It sports wrong label - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Joe Montana must have cleaned up a few bucks for putting on apair of high shoes called 'City Walkers' and pretending to . . .well, to be doing something.

What he was doing was walking. A number of high buildings roseabove him and there was a bus in the immediate background, so thatmeant he was in some city.

Get it?

If you go for a walk as in just going for a walk, what you'redoing is just going for a walk. Sort of like just sitting on theporch or just paddling along in the water. Nothing really.

But if you put on the special $80 shoes, then you'reparticipating in a sport. If you do it in the mountains, of course,it's more often called hiking and the terrain sometimes requires thesupport of true hiking boots, especially coming downhill 3,000vertical feet with a 50-pound pack on your back.

This is rigorous stuff and most certainly would be a kind ofsport. But it's far more than taking a walk, as anyone can figureout.

So the shoe companies really must have put one over on us to getus to buy special shoes just to go for a walk. And they reallyscored if they got anyone to buy city walkers to go for walks in thecity.

I suppose I would have to get special suburban walking shoes forthe walks I take around home, and leave a pair of city walking shoesfor walks I take out around JFK Library while at work or . . . isthat really the city or would I need my suburban walkers? That loopsure doesn't feel like the city, but it does have a city zip code.Which I guess is how in the end you'd figure out which shoes to puton.

The other day, my wife and I took a walk along the loop aroundCastle Island in South Boston. It's a nice walk with swards ofgrass, and the historic fort, and a walkway that loops out aroundPleasure Bay up toward Kelly's Landing and back, giving walkers anice view of the harbor.

The problem there is dogs and what they leave behind, whichrequires a whole new sort of footwear designed along the lines ofwhat Farmer MacGregor wears down in the cow barn. Threepossibilities come to mind here: (1) The dogs' owners don't see theoffending behavior taking place, in which case it must be going onbehind the owner, who must be dragging the dog along at the time ofthe behavior; (2) the dogs' owners don't care about the result oftheir dog's behavior and immediately disavow responsibility for itssudden appearance on the landscape; (3) knowing how idiotic most dogowners are about this species which humans have pretty much bred thenobility out of, owners actually think the result of Poochie'sbehavior is something akin to strawberry ice cream. They leave itthere to be admired, for heaven's sake.

Anyway, a friend of mine who is a lifelong resident of Southietells me that what besmirches the walkways of Castle Island was leftthere by dogs other than South Boston dogs.

People in Southie, he says, are responsible for their dogs'behavior, and the non-strawberry ice cream found all over the walkwayaround Pleasure Bay is left by outside dogs, most likely from Milton.

'The worst thing that ever happened to Castle Island,' he says,'was the Tall Ships. When they came, the place was discovered by theoutside world and hasn't been the same since.'

But we arrive at a larger question: Though dodgingnon-strawberry ice cream in the quantities one finds at Castle Islandmay require very sure foot-eye coordination skills, is walking asport?

There are those who believe in their bones that if you can'tthrow it, kick it or hit it with a stick, it ain't a sport. Whichlets out such things as running a marathon or skiing down an icytrail trying to make precise turns at 80 miles per hour.

The hook 'n' bullet sports are always a bit suspect. Hard toimagine that a guy sitting in a deck chair drinking a beer whilewaiting for a strike is engaged in a sport. But then there's the guyfighting a 400-pound shark for an hour, dropping exhausted when it'sall over. Or the angler who has spent a lifetime learning the subtleart of finding the shy trout and fooling it out of the dark with ahomemade insect imitation. Sport?

To be sure, this is an eye-of-the-beholder sort of thing. Ifsport is the contrivance of an adversary whose defeat depends onone's ability and desire to excel, then the world of sport is verybroad indeed.

But walking? I see the special magazines, the clothes,advertisements for walking clubs to go scooting around together atdawn. Nice and convivial. But somehow the image of a networkinggroup dressed in coordinated Spandex clothes and expensive shoes towalk around a shopping mall -- the sad replacements for good olddowntown -- is a vision of the modern world that alarms me.

I mean, how far do you have to walk before you're doing a sport,anyway? From the house to the garage, or the whole AppalachianTrail?

Upscale club opens in low-budget mall - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Сводка недоступна. Нажмите эту ссылку, чтобы открыть запись.

HOPING THIS STORY OF LOCAL SPORTS FAN HAS HAPPY ENDING - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Todd Hill's friends know how theatrical he can be. They also knowhow much he loves to play games. Now that Hill's life is in danger,his friends are praying for an encore.

