Pro Team in Austin

[utastro]

Not really much here but I have heard this rumor before.  I'm assuming they are talking about baseball in Austin and not football.  Is the mention about Austin related to the Ryan/Sanders group wanting to own a pro baseball team?

"Other cities that experts expect to see in the market for new teams are Orlando, Fla., (already a secondary market for baseball’s Rays) and Austin, Texas."

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ys-forbesmovers101208&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[Greg M]

Potentially another team in Florida?  Must be because the fans are so enthusiastic for baseball in that state.  How about Portland, New Orleans, Oklahoma City or Vegas?  Seems to me those would be better markets.  Would suck for the Astros if either Austin or NO got a ML team.

[JimR]

Not really much here but I have heard this rumor before.  I'm assuming they are talking about baseball in Austin and not football.  Is the mention about Austin related to the Ryan/Sanders group wanting to own a pro baseball team?

"Other cities that experts expect to see in the market for new teams are Orlando, Fla., (already a secondary market for baseball’s Rays) and Austin, Texas."

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ys-forbesmovers101208&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

the Ryan/Sanders group owns two pro teams.

Austin turned down an attempt to move a team here before the Ryans went to RR. i think it is unlikely.

[Tralfaz]

Besides, there's no room left.

[geezerdonk]

hawkey

http://stars.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=365567

[VirtualBob]

the Ryan/Sanders group owns two pro teams.

Austin turned down an attempt to move a team here before the Ryans went to RR. i think it is unlikely.

Actually, they turned down a referendum to build a stadium with public money to house the Phoenix Firebirds ... not exactly the same thing is turning down the move of a team.  I expect that if some ownership group were willing to bring a team to Austin without being on the public dole, it would probably work.

[Limey]

Potentially another team in Florida?  Must be because the fans are so enthusiastic for baseball in that state.  How about Portland, New Orleans, Oklahoma City or Vegas?  Seems to me those would be better markets.  Would suck for the Astros if either Austin or NO got a ML team.

Dear MLB,

If you put a team in Vegas, please make it a National League team so that I have an excuse for a road trip.  Thank you.

Limey

[JimR]

Actually, they turned down a referendum to build a stadium with public money to house the Phoenix Firebirds ... not exactly the same thing is turning down the move of a team.  I expect that if some ownership group were willing to bring a team to Austin without being on the public dole, it would probably work.

doubtful. no matter who pays for the stadium, the construction project has to work through Austin's permit maze. then there is the matter of UT's strong opposition.

the Ryans were smart not to come to Austin.

[Gizzmonic]

Oscar Goodman (mayor of Las Vegas) lobbied hard to get the Marlins.

I don't think MLB will ever have a team in Vegas because of the distractions already in that town.

It wouldn't surprise me if the NBA did, though.  They need the money more and they already had an All-Star game in Vegas. (Vegas bookies honored David Stern's request and did not take action on the game-sorry Tim Donaghy).

Dear MLB,

If you put a team in Vegas, please make it a National League team so that I have an excuse for a road trip.  Thank you.

Limey

[ValpoCory]

then there is the matter of UT's strong opposition.

Ding Ding Ding.

No major league pro teams will ever come to Austin, IMO.

[tophfar]

It wouldn't surprise me if the NBA did, though. 

Would be the worst idea in the history of bad ideas for the NBA.

[Limey]

I don't think MLB will ever have a team in Vegas because of the distractions already in that town.

I think this is not a valid concern.  It's like saying "I'm not going to open a new hotel/restaurant/casino because there is already a lot of them."

[Craig]

Oscar Goodman (mayor of Las Vegas) lobbied hard to get the Marlins.

I don't think MLB will ever have a team in Vegas because of the distractions already in that town.

It wouldn't surprise me if the NBA did, though.  They need the money more and they already had an All-Star game in Vegas. (Vegas bookies honored David Stern's request and did not take action on the game-sorry Tim Donaghy).

Vegas made a good run at the Expos too, if I remember right. One problem is that they don't have a good ballpark, though they do have plenty of private funding to build one near the Strip. Cashman Field has such poor team facilities that the Dojers just dropped the 51s as their AAA affiliate. Then there's the whole gambling issue, with MLB not wanting to look tainted. When I lived in Vegas, one of the goals they talked about (probably from Oscar Goodman) was a ballpark with no gambling inside, but lots of gambling just outside. Like sitting at a betting terminal and watching the game from just outside the stadium, and betting on everything conceivable, like balls and strikes, or whatever.

Still, what Oscar Goodman really wants is an NBA franchise. There are plenty of facilities already, and plenty of fans. An NBA team on the Strip would be a goldmine.

[MusicMan]

Still, what Oscar Goodman really wants is an NBA franchise. There are plenty of facilities already, and plenty of fans. An NBA team on the Strip would be a goldmine.

