Monday, May 03, 2004
Boof
Around the Twin Cities this week throngs were seen gathering, at the places throngs normally gather, milling about looking restless, and generally doing the types of things throngs normally do.
In St. Paul scores of Police cars circled the West Seventh Street area, somewhat menacingly, as ornery crowds stopped traffic and then moved in and out of the numerous bars that populate the area getting louder and more emotive with each passing hour.
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, the city's new landmark "Hard Rock Cafe" was closed for nearly an hour as a group from the L.L.L.L. blocked both entrances. Stunningly it was reported that they waved signs and chanted slogans. (L.L.L.L. you ask? That's Lutheran Ladies of Lino Lakes for those of you not from the area)
What drives these ill-mannered citizens? What hotbed issue so inflames these normally dour and taciturn residents of the Great Northwest that they'll leave their cozy Stucco coated bungalows to venture outside into the chilly April weather? Is it the fact that due to a bizarre course of events the Minnesota Twins' new television broadcast partner "Victory Sports" refuses to make a deal with Twins Cities cable operators? (Without a local deal the team's games are only available on TV. in such storied bastions of hardball as Warroad, International Falls, and East Grand Forks.)
Actually, while this is a problem, the answer to that last question is no.
No, for a resolution to this broiling conflict, City officials in both of the Twin Towns are looking westward towards Lake Minnetonka and the residential pleasure palace of none other than Twins owner, and crusty old curmudgeon, billionaire banker Carl "Mr. Burns" Pohlad.
In fact solid rumors report that a meeting was held at Pohlad's castle-sized lake home just last night. Mayor R.T. Ryback of Minneapolis, along with St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly (he of the "auld sod"), both sitting politely on the edge of their chairs no doubt, reportedly begging the old miser to part the gold encrusted strings of his pocketbook, and do the one thing that would bring peace to their cities.
"Mr. Pohlad," Ryback supposedly said loudly into Carl's ear horn, "when are you going to bring up Boof Bonser?"
Around the Twin Cities this week throngs were seen gathering, at the places throngs normally gather, milling about looking restless, and generally doing the types of things throngs normally do.
In St. Paul scores of Police cars circled the West Seventh Street area, somewhat menacingly, as ornery crowds stopped traffic and then moved in and out of the numerous bars that populate the area getting louder and more emotive with each passing hour.
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, the city's new landmark "Hard Rock Cafe" was closed for nearly an hour as a group from the L.L.L.L. blocked both entrances. Stunningly it was reported that they waved signs and chanted slogans. (L.L.L.L. you ask? That's Lutheran Ladies of Lino Lakes for those of you not from the area)
What drives these ill-mannered citizens? What hotbed issue so inflames these normally dour and taciturn residents of the Great Northwest that they'll leave their cozy Stucco coated bungalows to venture outside into the chilly April weather? Is it the fact that due to a bizarre course of events the Minnesota Twins' new television broadcast partner "Victory Sports" refuses to make a deal with Twins Cities cable operators? (Without a local deal the team's games are only available on TV. in such storied bastions of hardball as Warroad, International Falls, and East Grand Forks.)
Actually, while this is a problem, the answer to that last question is no.
No, for a resolution to this broiling conflict, City officials in both of the Twin Towns are looking westward towards Lake Minnetonka and the residential pleasure palace of none other than Twins owner, and crusty old curmudgeon, billionaire banker Carl "Mr. Burns" Pohlad.
In fact solid rumors report that a meeting was held at Pohlad's castle-sized lake home just last night. Mayor R.T. Ryback of Minneapolis, along with St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly (he of the "auld sod"), both sitting politely on the edge of their chairs no doubt, reportedly begging the old miser to part the gold encrusted strings of his pocketbook, and do the one thing that would bring peace to their cities.
"Mr. Pohlad," Ryback supposedly said loudly into Carl's ear horn, "when are you going to bring up Boof Bonser?"