They want to hear his standard response to jokes that go oversomeone's head: 'You can't use 617 jokes in 508 area codes.' They arehoping that he somehow walks away from the rubble in New York,promising to give them all of the miraculous details. As grim asthings now appear to be, they almost expect Hill to call at anymoment.

'I know it's a cliche, but if anyone can make it out of somethinglike this, it's Hill,' Joe Chernov, Hill's roommate of nine years,said yesterday. 'If it was me, people would know I'm a goner. But notHill. One of our friends said it best, `Hill lives his life as ifthere's a trap door in every room.' That fits him perfectly. He's thetype of guy who can negotiate with falling rocks.'

Hill and Chernov are not famous athletes. They are sports fans whonever saw a day like yesterday coming. They used to spend Sundaysplaying John Madden video games and watching the NFL on twotelevisions in their South End apartment. But yesterday, the day thatall sports stood still, Chernov found himself sitting in theFrancesca's Cafe on Tremont Street, sipping iced coffee. He waswishing for games, wishing for something that temporarily would takehis mind off the quandary - at least - facing the 34-year-oldsalesman he simply refers to as Hill.

Hill was last heard from on Tuesday morning. He took a businesstrip to New York and stayed at the Marriott World Trade Center. Hewas on the 17th floor of the hotel when the first of the Twin Towerswas struck at about 8:45 a.m. He sent an e-mail to Boston at 9:49,telling a friend that he was waiting to be evacuated from hisbuilding. He logged off his computer at 9:52. About eight minuteslater, the World Trade Center collapsed.

Was Hill, a notorious free spirit, able to realize what danger hewas in and make it out of the hotel in time? That's what his friendsare hoping. They have seen him get in and out of some remarkablesituations, and that's what inspires them now.

This is the same Hill who once went up to Matt Lawton, then anoutfielder with the Minnesota Twins, thinking he was Red Soxoutfielder Troy O'Leary. Lawton corrected him and, eventually, he wasshowing Lawton around Boston.

This is the same Hill who won a trip to Cabo San Lucas forexceeding his sales quota. He went marlin fishing on the trip,although he never had been fishing in his life. While everyone elsecame up empty, he didn't.

This is the same Hill who once went out to a club with a friendand convinced everyone that he was a sports agent and that his friendwas an up-and-coming superstar.

'He lives his life with an absence of caution,' Chernov said witha smile. 'He doesn't take much of anything seriously.' Chernov, whoheads a public relations firm called Upper Right PR, paused. 'I don'teven know what verb tense I should be using. I'm hoping for the best;I'm not going to use the `d' word.'

The 'd' word doesn't fit a Boston sports fan who has so muchverve. Hill used to tell his friends that he would 'single-handedly'run Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette out of town. He is a bigJimy Williams and UMass basketball fan. He once called the Globe andcomplained that the sports section seemed to be pro-Boston Collegeand anti-UMass.

Chernov said he and Hill have had no major arguments - 'and acouple disagreements' - in nine years. They both love sports, theyboth like to laugh, and they are both used to bill collectors callingthem because they pay so late. With no games yesterday, Chernov wasentertained with the thought of Hill coming into the apartment,frantic about the boot on his car.

'He's so dramatic,' Chernov said. 'He never pays his tickets. Andhe always wants to use my credit card.

'He's a great guy. You've got to meet him.'

Since Hill has been gone, there have been no games on TV in theapartment. The phone rings often, with friends and family hoping tohear some good news about a good sports fan. Chernov was looking atpictures yesterday, pictures that remind him of good times. In one,Hill had a big smile at a friend's wedding. In another, he washolding a pair of sunglasses, still looking relaxed, still smiling.

'When Duquette leaves town, I'm going to miss Hill like crazy,'Chernov said. 'We always talk about stuff like that. Terry Glenn wasreinstated. He still doesn't know that, either.'

AVANCE! A FENCING TEEN CLIMBS HIGH AS A SPORT ENJOYS AN URBAN RENAISSANCE, WOODHOUSE JOINS ITS YOUTHFUL ELITE - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Talk to Enoch Woodhouse 3d about fencing and he gets right to thepoint.

'It's not like any other sport. There is strategizing. You aretrying to anticipate and adjust to your competitor,' says the MissionHill teenager, describing how a fencer must retreat at times toprepare for his attack, as in a chess game. 'It's something that Iwork hard at. It's something I enjoy.'

And excels at.

