Bitter Ballpark Bill Shill Bites Back

Devoted Minnesota Twins fans David Hoch and Joe Marble started an organization known as "Citizens United for Baseball in Minnesota" back in 1997. The purpose of the organization was to persuade Minnesotans to support their efforts to build a new outdoor baseball stadium for billionaire Twins owner Carl Polad.

After nearly ten years, their efforts finally paid off. The legislature OK'd their publicly funded stadium. But when Minnesota's lying governor, Tim Pawlenty, showed up at the Metrodome to sign the new stadium bill into law, Hoch and Marble weren't invited to the ceremony.

Now Hoch, who is now running for governor as the candidate of the Resource Party, isn't happy. In fact, he's downright angry.

"Between us, I estimate we spent $80,000 working toward a new Twins ballpark," Hoch said in a recent Star-Tribune article. "And then down on the field, taking bows at the signing ceremony, were politicians we know opposed a new ballpark for 10 years. When I found out some of the people who were going to be there, it made me sick."

And now the Minnesota Twins have lost a fan. "I'm done with the Twins," Hoch said. "I'm never going to another game. Dome, new ballpark...never." In a June 13 radio interview, Hoch reiterated his intention to avoid the new ballpark, saying, "I guess I'll always have a chip on my shoulder."

Well, Mr. Hoch, I wish I could offer some words of comfort. You're obviously distraught, and I can see why. You embarked on a mission to get other taxpayers to fund your love of outdoor baseball and now, having been tossed aside by those who used you to get their hands on those public funds, you cannot even enjoy the fruits of your labor.

At the very least—whenever you're done behaving like a spoiled little child—maybe you can learn to appreciate the poetic justice of this situation.