Minnesota Twins President's Comments Show How Disconnected He Is from Reality

Occasionally in the media, you hear ridiculous comments attributed to someone and have to check that you’re not reading a story from the Onion. But no, just a few days ago following the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves news that they would be erecting a sign on the Target Center that would be visible from Target Field, the Twins President David St. Peter had the following to say:

While the Twins always understood an ambush on the ballpark was possible, the sheer size of the proposed signage is shocking. We feel particularly bad about how this signage dominates the new civic gathering place known as Target Plaza. Needless to say it's disappointing considering the large private investment to create this dynamic celebration of public art, which was in essence a gift to the city of Minneapolis.

Shock horror! Those crafty wolves are displaying some business acumen and taking advantage of the Twins’ success with their [completely legal] “ambush.” Ambush implies the Timberwolves had hidden, waiting to attack (like a wolf maybe) but in fact they had won a court battle to get the rights to this advertising, so it shouldn't have come as any surprise. 

One can only assume that if St. Peter was making a cut, he wouldn’t be so animated in his frankly over-the-top comments. This isn’t a mosque on the 9/11 site, this is some advertising on the side of a building that is viewable from a “civic gathering” in a baseball stadium. The inside of the stadium is covered in advertising: Target, US Bank, Best Buy and Delta Airlines are all clearly visible from the composite that has been made.

But how he can say that the ballpark/”dynamic celebration of public art” is a gift to the city of Minneapolis? The stadium was paid for using taxpayers' money. Taxes that could’ve built new schools, or hospitals, but instead built a stadium from which St. Peter is making the money in his pocket. Minneapolis City Council member Lisa Goodman commented, “I’m disgusted by it”, while no doubt thinking about the missed opportunity.  

Timberwolves President Chris Wright refuses to apologize for the upset caused, stating he is looking forward to working with the sponsors, Sanford Health. He added that he felt it was "a shame they [the Twins] would begrudge us" for the opportunity the Timberwolves are taking advantage of.

On a lighter note, I'm not really a baseball fan—but good luck in the playoffs.