The Links

Miranda Kerr to start the work week.... R.I.P. Walter Cronkite.... Read this great piece on national health care.... Brian Dawkins' house is for sale in Philly..... Erin McNaught for your pleasure..... This bird won't put down the cigarette.... 40-years-ago today, Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon.... Paula Abdul likely not returning to American Idol...... Watch out for the wienermobile

South Florida kicker falls down 35-feet off an Gondola and survives (The Big Lead)

Timberwolves GM David Kahn is headed to Spain to speak with Ricky Rubio (Star Tribune)

The Phillies are favorite to land Halladay (MLB Daily Dish)

Someone made a peephole in Erin Andrew's hotel wall (The Big Picture)

Is Jillian Michaels hot? (Stiles Points)

I'm hungry for the Marisa Miller fiesta (Don Chavez)

ESPN aims to also be your local newspaper (NY Times)

The new Cowboys Stadium should be in Dallas (Dallas Mourning News)

Michael Vick has been ignoring his NFL mentor (Fanhouse)

Tito Ortiz and Dana White finally bury the hatchet (Camel Clutch Blog)

Sports psychologist takes full credit for Stewart Cink's win yesterday (Deadspin)

Apollo 11 40th anniversary

Top Baseball Parks in America

Forbes magazine has came out with another list and ranked the best baseball parks in America. And I do think you will be surprised to see what ballpark is number one.

15. Comerica Park, Detroit

14. Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati

13. Coors Field, Colorado

12. PETCO Park, San Diego

11. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia

10. Busch Stadium, St. Louis

9. Miller Park, Milwaukee

8. Bailout Park, er Citi Field, New York

7. Yankee Stadium, New York

6. Safeco Field, Seattle

5. Camden Yards, Baltimore

4. Wrigley Field, Chicago

3. PNC Park, Pittsburgh

2. Fenway Park, Boston

1. AT&T Park, San Francisco

I have to say that I am surprised Forbes ranked these stadiums this way. They actually didn't rank Yankee Stadium high, just because it's in New York. And I am surprised that either Wrigley or Fenway weren't number one.

I am biased of course and think AT&T Park should be the number one choice. But people have to realize why it should be the number one choice. The Giants played in a dump at Candlestick Park. Candlestick was a dump when they built that place in the early 60's. The Giants were lucky enough to get out of there by 2000. The 49ers are still plodding away in that stadium and have been looking to get out of there for a very long time.

That's the reason why I would rank Citizens Bank Park higher on the list. The Phillies also played in a dump at the Vet. Now the Phillies and Giants play in two of the best parks in the nation. Teams that get out of a dump are higher on my list. But I applaud Forbes for not going with the standard choice.

A Casino to Finance New Stadiums

There are a lot of new stadiums popping up around the country. There are three new stadiums opening up in New York just this year. Of course they are financed by the taxpayers of that area.
We all know the economy isn't in the best of shape. And sports teams are looking for a new stadium or arena. The Sacramento Kings might move their team to the fairgrounds in Sacramento because private developers will pay for the project. Sounds good.

All I know people are starting to get tired of paying for new stadiums that they cannot even enjoy because the ticket prices are too high. Well in Minnesota they have a different plan to pay for a new stadium for the Vikings. Have casino revenue pay for the new stadium.

With that logic, Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, introduced a bill today that would open the door to a new casino in the metro area that would pay for a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.

The bill would place a constitutional amendment on the 2010 general election ballot that would allow the state to issue a 30-year license to operate a casino somewhere in the Twin Cities metro area.

The revenue the state receives from the casino would be used to finance construction of a new stadium. The Vikings aren't specifically named in the bill, but the team is the only one in the state without a new stadium under construction.

Even as state officials are grappling with massive economic problems, team officials have continued to lobby aggressively for a state subsidy that would partly finance a $954 million stadium. Most legislators have said attempt to move a stadium bill this year would likely be politically explosive -- and likely to fail.

I hope this bill doesn't fail. Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for new stadiums. Billionaire owners can afford to pay for their new stadiums. Even if they can't or don't want to, they should find alternative ways to pay for their new homes. This casino bill is risky, but I would take the risk. And if the Vikings move, you can always play blackjack in the casino.

Gambling to finance a stadium for the Vikings? (Minnesota Star Tribune)

Do You Care About How Much Sports Stadiums Cost?

With the economy in a recession, more sports stadiums are being built, while others are being proposed. Between the already built stadiums that are about ready to open and the proposed ones, the price tag goes to about $10 billion dollars. So the question remains, do you care how much money is being spent on these structures? Even though they are mostly using your tax dollars. Some interesting stuff to digest.

(LA Times)

KABOOM !

Courtesy of the Huffington post, the 24 year old RCA dome imploded this mourning in Indianapolis.

RCA Dome Facts:

- Formerly called the Hoosier Dome

- Hosted NCAA Final Four, four times, including the last time in 2006

- Hosted Wrestlemania VIII in 1992

- Hosted NBA All-Star game in 1985

- Hosted the famous 2005 AFC championship game between the Pittsburgh Steelers-Indianapolis Colts

- The Roof was made out of Teflon

- Artificial turf was replaced with field turf in 2005

Rest In Peace