Woodhouse, 17, ranked sixth in the Junior World Cup games in thejunior men's foil competition in September in Kentucky and capturedninth place last April in the Junior/Cadet World Championships inTurkey in the youth-under-17 foil.

At the Boston Fencing Club in Waltham, there is a special pridethat Woodhouse has joined the fencing elite.

'He's come very far over the years,' said Linda Merritt, theclub's president. 'He has pretty much grown up here.'

Curiosity as a youngster - and a father who once fenced - ledWoodhouse to the fierce but elegant and artistic sport.

At age 7, Woodhouse was 'fooling around with some of my old foilsaround the house,' said his father, Enoch Woodhouse II, a formerofficer with the Tuskegee airmen of World War II fame and a fencerduring his Yale undergraduate days. 'I told him, `If you want tofence, it's a discipline. You have to work hard and it takes a lot ofpractice.' '

The senior Woodhouse enrolled his son at the Boston Fencing Club,and watched from behind a glass window as young Enoch climbed inlocal and national competitions in foil events. (In the foil event,a point is earned when the tip of the sword lands on the opponent'storso).

Woodhouse emerged in the sport when he won second place in theunder 11-foil competition during the 1996 Junior Olympics inKentucky.

Although most of his classmates at Roxbury Latin prefer othersports, fencing is closest to Woodhouse's heart. 'It's a littleunorthodox because it's not the classic football or basketball, butit's normal to me,' he said, adding that the sport has been enjoyingan urban renaissance in recent years, and in pop culture, as well. (Isn't that Madonna dueling herself in her newest video, the themefrom the James Bond movie 'Die Another Day'?)

Fencing has also taken Woodhouse far - to Spain, France, Germany,and, on this side of the Atlantic, to South Carolina. It was therelast year, at the age of 16, that he took 15th place in the 19-and-under foil field and tied for third place in the 16-and-under foilcompetition at the US National Fencing Championships.

He spends at least three days a week at the fencing club inWaltham, training for about two hours a day with his coach.Sometimes, he passes on his fencing prowess to younger fencers on theweekends.

His style tends to be more offensive than defensive in the duels.In his practices, he often charges, dashing like a young Zorro.

When he's not fencing or 'kicking it back' with his friends, thesenior at Roxbury Latin is focusing on what he will do after his highschool graduation.

He is applying to colleges and although he isn't sure where he'llend up, the school has to have collegiate fencing.

'It's a part of me,' said Woodhouse, as a chorus of clashing foilsclick-clack nearby. 'I cannot imagine myself not fencing.'

Their money's on the home team ; As budgets remain low, supporters and parents chip in thousands to keep school sports afloat - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Unlike the Red Sox, Anna Karski and other members of the HullBoosters Club Inc. can't afford to have a bad year.

That is because varsity sports at the high school are hanging inthe balance, always in danger of being cut if the money isn't raisedto keep them going.

Hull High boosters, area families, and other supporters are inthe fourth year of virtually self-funding the school's athleticprograms. After a property tax override failed in May 2009, theathletic budget of $240,000 for Hull High sports was reduced tozero. In May 2010, the town again voted down an override that wouldhave restored much of the school budget, and with it the athleticbudget.

The school budget now includes $40,000 for coaching salaries, butthe remaining funds needed to sustain the program -- about $220,000for this year, according to the athletic director, Jim Quatromoni --have to come from athletic fees charged to families or from moneythat is privately raised or donated.

The Pirates have managed to keep the lights on, thanks to a corpsof highly motivated volunteers and a policy of cutting expenseswherever possible, including some road games and nonleague contests.

Hull is hardly alone in needing to raise money to keep sportsprograms going. In the 46 public high school districts in the GlobeSouth coverage area, only seven do not impose athletic fees. In thepast two years, 11 districts have either instituted or increasedathletic fees, while three districts have decreased them. Inaddition, 19 districts impose non-sport activity fees, for suchthings as drama clubs, at high schools.

As communities struggle with tight budgets amid the economicdownturn and a continuing aversion to broad-based tax increases,several schools south of Boston are relying on dedicated boosterclubs of parents and fans.

In Abington, for example, the Green Wave Booster Club has raisedabout $75,000 in the last three years to help keep Abington High'ssubvarsity teams in business and assist in other areas of thebudget.

In Bridgewater, a group that was formed in 2004 to save sports atthe high school finances items that the district and sports budgetcannot afford.

Karski has been involved with the Hull boosters for six years,since her daughter Elena was in the eighth grade.

In Hull, the funds raised by boosters had long supplemented thebudget, buying jackets and other extras. But after May 2009, whenthe sports budget was slashed, they became vital to the programs.

