.

Daytona Beach. 4. Marlins-Expos doubleheader? Afew years ago, Gov. Bush vetoed a measly $250,000 in legislature-approved tax money to keep afloat the Florida Sports Hall of Fame our only real state sports museum. Bush said then the money would be better spent hiring more teachers, restoring our environment and continuing our commitment to tax Little did we know that the tax relief would be for those who need it the least: bloated billionaire sports owners.

Mike Bianchi can be reached at Mike BIANCHI SENTINEL COLUMNIST The tax pitch comes high and inside Sports Sports By IRA WINDERMAN MIAMI BUREAU NEW ORLEANS This is the sobering part. The Miami Heat threw their best shot at the Hornets; New Orleans promptly bounced back. Alopsided series when it departed AmericanAirlines Arena a week ago, Heat-Hornets will return to South Florida on Friday night tied 2-2. Having stormed back from an 11-point deficit into the lead in the third quarter of Tuesday Game 4, the Heat learned just how fickle momentum can be in the postseason. Hornets 96, Heat 85.

it changes if we were up Heat Coach Stan Van Gundy said, would be very different. We have two at home and they have one here. I see it as a major concern. I come here thinking we were going to sweep So, just like that, best-of-7 has turned into best-of-3. a whole new series Heat guard Dwyane Wade said, after being outplayed yet again by Hornets counterpart Baron Davis.

took care of their turf like ANDREW COHOON ASSOCIATED PRESS Called out. Heat Coach Stan Van Gundy argues as Lamar Odom heads to the bench against the Hornets. Experienced Hornets even series with Heat Veteran Baron Davis helped lift New Orleans over Miami 96-85 to tie their matchup at 2-2. RESULTS New Orleans 96, Miami 85 (Series is tied 2-2) Minnesota 84, Denver 82 (Minnesota leads series 3-1) GAME Houston at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. (Lakers lead series 3-1) NBA, D6 Kobe Bryant, D6 NBA PLAYOFFS PLEASE SEE you live long enough, a lot of things SIFFORD ON BEING THE 1ST BLACK INDUCTED INTO THE GOLF HALL OF FAME ABOUT PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LONNIE KNABEL SENTINEL; AP PHOTOS Charlie Sifford (shown celebrating his 1969 L.A.

Open victory) got emotional last week during the announcement that he was chosen for the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine. By STEVE ELLING SENTINEL STAFF WRITER They seemed to have so much in common. Both became cultural pioneers, shared a love of all sports and enjoyed hanging out at golf courses or betting a few bucks at horse racetracks. In 1947, a black man in leather spikes named Jackie Robinson integrated Major League Baseball and changed the American sports landscape forever.

Charlie Sifford, also black, boldly told Robinson a year later of his desire to do likewise in his game of choice, where the ball and participants were equally as white. Robinson, who had been called every epithet in the book, barred from certain hotels and endured death threats as a rookie with the Brooklyn Dodgers, was concerned for his friend, who wanted to play on the all- white pro golf tour. asked me if I was a Sifford recalled last week. said, if not a quitter, go ahead and take a crack at it. But you are going to run into a lot of Fifty-six years later, Sifford crested the final mountain.

Close to forgotten, Sifford last week was embraced as part of the 2004 class of inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine. The man who broke the PGA Caucasian-only clause has been ac- The long wait ends for Charlie Sifford as the Jackie Robinson of golf will join hall. PLEASE SEE By EMILY BADGER SENTINEL STAFF WRITER With the six major-college football conferences trying to stave off criticism that hoarding the postseason pot, a fifth Bowl Championship Series game looks increasingly like a reality and one that has Florida Citrus Sports scrambling to bid for the hosting rights. Orange County officials estimate that the Citrus Bowl stadium will require about $50 million in renova- tions to compete for the fifth game, which would elevate the Capital One Bowl to the BCS national championship rotation, along with the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls.

Exactly who will foot the bill is a more complicated question. While BCS commissioners are meeting this week in Phoenix, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Florida Citrus Sports Executive Director Tom Mickle huddled Tuesday to discuss the financing options. looking at every possible angle for contributing to this Dyer said. honestly believe the community can get to that number. supportive of our The county already has pledged $25 million, and Mickle hopes to raise the money entirely through public funding.

promise a dollar amount Mickle said Stadium upgrades key to BCS bid With a fifth BCS game likely, leaders search for ways to pay for Citrus Bowl improvements. DYER PLEASE SEE TIME RR.

Get access to Newspapers.com

  • The largest online newspaper archive
  • 300+ newspapers from the 1700's - 2000's
  • Millions of additional pages added every month

Publisher Extra® Newspapers

  • Exclusive licensed content from premium publishers like the The Orlando Sentinel
  • Archives through last month
  • Continually updated

About The Orlando Sentinel Archive

Pages Available:
4,731,170
Years Available:
1913-2024