The All-Star Game pretty much killed any chance of that.

[tophfar]

The All-Star Game pretty much killed any chance of that.

Exactly.

[Gizzmonic]

The All-Star Game pretty much killed any chance of that.

What was the problem with the All-Star game, other than the stadium being too small so that only corporate high rollers got tickets?  I'm not being glib, I honestly don't know.  I don't follow the NBA all that closely other than the Rockets.

[subnuclear]

This I assume :

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070220031716.fq28ybhs&show_article=1

[Bench]

What was the problem with the All-Star game, other than the stadium being too small so that only corporate high rollers got tickets?  I'm not being glib, I honestly don't know.  I don't follow the NBA all that closely other than the Rockets.

An unprecedented level of thuggery.  Though I think that concern can be validly criticized as the product of "one-time event" excitement.

[tophfar]

An unprecedented level of thuggery.  Though I think that concern can be validly criticized as the product of "one-time event" excitement.

I don't think it's just the NBA that should stay out of Vegas.  I don't think any major sports should ever consider a team in the gambling capital of this country, and I suppose the world.

It's hard enough to keep gamblers out of the games as it is without sticking players for entire seasons (and playoffs) in that rat warren of unscrupulousness. 

That is one bomb that will not fail to explode in the face of whoever decides to risk it.

[MusicMan]

"A bright light is the best disinfectant."

Legalize the gambling.  Regulate it.  Monitoring the trends gives you the best info as to whether anything fishy is going on.

[strosrays]

I don't think it's just the NBA that should stay out of Vegas.  I don't think any major sports should ever consider a team in the gambling capital of this country, and I suppose the world.

It's hard enough to keep gamblers out of the games as it is without sticking players for entire seasons (and playoffs) in that rat warren of unscrupulousness. 

That is one bomb that will not fail to explode in the face of whoever decides to risk it.

I'm thinking the NFL would be very cozy with it.  I am surprised they haven't put a team there yet.

[tophfar]

"A bright light is the best disinfectant."

Legalize the gambling.  Regulate it.  Monitoring the trends gives you the best info as to whether anything fishy is going on.

the only problem there is, how does a statistical outlier fit in?  It won't fit trends, yet will happen.  Does that suddenly signal something fishy happened in that instance?

[tophfar]

I'm thinking the NFL would be very cozy with it.  I am surprised they haven't put a team there yet.

They are comfortable with people betting on games, yet rae able to keep themselves above the idea that games are fixed.  I think that is an image they would be hard pressed to keep with a team in the middle of it.

The NBA currently has an issue in that regard, so they are the most prominent when it comes to the stay out of vegas mantra.

[Amy]

"A bright light is the best disinfectant."

Legalize the gambling.  Regulate it.  Monitoring the trends gives you the best info as to whether anything fishy is going on.

That has worked so well with the stock market.

[UpTooLate]

one of the goals they talked about (probably from Oscar Goodman) was a ballpark with no gambling inside, but lots of gambling just outside. Like sitting at a betting terminal and watching the game from just outside the stadium, and betting on everything conceivable, like balls and strikes, or whatever.

That is seriously very funny.  I can well imagine an empty stadium surrounded by thousands of chain smoking, beer chugging degenerates surrounded by cocktail waitresses cheering the hometown team.  Better yet, they are all decked out in home team gear.  On second thought, they don't even care what team is playing if money is on the line.  It almost sounds more fun than walking across the street and going to the game.  No need for your kid to bring his/her glove.  Hell, the kids have to stay home.

Yeah, that would be a problem. 

[UpTooLate]

That has worked so well with the stock market.

POTW.  Maybe the year.

[MusicMan]

That has worked so well with the stock market.

If you think the stock market crash was a result of excessive regulation, I suggest you do some more reading.

Start with Beer & Queso.

[MusicMan]

POTW.  Maybe the year.

Ummm... no.

[UpTooLate]

If you think the stock market crash was a result of excessive regulation, I suggest you do some more reading.

Start with Beer & Queso.

No, I don't think that was the reason.  I thought it was a clever and funny comment.  And yes, the stock market meltdown thread belongs in beer and queso.

[Taras Bulba]

If you think the stock market crash was a result of excessive regulation, I suggest you do some more reading.

Start with Beer & Queso.

It had to do with preversions.  And preverts.

[Craig]

I can well imagine an empty stadium surrounded by thousands of chain smoking, beer chugging degenerates surrounded by cocktail waitresses cheering the hometown team.  Better yet, they are all decked out in home team gear.

Or cocktail waitresses decked out in nothing. It's Vegas, so there would undoubtedly be several titty bars near the stadium, probably with huge one-way windows overlooking the action.

Vegas would instantly become the favorite road-trip destination for fans. Of course there might be many times when the visitors' fans outnumbered those for the home team; sort of like Milwaukee, but with hookers.