'I can recall being devastated at first,' Karski said. 'Afterall, sports, drama, all the fun stuff, it's all part of high school.I couldn't imagine my kids not having that full experience.'

Elena went on be a captain in basketball and also played soccer.Son Calvin is a Hull High junior, playing basketball and soccer. 'Idon't know how many people other than Jim [Quatromoni] could havelasted this long doing this,' Karski said.

Over the past few years, she said, the core group of volunteershave fed off one another's energy.

'We didn't want to let each other down,' she said.

She said she has also been heartened by the outpouring ofsupport. 'The townspeople have been wonderful. They've donatedcruise boats for our midnight cruises; they wear the boosterstickers proudly on their vehicles. I wouldn't change any of theexperiences I've had.'

The sports boosters also try to help in areas outside of sports,such as renting a bus for a field trip or enrichment trip.

'It's such a small town, and we're all in this together,' Karskisaid.

She doesn't see the extensive fund-raising or user fees goingaway any time soon, but hopes there will be some light at the end ofthe tunnel.

'We just have to find ways that the entire burden doesn't fall onthis committee,' she said.

Quatromoni said the number of students requiring a waiver of feeshas increased in recent years. That, in turn, has exacerbated budgetproblems, leading to an effort that asks residents to sponsor thefees of student-athletes who cannot pay.

The story is much the same in Abington, where the Green WaveBoosters long supported Abington High athletics with the traditionaljackets, awards, and banquet. But when the town faced hard budgetchoices three years ago after a failed override and it seemedsubvarsity sports would be eliminated, they stepped up theirefforts.

'If we didn't get that money, I'd hate to even think about wherewe'd be,' said Abington High's athletic director, Steve Moore.

The booster club president, Chris Nagle, had two daughters gothrough Abington High and now has a son who is a junior. The groupruns such activities as going door-to-door each October, or hostinga Teamwork Trivia night and a comedy night in conjunction with youthfootball. Then there are the usual concession stands at AbingtonHigh athletic events.

'We're always looking for new members and new ideas,' said Nagle,who has been president for three years and involved in fund-raisingfor eight years. 'Our motto is, 'Keep them in cleats and off thestreets.' '

What keeps him and the rest of the boosters going is the supportfrom residents. 'The townspeople, the high school alumni, they comeout in droves to support our fund-raisers,' Nagle said. 'It neverceases to amaze me.'

Nagle said there is a core group of 15 to 18 volunteers. Theyfeel the pressure with the schools and student-athletes counting onthe money, and he wonders what would happen if they had a bad year.

The town and the schools need to find another way to pay forsubvarsity sports on a more permanent basis, he said. 'Sooner orlater, this [money] has to be in the budget,' said Nagle. 'I don'tthink anyone involved in the schools wants us to feel that kind ofpressure.'

The Friends of Bridgewater-Raynham Athletics was born during the2004 budget crisis that threatened the existence of the athleticprogram. Since then, it has morphed into a group that funds capitalprojects or items that the school or town budgets cannot afford.

In recent years, that includes a $35,000 resurfacing of the highschool track, new scoreboards for the soccer field and the fieldhockey/softball complex, and the sweeper arm that, attached to atractor, grooms the artificial turf field.

'Generally speaking, we're going to do something that lasts morethan a year, said Friends president Paige Heath. 'We leave theuniforms to the schools and the teams.'

The group raises about $28,000 a year through businesssponsorships, and generates thousands more by staffing concessionstands and the annual 'Mr. B-R' pageant, which features male seniorsin formal wear showing off their talents and answering beautypageant-style questions.

'They've been a godsend,' said Bridgewater-Raynham's athleticdirector, Dan Buron, of the Friends.

'They've allowed us to keep our heads above the water and me tofocus on the core of the program,' he said.

In Weymouth, school sports for the past five years were largelyfunded by user fees, gate admissions, fund-raisers, donations, andadvertisements by town businesses. In one year, the school budgetallocated $100,000 for athletics, but in other years the program wasdependent on user fees and other outside sources of income.

This year, fund-raisers got some relief when the School Committeeprovided $300,000 for the sports budget, leaving just a $100,000gap.

'I think for the last five years, we've run a streamlined andsuper-efficient program, and that's allowed us to overcome financialchallenges,' said athletic director Kevin Mackin.

Mackin praised members of the booster club for their hard workand the support from businesses in town, and said the budget wouldallow everyone to 'take a breath.'

