14 FEB 07: TOO WET FOR A FISH?

Tuesday started with sunshine in Columbus. Then it rained at noon. Then it was almost clear, for a late-afternoon run. Then a second line of storms came in during the evening. Compared with the Midwest, that's the definition of a "wintry mix" I really like....

But was the midday rain too much for Golden Park to handle? The Columbus Catfish might say yes. The team's management told Columbus Council Tuesday much more work needs to be done on the baseball field's drainage. If it doesn't happen, the Catfish may hold one of those "Faith Nights" and have everyone pray for a drought.

We told you last fall about the renovation work around the center field wall at Golden Park [26 Oct 06]. A good bit of digging was done in the deep outfield and on the warning track. But Catfish General Manager Ken Clary says it's not good enough -- so if you want to make some pre-season donations to the "Fan Club," bring the fans to South Commons.

Ken Clary implied the outfield at Golden Park actually might be unsafe. He said major league baseball teams invest millions of dollars in young talent, and those players should NOT be put at risk on wet fields. Of course not -- that risk should be left in the hands of wild fastball pitchers.

And Ken Clary's complaint doesn't stop with the outfield grass. He wants the Golden Park outfield walls to have padding, so players don't get hurt chasing fly balls. Of course, this would open the door for a fine advertising opportunity - by using pads from The Mattress Factory.

In response, Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley noted the city not only made drainage improvements at Golden Park, but spent $89,000 to repair the storm-damaged center field fence. Considering part of the work was done by prison labor, the cost of new bricks must be higher than I realized.

The City Manager added Columbus's current contract with the Catfish does NOT say anything about the city putting padding on the Golden Park walls. Besides, the new push for internal audits at the Government Center should keep all "padding" to a minimum.

This fuss apparently was stirred up by the city demanding $32,000 in back rent from the Catfish. The team paid up Tuesday, to avoid being evicted - which must have disappointed some waiting players from the Northern Little League.

The concern by the Catfish is understandable, because Golden Park has had drainage problems for years. Summer thunderstorms have left the outfield covered with water, and unplayable. Yet the city never has taken advantage of this, by inviting quail hunters to use the park during winter.

But with a new season approaching, I'm not sure "playing hardball" is the right approach for the Catfish. This team needs fans in the worst way - especially since it's now the fourth most popular baseball team in town. It's a wonder the Northern Little League and Columbus High School haven't joined Columbus State University with radio deals.

E-MAIL UPDATE: This message from a reader combines two recent topics....

Richard,

Did you really expect the men behind the Spectrum on Victory Dr to admit to you they were in this country illegally? [11 Feb] That's sort of like asking men in prison if they are guilty of committing a crime.

And for several years now it has been difficult to go into Walgreens in Phenix City without being approached by a beggar. [8 Feb] That's probably why the employees there don't like the beggars - because it's bad for business. That reminds me of a clerk in a gas station on 4th Ave in Columbus. She said they have to regularly call the police on beggars because their paying customers complain about being bothered by them. I'm surprised he didn't ask you to pay his motel bill also. There are several motels on the 280 Bypass that the "homeless" frequent. I bet this beggar didn't offer to help you with any work - like washing your car, etc. in return for the food you provided him.

It would be interesting to hand these beggars cards with the names and addresses of the social service agencies that provide free meals. Do you think that would stop their begging? I rather doubt it.

Pessimisstic Reader

Keep in mind, P.R., I was challenged by an e-mailer to visit that Spectrum store. If I had simply stood around with a clipboard, or watched from my car with binoculars, I would have looked even more like an undercover agent.

You never know what someone will say, when you walk up to them and ask some questions. Some of the immigrant workers might have come out and said so. But admittedly, it probably would be as rare as one of those new sex offenders in Harris County admitting they wanted (ahem) a bed for the night.

The beggar I met at the Phenix City Walgreens last week actually was not the first. A few weeks ago, a woman came up to me needing a couple of dollars to pay for her prescription. I invited her to walk in with me, so we could pool our money at the pharmacy. She said no, and went back to a car to wait for someone else. Is there a medicine for treating pathological liars?

No, the Phenix City beggar did NOT offer to do any work for me. And if he had, I would have turned him down. At the risk of getting too religious, I practice assistance based on "grace" as opposed to "works." After all, the Bible's "Good Samaritan" didn't tell the beaten man to wash his car or cut his grass.

By the way, WRBL reported a Catholic charity went before Columbus Council Tuesday with a suggestion about helping homeless people. "Our Lady of Rose Hill" recommended the city house them in surplus government buildings. That old stockade downtown just might inspire some of them to become historians.

We received one other e-mail about our morning with the immigrant workers -- a long essay about immigration by Charlie Daniels. Isn't it interesting that conservatives like to quote entertainers who agree with their views, while liberal entertainers with opposite views are dismissed as uneducated people who should "shut up and sing?"

But we welcome all of your views - and maybe some other Tuesday headlines will inspire more:

+ Ed DuBose of the Georgia NAACP had a "doubleheader day." He started at Columbus Council, asking again for a new investigation of the Kenneth Walker case. If new Councilor Jerry Barnes couldn't sneak that language into the settlement with Walker's fellow passengers, DuBose might want to try again early in 2009.

+ Then Ed DuBose went to Butler, and asked the Taylor County Commission to endorse a new federal investigation of a 1946 shooting. But an African-American Commissioner upset DuBose's group, when she asked relatives of victim Maceo Snipes if they were NAACP members. Can't the pressure to "make a donation" work both ways?

+ The South Korean government announced a $500,000 donation to the National Infantry Museum. Does this mean there will be an "exile room" for executives from Hyundai and Kia?

+ WXTX "News at Ten" presented a special report on "How to be a Rock Star." Ticket sales for the Blue Man Group "How to be a Megastar" show in March may come to a screeching halt today.

+ Georgia Tech topped Florida State 63-57, for its first win on the road in men's basketball in two years. Well, maybe we should make that SECOND win - because Sunday's game at the Georgia Dome was a few miles off-campus.

+ Instant Message to Jordan High School basketball player Taneshia Gonzalez: I think you've made history this season - as a Red Jacket player with red hair to match. You normally only see that color coordination among the students in the stands.

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