[MusicMan]

Or cocktail waitresses decked out in nothing. It's Vegas, so there would undoubtedly be several titty bars near the stadium, probably with huge one-way windows overlooking the action.

Vegas would instantly become the favorite road-trip destination for fans. Of course there might be many times when the visitors' fans outnumbered those for the home team; sort of like Milwaukee, but with hookers.

I was quite disillusioned, but not disappointed, to learn that the Strip hotels have been hiring the local "exotic dancers" to hang out at their new clothing-optional pools.

[Noe]

Or cocktail waitresses decked out in nothing. It's Vegas, so there would undoubtedly be several titty bars near the stadium, probably with huge one-way windows overlooking the action.

Vegas would instantly become the favorite road-trip destination for fans. Of course there might be many times when the visitors' fans outnumbered those for the home team; sort of like Milwaukee, but with hookers.

And immediately replace Toronto as the place to go to on a road trip if you love strip joints... for players.  Heck, you don't even need to go to them, they'll come to you:

Blue Jays Hire Stripper to "Loosen" up players

Of course we all know that Alex Rodriquez was caught in Toronto with blonde strippers and then there was the one incident where a bunch of guys hired a stripper to come dance for them at the Skydome, in a private box.  They convinced the woman that she was performing behind a one-way glass pane, so she could watch the game while no one could see her.  Well, the young lady, apparently a college student paying her way through school as a hired dancer, fell for the prank and decided to spend quite a bit of time watching the game while not dancing for the young men.  She was mostly nekkid and caused quite a bit of head turning by the crowd and binocular purchases at the concession stands were said to have increased during her tenure at the game.

Yes, that's right, she never once figured out that all the people turning around and pointing at her could actually see her!  Ah-maze-ing!

[MusicMan]

Well, the young lady, apparently a college student paying her way through school as a hired dancer, fell for the prank and decided to spend quite a bit of time watching the game while not dancing for the young men.  She was completely nekkid and caused quite a bit of head turning by the crowd and binocular purchases at the concession stands were said to have increased during her tenure at the game.

Yes, that's right, she never once figured out that all the people turning around and pointing at her could actually see her!  Ah-maze-ing!

Ah yes, the stripper myth.

[Amy]

If you think the stock market crash was a result of excessive regulation, I suggest you do some more reading.

Start with Beer & Queso.

Ratchet up your sarcasm meter.  It was a joke.

[UpTooLate]

Ah yes, the stripper myth.

Funny because it's true. 

[UpTooLate]

I was quite disillusioned, but not disappointed, to learn that the Strip hotels have been hiring the local "exotic dancers" to hang out at their new clothing-optional pools.

Damn, I suppose that it's been awhile since I've been to LV (2000 maybe?).  Are most of the "Strip" hotels on board with this?  Is there at least a thong minimum required?  That could be a bit scary with people who should not be taking advantage of the "clothing optional" rules.  Grannies with tattoos, etc.

[Craig]

Damn, I suppose that it's been awhile since I've been to LV (2000 maybe?).  Are most of the "Strip" hotels on board with this?  Is there at least a thong minimum required?  That could be a bit scary with people who should not be taking advantage of the "clothing optional" rules.  Grannies with tattoos, etc.

I think most of the bigger hotels do it now, though like everything in Vegas it's probably insanely expensive.

[UpTooLate]

I think most of the bigger hotels do it now, though like everything in Vegas it's probably insanely expensive.

Cost isn't the issue unless the pool is filled with naked super models.  My concern is with people that should definitely be wearing t-shirts, warmups, you get the idea. 

[Lurch]

I think most of the bigger hotels do it now, though like everything in Vegas it's probably insanely expensive.

I'm told the playboy casino overlooks their clothing optional pool.

Off to Travelocity...

[Jacksonian]

Off to Travelocity...

You've named your bunk?

[UpTooLate]

I'm told the playboy casino overlooks their clothing optional pool.

Off to Travelocity...

Hmmm.  Ok, so I haven't hit the LV scene in awhile and find out that there is a Playboy Club.  Cool.  Thought those all closed up years ago.  Let's pull up google and check things out. No nudity in links below.

http://www.palms.com/playboy_club_2.php (hmmm.  Niiiiiice)

http://www.popcrunch.com/michael-phelps-stripper-photos-playboy-club-las-vegas/  (wait a minute, these women don't look like the ones in the first link.  Whats up?  Dealers are "playboyesque" and the stippers are...well...they ain't fugly, but don't they look like run of the mill strippers?  Maybe Limey can provide insight as he is resident globe trotter?)

[Limey]

Then there's the whole gambling issue, with MLB not wanting to look tainted.

Fuck MLB's taint.  I want to be able to watch baseball and make instant bets on a touchscreen built into my seat whilst getting a lap dance!