Karski of Hull, and Abington's Nagle said they believe they arenot being taken for granted and that students appreciate the workthat goes into raising the money.

When students and parents convene to register for fall sports,Karsi said, they are reminded that there would be no sports withoutthe fund-raising.

'We make sure the kids are a part of this effort and haveownership in it in some way,' she said.

'At the annual banquet, we ask kids who played subvarsity sportsthat year to stand up,' said Nagle. 'We say to the parents, 'Yoursons and daughters wouldn't be playing sports if it weren't for thepeople in this room.' I think they understand that.'

Failed Fenway health club giving lawyers a workout - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Things weren't going so well.

Barely 15 months after it opened, the Adam Berke Gym, the much-publicized, upscale Fenway fitness center, was buckling under acrush of messy financial problems and a sometimes violent familydispute.

Personal trainer Adam Berke, 34, trying to save his eponymousfacility from extinction, proposed to his landlords that he turn thesleek, moodily lit gym at 1260 Boylston St. into a sleek, moodily litbar.To several in the fitness industry, that ambition typified anidentity problem that doomed the Adam Berke Gym to failure almostbefore it opened. The gym, said its critics, was too scene-driven,too image-conscious -- in short, too much like a bar from the verystart.Indeed, the splashy rise and thudding fall of the Adam Berke Gymis more than a tale of financial and familial chaos. It is also thestory of a kind of cultural clash, between a man who apparently sawsuccess in conspicuous glamour and a city far better known for itspersistent practicality.Positioning his stylish facility at the top end of the market,Berke, who for several years had been a fixture on the city's youngersocial scene, tried to attract affluent, image-conscious members.Dues in the beginning were as high as $1,500 a year. The gymoffered not only treadmills and barbells, but lavish extras includinggilt mirrors, subtle lighting, valet parking, and a sofa-strewn juicebar that also served wine. There were plans for an oxygen room,where members could breathe in oxygen-enriched -- even scented --air, as they do in some Los Angeles clubs.Berke, who declined to be interviewed for this story, and his newgym garnered flattering publicity in national magazines such as Vogueand GQ. Boston magazine gave Berke two 1998 Best of Boston awards:Best Personal Trainer, for his professional competence, and BestPublic Sculpture, for his physique.Ordinarily, that kind of publicity would lead to healthy trade.But local fitness fanatics, say other gym owners, want few frillswith their Stairclimbers and spinning classes. Here in Boston, theysay, people like their workouts nice and simple.'There are places, like L.A. and New York, where they go to{health} clubs to be seen,' said Cathy Masterson McNeill, spokeswomanfor the International Health, Racket and Sports Club Association.'But that doesn't tend to happen in Boston. Here, they like a niceenvironment, but it's not image for image's sake.'Sooner or later, most of the fitness professionals seeking toexplain the problems at the Adam Berke Gym arrived at the C-word.'Boston, just by its nature, is very conservative,' said MarkHarrington, president of Healthworks Fitness Centers. 'People don'twant trendiness in their life, and they want a product they can counton. Adam Berke had a lot of publicity, but that just wasn'timportant to the consumer we know.'Those consumers stayed away from the new gym, and it was ailingvirtually since its much-ballyhooed arrival in October 1997.'There were very few people working out there,' said Bonnie Jones,a Fenway resident who first visited the gym Jan. 7 for trainingsessions with Berke. 'It seemed strange to me.'The gym also suffered from more practical problems. Few residentsof student-filled Fenway could afford the high fees, and there waslimited parking for patrons from more affluent neighborhoods.'He was doing high-end stuff, but it was absolutely in the wronglocation,' said Paul Crisostamo, owner of Mike's Gym in the SouthEnd.And the club's decor may have alienated some potential members.'If a gym is to be successful, it has to be into health and notaesthetics,' Crisostamo said. 'It was more a nightclub atmospherethan a gym.'McNeill agreed. 'One reason you exercise is to feel energy, andup,' she said. 'A dark atmosphere, I think, is counter-intuitive.'A year after it opened, Berke had cut the club's fee, offeringfull-year memberships for as little as $99. But he was still unableto attract enough members to appease his creditors.Jones did venture into the gym, to engage Berke as a personaltrainer based on the Boston magazine recommendation. She said shepaid him $300 for four sessions, but got only two.'I was there on Jan. 22, a Friday, then I went back on Mondaymorning and there was nothing there,' she said. 'It was reallystartling to think that all of it had disappeared since Friday.'Looking back, Jones said, she had noticed fixtures and furnituremissing in the weeks leading up to the eviction.'There were certainly signals things were not in good shape,'Jones said. 'But I had no clue the gym would actually be closing,and I felt sure {Berke} must have known that when he accepted mymoney.'Berke's landlords had told him point-blank that his bar idea was ano-go, said their lawyer, Lenard Zide. Last weekend, Berke, who hadalso been living at the gym, according to his lawyer, was finallyevicted from the premises for defaulting on rent payments totalingmore than $130,000, according to eviction orders in Roxbury DistrictCourt.'He owed a substantial amount,' said Zide. 'The landlord tried tomake accommodations. At some time you have to cut your losses.'Those landlords joined a half-dozen other creditors who have alsobrought suits against Berke in the past six months.Berke and his company have been sued by radio station WBCN, andpublications The Improper Bostonian and Bay Windows, for unpaidadvertising bills totaling more than $18,000. LAZ parking, whichleased 30 Fenway spaces to Berke when the gym opened, sued him for$3,600 in uncollected fees.Suits also were brought against the gym by a member who said Berkehad overcharged her for training sessions, and by a woman who saidshe never received a refund of her $1,000 membership fee promised toher in writing by Berke. Both won their cases by default when Berkedid not show up for hearings.It is unclear whether current gym members will have their duesrefunded, or whether memberships will be transferred to other gyms.None of the people interviewed for this story knew how many memberswould be affected by the closing.As the gym sank further and further into debt, Berke was embroiledin a bitter, protracted dispute with family members over itsfinances.He has accused his father, Carl Berke III, of siphoning off gymfunds for personal use, said the younger Berke's lawyer, Philip A.Tracy Jr. For his part, Carl Berke has accused his son of embezzlinggym money, according to a criminal complaint made by Carl Berke atRoxbury District Court.On Sept. 4, according to police reports, the dispute betweenfather and son erupted into a fistfight in the gym's lobby.'The father suffered more injuries,' said Tracy. 'But AdamBerke's position is that his father started it. Mr. Berke went tothe hospital, then a race to the courthouse began.'Adam Berke said at the time that his father attacked his wife,Catherine, and he came to her defense. The police incident reportlisted his father as the perpetrator.Carl Berke immediately took out a restraining order against hisson. Catherine Berke took out a restraining order against CarlBerke. She also sought a restraining order against Joshua Berke,Adam's brother, whom she also accused of embezzlement.The father and the son have brought assault and battery chargesagainst each other; those cases are set to be heard early this month.None of the family members would be interviewed for this story.'It's an ugly family dispute,' said Tracy. 'There's no questionthere's bad feeling on all sides. There's always hope that somehowthere can be a resolution, but right now it's not on the table.'

