Keith Olbermann - Time for MLB to quit Florida and return to Montreal

[chisox]

http://keitholbermann.mlblogs.com/20...dest-proposal/

But wait, didn’t things go very badly in Montreal before? They certainly did, but not because of the city nor its love of baseball. Corrupt government and underfunded ownership and a betrayed fan base – all of them saddled with the greatest white elephant in the history of North American sports construction, Olympic Stadium. In every full season between 1979 and 1983 – even in that XXL Airplane Hangar - Les Expos drew at least 2,102,173 fans a year.

The peak total – 2,320,651 in 1983 – edged out the Cardinals for second place in National League attendance, and was just about a million more than the Mets drew in New York

[Yogi]

LOL- Time for Keith Olbermann to beam back up to the Mothership!

[lilhen18]

I didn't realize anybody still took him seriously. The guy is a complete buffoon.

[Hitman23]

But they have that awesome home run thingy. You can't waste art like that.

[Pasco08]

All of Florida as in the Rays as well? I can understand calling for the Marlins but the Rays seem to be fine.

[Gigi Buffon]

Awesome city.

[Hooligan Tavarez]

I agree the Marlins need to leave Miami and would love to see a competent owner in Montreal. Give the Rays the Marlins new park.

[Yankeesfan924]

All of Florida as in the Rays as well? I can understand calling for the Marlins but the Rays seem to be fine.

The Rays have the opposite problem of Miami. An ownership and fanbase that cares, but a city that is completely unwilling to give them a dime.

[Zimmers' Helmet]

Not sure why everyone is quick to criticize Olbermann in this case. He's actually right on most fronts - Montreal can easily sustain a franchise with the right ownership group in place and a downtown ballpark.

[Hitman23]

Not sure why everyone is quick to criticize Olbermann in this case. He's actually right on most fronts - Montreal can easily sustain a franchise with the right ownership group in place and a downtown ballpark.

The problems with it is that you can't do it at the expense of Florida. I understand what the Marlins are doing is completely insane but they just got a new ballpark you can't uproot them. I see no reason that Montreal shouldn't have a team if one moves but he's using the wrong state/city. I say the Mets if anyone, even with the new stadium. The Wilpons have to be the worst owners in sports. At least Florida has made it and won in the last 20 years.

[montrealer]

Expos are Washington`s third franchise..........I guess Montreal still has a chance........

[philleotardo]

Not sure why everyone is quick to criticize Olbermann in this case. He's actually right on most fronts

Especially on baseball......the HOF contacted him for a historical list of coaching staffs

[montrealer]

Baseball can work n Montreal but people also need to remember summer`s are short up here and to sit in a crappy,covered stadium in the east end slums really turn off families with kids. Nothing like having hookers and crack dealers bumming smokes as you leave the stadium................also having your car vandalized sucks.....can`t even leave coins for the tolls in the ashtray.............

[montrealer]

Not sure why everyone is quick to criticize Olbermann in this case. He's actually right on most fronts - Montreal can easily sustain a franchise with the right ownership group in place and a downtown ballpark.

Habs sell out.......CFL sells out and MLS sells out.........40,000 seat stadium in the downtown core would have worked............Sunday`s CFL east final will sell 50,000 and teh MLS and friendlies have sold in excess of 50,000 each game all year at Olympic stadium.........Hell......we`ll take the Rays and having the Jays in the same division a few hockey games may break out.....

[SatchelPaigeYankee]

Baseball can work n Montreal but people also need to remember summer`s are short up here and to sit in a crappy,covered stadium in the east end slums really turn off families with kids. Nothing like having hookers and crack dealers bumming smokes as you leave the stadium................also having your car vandalized sucks.....can`t even leave coins for the tolls in the ashtray.............

could u expand on this? everything i hear about montreal is how its perfect and comfortable. i've never heard about lower class struggles in such. what are the causes of poverty? what are the demographics? how do people deal w/ poverty in montreal? are they intentionally kept out of the main part of the city a la Paris?