[Limey]

http://www.popcrunch.com/michael-phelps-stripper-photos-playboy-club-las-vegas/  (wait a minute, these women don't look like the ones in the first link.  Whats up?  Dealers are "playboyesque" and the stippers are...well...they ain't fugly, but don't they look like run of the mill strippers?  Maybe Limey can provide insight as he is resident globe trotter?)

I have "been around" a little, and from my experience I can say:

• Houston strippers are very well put together (in all senses) in the good clubs.  In the bad clubs, not so much.
• London strippers are mostly con artisits working in clip joints, so run away very fast.  Pub strippers will cool your ardour with a minimal increase in ambient lighting and then chase you around looking for tips.
• Parisien strippers are mostly Russian and mostly hookers.  Do not even look at them unless shrink-wrapped from head to toe.  A lysol bath wouldn't hurt either.
• Brazilian strippers are all boys...or so I've been told.
• Dominican strippers are hookers and pre-teens (I...am...not...joking), and simply make you sad for the human race.

[Gizzmonic]

I have a bachelor party (at a strip club, natch) to go to on Halloween night.

I just realized this means that the strippers will probably be in costume!

I have "been around" a little, and from my experience I can say:

• Houston strippers are very well put together (in all senses) in the good clubs.  In the bad clubs, not so much.
• London strippers are mostly con artisits working in clip joints, so run away very fast.  Pub strippers will cool your ardour with a minimal increase in ambient lighting and then chase you around looking for tips.
• Parisien strippers are mostly Russian and mostly hookers.  Do not even look at them unless shrink-wrapped from head to toe.  A lysol bath wouldn't hurt either.
• Brazilian strippers are all boys...or so I've been told.
• Dominican strippers are hookers and pre-teens (I...am...not...joking), and simply make you sad for the human race.

[JimR]

I have a bachelor party (at a strip club, natch) to go to on Halloween night.

I just realized this means that the strippers will probably be in costume!

no, they will be out of costume.

[Ty in Tampa]

no, they will be out of costume.

Dressed as strippers, natch.

[Gizzmonic]

Dressed as strippers, natch.

FTFY

Dressed as strippers, Catwoman.

FTFM

[Limey]

Dressed as strippers, natch.

I think, on Halloween, strippers dress as nice girls because all the nice girls dress like strippers.

[MRaup]

I think, on Halloween, strippers dress as nice girls because all the nice girls dress like strippers.

Limey... Man Law Article 3 Paragraph 17:

Never question the reasoning behind girls dressing like skanks on Halloween. And never EVER mention it out loud, because a girl might hear you and realize how ridiculous the whole concept is and alert the rest of the female race.

[Ty in Tampa]

Limey... Man Law Article 3 Paragraph 17:

Never question the reasoning behind girls dressing like skanks on Halloween. And never EVER mention it out loud, because a girl might hear you and realize how ridiculous the whole concept is and alert the rest of the female race.

"Female race?"

"Forget it. He's rolling."

[MusicMan]

Limey... Man Law Article 3 Paragraph 17:

Never question the reasoning behind girls dressing like skanks on Halloween. And never EVER mention it out loud, because a girl might hear you and realize how ridiculous the whole concept is and alert the rest of the female race.

That's all fine and good until you have a daughter.  (aka "God's Revenge")

[MusicMan]

Fuck MLB's taint. 

"What does that even MEAN?!?!?!" - j.d.

[Jacksonian]

That's all fine and good until you have a daughter.  (aka "God's Revenge")

I've already started calling my 4 year old daugher, "Sister".  I am currently researching nunneries.

[Lurch]

I've already started calling my 4 year old daugher, "Sister".  I am currently researching nunneries.

My 4 year old daughter just told me she has a boyfriend.  I clarified that this was not allowed until she was 30.  She then hit her sister and we moved on.  I think I won.

[strosrays]

Fuck MLB's taint.  I want to be able to watch baseball and make instant bets on a touchscreen built into my seat whilst getting a lap dance!

I just want to hang out with Alan Thicke.  You know, just livin' life.

[UpTooLate]

I have "been around" a little, and from my experience I can say:

• Houston strippers are very well put together (in all senses) in the good clubs.  In the bad clubs, not so much.
• London strippers are mostly con artisits working in clip joints, so run away very fast.  Pub strippers will cool your ardour with a minimal increase in ambient lighting and then chase you around looking for tips.
• Parisien strippers are mostly Russian and mostly hookers.  Do not even look at them unless shrink-wrapped from head to toe.  A lysol bath wouldn't hurt either.
• Brazilian strippers are all boys...or so I've been told.
• Dominican strippers are hookers and pre-teens (I...am...not...joking), and simply make you sad for the human race.

Damn!!!  One of those moments like in Revenge of the Nerds 2 where Booger gets out-belched by the old oriental guy.  <golf clap>
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