Field of Dreams -- Frequently Asked Questions -- What people want to know about Big League Dreams and a sports complex for Yakima - Yakima Herald-Republic

Here is a list of frequently asked questions about Big LeagueDreams' proposed sports complex that will be voted on Sept. 18:

-- What is sports complex being proposed by the city of Yakimaand Big League Dreams USA of Mira Loma, Calif.?

On city property around Kiwanis Park in southeast Yakima, BigLeague Dreams has proposed operating a sports park that will includefive lighted ballfields, of which three would be scaled-downreplicas of historic major league ballparks. The complex would alsocontain a multisport pavilion, batting cages, a restaurant, parkingfor up to 350 vehicles and a playground and picnic area.

-- Why was a company from California picked and not someonelocally?

Starting in 1991, local service clubs and sports enthusiastsbegan studying a number of proposals before selecting Big LeagueDreams of Mira Loma, Calif. One of the main selling points was thecompany's scaled-down replicas of major league ballparks includingBoston's Fenway Park and Chicago's Wrigley Field. Big League Dreamsalso already has successful complexes operating in Cathedral City,Calif. (opened in January 1998) and Riverside County, Calif. (openedin April 2000). A third facility in Chino Hills, Calif., is underconstruction.

-- We have heard the project will cost from $9 million to $12million. What will the actual cost be?

According to a city staff report, the estimated cost to build thesports complex is $11.9 million. The city has $2.7 million incurrently available resources - $1 million from the sale of LarsonPark to Yakima Valley Community College, another $1.1 million worthof property purchased by three local service clubs that was thentransferred over to the city, an additional $100,000 in donations,and $500,000 through grants. That leaves a balance of $8.7 million.

Added to this is the $10 million necessary for debt service andinterest payments during the lifetime of the 25-year bond.