[montrealer]

could u expand on this? everything i hear about montreal is how its perfect and comfortable. i've never heard about lower class struggles in such. what are the causes of poverty? what are the demographics? how do people deal w/ poverty in montreal? are they intentionally kept out of the main part of the city a la Paris?

No city is perfect........just like any other city we have our issues. That being said we live in a Euro style city that has at least six official languages an open Gay society with a multi cultural society. For what ever reason we seem to all get along.
http://www.montrealinternational.com...-quality-life/

We are a very liberal society with the base being French,British,Scottish and Irish(see city flag) and have had an open door policy of immigration that has bloomed with the Latino, Italians,Asians,Jewish,and Muslim contribution. In recent years the door has opened to so many other nationalities many including former French colonies from the Indies and Africa.........drinking age is 18 and yes we are a Socialist Republic with an excellent Health Care system and have been known to swill a pint and take a toke or two...........

[Yogi]

Habs sell out.......CFL sells out and MLS sells out.........40,000 seat stadium in the downtown core would have worked............Sunday`s CFL east final will sell 50,000 and teh MLS and friendlies have sold in excess of 50,000 each game all year at Olympic stadium.........Hell......we`ll take the Rays and having the Jays in the same division a few hockey games may break out.....

I see no reason why Montreal couldn't support a Major League team. It is a great sports town but I do think they need a domed stadium to do it. The summer season is a bit short and when that wind starts coming down the St. Lawrence, I get a chill just thinking about it. The Eastern finals are going to be a good one. I wish it was the late game though. I can’t see the Argos beating the Alouettes. I watched the Roughriders – Stampeders game last week and I just can’t see the Stampeders beating BC, so to me it looks like a BC-Montreal Grey Cup. Too bad it is in Toronto.

[35Knucklecurve]

But they have that awesome home run thingy. You can't waste art like that.

Know what? That's one of the first things I thought about. All the effort that went into creating one of the most recognizable structures in MLB.....for all the wrong reasons.

[GordonGecko]

Bud Selig hates french people and has a man crush on Loria. So no, this isn't going to happen any time soon.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

The Rays have the opposite problem of Miami. An ownership and fanbase that cares,

They have an odd way of showing it.

[BRNXBMRS]

How about contract the Marlins and relocate the Rays to Miami? Problem solved.

[SatchelPaigeYankee]

No city is perfect........just like any other city we have our issues. That being said we live in a Euro style city that has at least six official languages an open Gay society with a multi cultural society. For what ever reason we seem to all get along.
http://www.montrealinternational.com...-quality-life/

We are a very liberal society with the base being French,British,Scottish and Irish(see city flag) and have had an open door policy of immigration that has bloomed with the Latino, Italians,Asians,Jewish,and Muslim contribution. In recent years the door has opened to so many other nationalities many including former French colonies from the Indies and Africa.........drinking age is 18 and yes we are a Socialist Republic with an excellent Health Care system and have been known to swill a pint and take a toke or two...........

hey....thanks.... but.... you didn't.....
....really..... answer...... my questions.........
.........

[NYYFAN]

If the Marlins don't spend money to improve the team this off season, then the stadium will will be a ghost town...

They barely show up for good teams. And the fact that the fan base will be pissed off...watch out...

[Jersey Yankee]

The Rays have the opposite problem of Miami. An ownership and fanbase that cares, but a city that is completely unwilling to give them a dime.

Then the Rays should move and stick it to the City of St Petersburg.

If they called themselves the Miami Rays, how would that go over?

[Jersey Yankee]

If the Marlins don't spend money to improve the team this off season, then the stadium will will be a ghost town...

They barely show up for good teams. And the fact that the fan base will be pissed off...watch out...

How good are those farmhands that they got from Toronto? Any blue chippers out there?