It Takes a Lot of Cash to Be Really Super

When the Louisiana Superdome opened in 1975, many called it the greatest stadium ever constructed.

Twenty-six years later, the New Orleans Saints want out. Moreover, they want Louisiana taxpayers to pony up $450 million to build them a “new, world-class, quality stadium.”

Wait a minute. Wasn’t the Superdome good enough for five Super Bowls? And three NCAA Final Fours?

Writes Peter Finney in the New Orleans Times-Picayune: “Shortly, the Saints will learn what the state can do for its small-market franchise: A $75-million Superdome facelift that would include more suites--net profit to the franchise: $8 million per year.

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“Naming rights: $3 million per year. One hundred percent of concessions and in-house advertising. The state will say the additional $14.5 million annually will move the Saints from 28th place in net stadium revenue to 10th.

“And what will the Saints say?

“Thanks. But no thanks. We want a new stadium. In five years.”

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Add stadiums: Shortly after the Florida House of Representatives voted 98-13 to approve a new downtown Miami ballpark for the Marlins, the state Senate refused to even take up the measure.

Said Marlin player Cliff Floyd: “It’s unfortunate, what’s going to happen. We can’t stay here. What franchise can survive with 8,000 people a night? I feel bad for the family guys [on the team] who have made their homes here. Me, all I’ve got is a dog and some furniture.”

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Trivia time: Who is the first player to appear in an NBA all-star game to have learned his game exclusively in Europe?

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Looking back: On this day in 1952, Lauro Salas, a 15-1 underdog, won a split decision over Jimmy Carter at the Olympic Auditorium to win the world lightweight championship.

0 for 6: When the XFL folded recently, the Birmingham Bolts became the sixth pro football team to go under in Birmingham.

The 2-8 Bolts joined the Americans and the Vulcans of the World Football League, the Fire of the World League of American Football, the Barracudas of the Canadian Football League and the Stallions of the United States Football League.

Said Bolt General Manager Tim Berryman: “I’m sure Birmingham will get another shot at pro football down the road.”

Skewed numbers? Royce Webb, in SportsJones.com, writes that folks are getting carried away by Shaquille O’Neal’s recent spurt of free-throw improvement:

“In O’Neal’s nine years, his free-throw percentages were 59, 55, 53, 49, 48, 53, 54, 52, 51--this year, the year of The Big Improvement, is actually one of his worst.

“In the last two months of the season, Shaq hit 64%. This is hardly The Big Leap Forward--to make the story better, journalists have been contrasting 64% to his early-season percentage of 38%.”

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Trivia answer: According to Euroleague.net, it’s Sacramento’s Vlade Divac.

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And finally: Mark Purdy, in the San Jose Mercury News, speculating on reaction if those wacky, costumed Raider fans were to show up in the Los Angeles courtroom to await the Raiders/NFL verdict:

“Yo, Judge Judy. Meet the Violator and Spike.”