-- Will the complex, with its sports pavilion, be used year-round, or will it be closed in the winter months?

Big League Dreams plans to run the facility 261 days a year. Themultipurpose pavilion is a semi-enclosed facility that is notheated, insulated or air conditioned. It is designed to accommodatebasketball, inline hockey, indoor volleyball, indoor soccer, andcorporate and community meetings.

City officials say if bids for construction come in lower thananticipated, amenities such as heating could be added to thepavilion.

-- Instead of the city leasing out the sports complex, whydoesn't a private owner build and run the park without seekingpublic funding?

According to a city staff report, the cost of building a sportscomplex would force the private operator to charge much higher fees,making the facility unaffordable for many prospective users. Apublic/private ownership, as proposed in the sports complex forYakima, would keep fees to a minimum.

-- How many years will it take to pay for the sports complex, andis there any guarantee that the utility tax will end when the bondsare paid off?

The city predicts that, under current rates, it will take 25years to pay off $8.7 million in general obligation bonds. Thesebonds are approved by voters. The government's promise to repay theprincipal and pay the interest is constitutionally guaranteed on thestrength of its power to tax. When the payments are met, the bondsare eliminated.

-- How much is the utility tax and how much will it cost familiesand businesses in Yakima?

If approved by voters, the utility rate on private utilities -natural gas, electric, and wired and wireless telephone services -would increase by 1 percent, from 6 to 7 percent. The city estimatedthe increase for the average household is $1.80 per month orapproximately $22 per year. Businesses or high-volume users wouldpay a maximum increase of $40 per month per account or $480 annuallyfor each utility.

-- How much have the local service clubs - Rotary, Kiwanis andLions - donated to the proposed sports complex?

The service clubs have contributed $1.6 million. That money hasbeen used to purchase property south of Kiwanis Park. Ownership ofthose lots, in turn, has been transferred over to the city ofYakima.

The service clubs have also paid Big League Dreams a fee of$150,000 to secure exclusive rights to the complex so the companywould not be able to negotiate with other cities in the region.

-- What will it cost for softball teams to use the fields forleague play and for tournaments?

Although no fees have been set for the sports complex in Yakima,officials with Big League Dreams say fees will be comparable tothose charged at their complex in Cathedral City, Calif.

For league play, Big League Dreams would charge $300 per team and$20 per player (with teams consisting of 12 players). Those chargescover a 10-game season. That's $54 per game.

The current rate through the Yakima parks department averages outto around $840 per team (there is no per player fee). These chargescover a 22-game season. That's $38 per game.

For tournaments, Big League Dreams charges $175 per team whilethe city of Yakima now assesses $190 for tournaments. In Pasco, teamtournament fees are $250.

-- Will alcohol be sold at the restaurant? If so, will there beany restrictions?

Yes, alcohol will be served. The lease with Big League Dreamsdoes not forbid alcohol sales while youth games are being played.

-- What kinds of teams will be able to use the baseball fields?

Big League Dreams states its sports complex will be home to youthbaseball, slowpitch softball, girls fastpitch, tournaments softballteams, indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball and inline hockeyteams.

-- Who will pay to clean up any graffiti or other vandalism atthe sports complex?

Maintenance of the sports complex will be the responsibility ofBig League Dreams. The company states it will staff the park fulltime. With one controlled access gate, company officials say thefacility will be 'safe and secure.'

-- How many softball teams could play in the sports complexduring the year?

There are more than 200 youth and adult softball teams nowplaying in the Yakima area, according to a city staff report. Withfive lighted fields, Big League Dreams can accommodate five leaguegames per night per field, or 50 teams per night and a total of 250teams per week (Monday through Friday). Currently, the city softballleague can host 24 teams per night at its four lighted and fourunlighted fields.

-- Is a simple majority or a super-majority of 60 percent of'yes' votes required for the utility tax measure to pass in theSept. 18 primary?

A simple majority is needed for passage. And unlike a schoollevy, there is no minimum number of votes required to validate themeasure.

-- What happens if Big League Dreams decides to pull the plug andback out of the complex in a couple of years?

Under the recently signed lease agreement, Big League Dreamswould be required to reimburse the city a licensing fee of $300,000if it pulls out of the complex within three years after the city haspaid the fee. The property would still be owned by the city, whichcould then either operate the complex with city staff or seekanother company to run the operations.

The city could also choose to lease the restaurant andconcessions to a private business as it has done with the restaurantspace at the Yakima Air Terminal.

-- Who pays admission and how much will it be?

