I've said my piece on the Save Tiger Stadium effort before, and would certainly like to see it succeed. But I was thinking some rather hopeless thoughts upon reading that the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy had been given yet more time (after yesterday's deadline) to submit its renovation plans to the city of Detroit.
But I don't think I could express my feelings on the matter any better than ShysterBall did earlier today, so I'll cede the floor to Craig:
The Conservancy has now blown through approximately 1,384 deadlines. Each time they claim to be just about there, only to fall short and thus requiring a new deadline. If it weren't for the massive amounts of Ernie Harwell-inspired goodwill, its efforts would have long ago failed and ceased. Good for Ernie, who is a bigger hero to me than Alan Trammell ever was, but I believe that the failure of the Conservancy would have been for the best.
[snip]
Look, if I ran the world the Tigers would still be playing in a lovingly restored cathedral to baseball on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull. That ship sailed long ago, however, and what has happened to Tiger Stadium in the past nine years has been nothing short of an atrocity. If any of the Conservancy's members had a loved one who was so abused, they would have called the cops. If my Uncle Harry had required the level of life support the Conservancy has demanded, we would have pulled the plug long before we did. I loved Tiger Stadium like I have loved no other building, but it's time to lop off the final bit that remains standing and begin remembering it for what it was rather than gawk at it with pity as we speed by on I-75.
It's been almost 10 years. I don't want to read any more stories from visiting writers expressing disbelief and dismay over the old ballpark being left to rot. And soon, we'll have a generation of Tigers fans that won't even remember that the team played someplace besides Comerica Park. I know this opinion won't make me popular with some people, but isn't it long past time to let go?
By the way, if you didn't know already, ShysterBall has moved to The Hardball Times site, which is the baseball equivalent of "you stuck your chocolate in my peanut butter, you got your peanut butter on my chocolate." Two great tastes that taste great together.