AP Cheerleading for Marlins, fine. Why not just call it an MLB press release?

A new Marlins stadium is by no means finalized. To the extent it exists at all, it's part of a larger construction package for the port of Miami, some revitalization projects, and money for the arts. There's also a lawsuit scheduled against the whole thing for July. That's all been in the news, as has their recent signing of Hanley Ramirez. Still the AP today comes out with a headline presenting/assuming the stadium deal to be final, with a story connecting it to Ramirez.

• "BALLPARK DEAL HELPS MARLINS SIGN RAMIREZ," by AP writer Antonio Gonzalez, published in USA Today. (This follows a similar AP article on May 10 which starts "With a new ballpark finally on the horizon"...).

You have to read through to the end to get a bit that the stadium deal is a gigantic piece of pork with big problems still in store:

• "There are still kinks in the stadium deal, part of a broader project to revitalize areas of Miami, that have some worried the effort might get derailed. The project is also facing a lawsuit from auto magnate Norman Braman,

who wants voters, not lawmakers, to decide on the deal and claims it is a misuse of taxpayer dollars. He's arguing the deal is unconstitutional because of the way it is financed.

• Besides the 37,000-seat ballpark and parking garage, the plan calls for construction of a tunnel to Miami's port, a new downtown trolley line and money for the arts.

But Loria said he is confident the Marlins will break ground on their stadium this year."

• I'd like to see them get a new stadium, just not in the way they're trying to. Absent bullies and cowards, the right thing would be done. (sm)

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