Beginning at 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends, BigLeague Dreams will charge an admission of $1.50 for adults and $1for children who are playing a game. All other children under 13 arefree. Every person who pays an admission fee also receives a tokenworth $1 off any item at the concession areas.

-- Will parking always be free?

The sports complex will provide parking for up to 350 vehicles.Though the lease does not forbid Big League Dreams from charging afee, the company has stated it will not charge for parking.

-- Will families be able to bring food and drinks into thecomplex or will they be required to buy food and refreshments fromBig League Dreams?

A restaurant and sports bar will be part of the sports complexand will open up to the three ballfields that will be replicas ofmajor league ballparks. Concession stands also will be available. Afamily picnic area with tables and benches will be available outsideof the facility, but those entering the stadium will not be allowedto bring in food or refreshments.

-- Big League Dreams says it will make, by the fourth year, morethan $3 million and will pay the city 10 percent of that, or$300,000, to help pay off the bonds. What if the complex doesn'tgenerate that high of revenue? Will the city have to make up thedifference?

With gross revenues rising from $1.4 million in the first year to$3.1 million in the fourth, Big League Dreams has agreed to pay thecity of Yakima 10 percent of its gross income starting with thefourth year of operation. That amounts to $310,000. The city's parksand recreation department will receive a portion of this futurerevenue for maintenance costs and programs.

In the event Big League Dreams does not generate the anticipatedgross income, the city's percentage would still be 10 percent, butthe overall dollar amount returning to the city would be less.

-- What limits will be placed by Big League Dreams on softballgames? Are they different than those now being imposed in the Yakimaparks department?

Adult league softball games at the proposed sports complex willbe limited to one hour in length. This is comparable to the limitsnow imposed in the city parks program. League play in the city parksrequires doubleheaders, with no limit on the first game but anoverall time limit for both games. Total playing time is roughly twohours and 10 minutes.

Also, softball games for Big League Dreams will require that allbatters start their at-bat with one ball and one strike. That is thesame rule now being used for city softball leagues.

-- Have there been any studies of traffic congestion at the siteof the sports complex?

The proposed sports complex must receive an environmental reviewunder the state Environmental Policy Act. That would include a studyof traffic impacts.

-- How many jobs will be created at the sports complex?

Big League Dreams expects to hire 15 full-time and 70 part-timeworkers.

-- How did other cities pay for the 'Field of Dreams' complexes?Did any of these cities take a tax vote?

No other city has gone to the voters for an increase in taxes. Infact, officials with Big League Dreams say the vote in Yakima willbe the one and only time a tax issue will be sought at the ballotbox. In Cathedral City, Calif., the city used a nearly $5 millionbond measure to help pay for the facility. No direct tax dollarswere involved.

-- What happens to the Kiwanis Park property if this taxingmeasure doesn't pass?

The city of Yakima will still control ownership of the property,including the land purchased by the three service clubs. Anyadditional construction of ballfields would depend on outlays fromthe current budget of the parks and recreation department and anygrants the city might secure. City officials say it would still take$4.6 million just to build a conventional sports complex.

-- What are the differences between the family sports complex andthe proposed Central Washington complex recently proposed in UnionGap?

In July, a group of local businessmen announced plans to developa 220-acre Union Gap hayfield into a complex to include a sprawlingarray of soccer, softball and baseball fields, an indoor field andice hockey rink, volleyball and basketball facilities. The privatelyfunded venture, called Central Washington Sports Center, could costanywhere from $25 million to $50 million. Supporters of the sportscenter say the Yakima Valley could support both their facility andthe Big League Dreams complex.

However, the sports center in Union Gap is likely years away fromreality. Investors still must be found and permits secured.

-- Why did the city settle on a utility tax instead of some otherkind of tax like a hotel/motel tax?

According to a city staff report, Yakima has the debt capacity tolegally issue bonds. But it has no existing revenue source to payoff the bonds.

City staff recommended the utility tax because it would be astable and reliable revenue source, would need a simple majority forpassage and the procedures to tax private utilities are already inplace.

The city had looked at a voter-approved telephone tax increase, avoter-approved property tax increase, a new business and occupationtax and an increase in the tax on city refuse, water and sewerutilities. However, these options were not considered since theburden of these taxes would fall unevenly on residents.

A sales tax increase was ruled out because it wouldn't raiseenough.

And a boost in the hotel/motel tax likewise was not consideredbecause it's already at the maximum level allowed and would requireaction by the Legislature to increase it.

-- Why should taxes be used to build a privately run restaurant?