TWINS AT ALL COSTS? BALLPARK DEBATE RAGES ON IN ST. PAUL

          St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman "argued" last night in
     front of 350 people that if city voters approve a sales tax
     increase next month to help build a $325M ballpark for the
     Twins, "the city will be stronger and better-looking and can
     elevate its stature," according to Jay Weiner of the
     Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, who writes that Coleman "responded
     forcefully to critics and a few catcalls" from the audience.
     Coleman: "If we don't say yes on Nov. 2, then the
     opportunity for St. Paul is gone.  Voting yes keeps St. Paul
     at the table" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/12).  In
     Minneapolis, Weiner, Brown, Duchschere & McAuliffe wrote
     that ballpark "proponents are revving up a voter campaign
     that may have a better chance of succeeding if turnout Nov.
     2 [for the referendum] is low."  While ballpark supporters
     "have been hard at work identifying sympathetic voters" with
     phone calls and mail, "they don't appear eager to run glitzy
     TV ads that might motivate wild-card voters" (STAR TRIBUNE,
     10/10).  Yes! St. Paul, the Chamber of Commerce-affiliated
     group heading the ballpark effort, will mail out brochures
     featuring T'Wolves Owner Glen Taylor and Wild majority Owner
     Robert Naegele, who announced a deal last week to buy the
     Twins.  About 45,000 literature pieces "have been or will be
     mailed to targeted audiences" (PIONEER PRESS, 10/9).
          IF A VOTE FAILS: In St. Paul, Charley Walters wrote
     that if the ballpark referendum doesn't pass, "don't be
     surprised" if Taylor "negotiates a new sale price to buy the
     Twins from Carl Pohlad."  Walters: "The intent would be to
     operate the team in the Metrodome while awaiting the 2001
     state legislative session in hopes of landing a new ballpark
     in downtown Minneapolis" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/10). 
     Twins execs confirmed that the team's sale price was $120M
     to the prospective ownership group (PIONEER PRESS, 10/9).
          MN ODDS & ENDS: MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said last
     week that MN is in "danger" of losing the Twins to
     Charlotte.  Selig: "I keep reading ... that people don't
     think Charlotte is a major league city.  They're kidding
     themselves" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/9)....In St. Paul,
     Jim Caple wrote that even with controversial Owner Carl
     Pohlad out of the referendum, "I'm not sure if a mere change
     in ownership is going to convince voters they should raise
     their taxes to help another pair of rich owners" (ST. PAUL
     PIONEER PRESS, 10/9).  Pohlad, at a conference announcing
     the deal: "I hope our legacy is favorable, but who's to say. 
     We've done our best" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/9).