AMERIQUE:


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: It is the unspoken statistic, but it is as real as anything to do with the lingering U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the military, 1,800 American servicemen have killed themselves since the initial invasion of Baghdad. That is in addition to the more than 4,000 who died in battle. This week, families of the soldiers who committed suicide asked President Barack Obama to change the government policy of not forwarding letters of appreciation to mothers and fathers of these servicemen. By week's end, the White House had reversed the policy and agreed that such letters are needed, as well... - Eduardo Paz-Martinez, Editor of The Tribune

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

For WhiteWings, A Long, Drawn Out Light Bill...City of Harlingen Is Patient...Season Drags On...


"I stand on my sincere convictions concerning the WhiteWings, while you seem to make comparisons with them and major league teams. Of course, that is not true, but they provide good entertainment and, yes, there are some very good players in the league. Why not pick on the Killer Bees hockey team for a change and give your fixation on the Wings a rest..." - Harlingen Blogger Jerry Deal, a Journalist

By EDUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ
Editor of The Tribune

HARLINGEN, Texas - Almost 40 games into the ongoing season, the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings are in the thick of things on the field. As they head into tomorrow's doubleheader in Edinburg, local fans can take solace in knowing the Wings will not be playing in Harlingen, where the team continues to negotiate an estimated $40,000 debt it owes for utilities availed at the city ballfield.

"We are still in talks, but just within the last 10 days they finally made a token payment of $4,000 towards their balance due," said a source familiar with the ongoing negotiations.

The news is good for residents underwriting the venue. Harlingen provides the field, takes care of maintenance and, by contract, provides electric power for night games. It has been a very good deal for the team and its management, members of the new North American Baseball League that also outfits clubs in nearby Edinburg and McAllen. Following weekend losses, the WhiteWings record is 21-18, good for second place.

Second hand everything is something many Valleyites endure. This is not professional baseball; it is very minor league baseball being played by players who couldn't - or haven't - made it up to the lowest rung of established A ball. But Harlingen, like many small towns across the country, signed-on, thinking it, too, could dream the impossible dream. It has paid the price when seeking reimbursement from the WhiteWings for that electricity provided at Harlingen Field.

Does the city need this headache?

Some realists at City Hall say, "No."

Still, there it is, that siphoning cash from the strained city budget that could perhaps go to hiring one more police officer or perhaps the funding of a better program serving all residents, not just the easily-buffaloed, rabid baseball fanatic.

Pride comes from success. The Wings may yet win the league championship. But what is the value of that, when the league is such an obscure league that the award is laughable? You don't have to soil major league baseball by comparing this level of ball to the Big League clubs. Only a rube would do that.

In this town, it is about coming clean with the taxpayers and the fans.

Yesterday, on ESPN2, the network carried a program in which it looked at the Good Old Days of baseball in New York, the crux of the show posing the question as to who was the city's best centerfielder when Mickey Mantle patrolled center for the Yankees, Willie Mays did it for the NY Giants and Duke Snider for the Brooklyn Dodgers. You'd have to know baseball to even pose the question.

No, the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings, bless their hearts, are nowhere near that league. Team owners and managers would quickly admit it. But that's about play on the field.

The team's bills are public record, as is that contract the City of Harlingen entered into with the team. Who cares what player is running down flyballs in center at Harlingen Field? You can be sure it's a nobody, always is at this level of play. That's not even up for discussion.

So, what is the current state of that contract?

How much do the WhiteWings owe, and when do they plan to pay it? You would think the town's excitable bloggers would be on it like flies on Guacamole. But they're not...

- 30 -

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Drop the hammer on those guys. they should pay their bils every month. Letting it run up to $40K is not good. Deal should write about it. He is with the team, isn't he? So much for his credibility.

Anonymous said...

Went to a game. Not going again.

Hector said...

Baseball in Harlingen is not baseball. Sorry. The editor is right. Whitewings need to pay up or move out.

Cable Guy said...

DAMN god story. Thankz

Aero Fajita Nopal Verde said...

...No me gustar la Beisboll ese !!!

Anonymous said...

Winger ball is like high school baseball. The players look raggidy, if you want to kill time, pay six bucks and watch the same teams play over and over. That is about it.

Anonymous said...

The last time, I was at a Wing ball game, I swear if there was 300 people there were too many. The stadium was empty.

Patrick Alcatraz said...

ANON:...I would be okay with it if the team took care of its debt, and if the league stopped promoting its game as true professional baseball. It isn't, not by a longshot. When a local used car salesman makes more money in a month than your players, well, that says it all... - Editor

Anonymous said...

From myleadernews:

Jaime on July 6, 2011 at 10:36 am

How long will it take you and Chapa to figure out that Eduardo Paz-Martinez has been pulling your strings from DAY ONE.

He is not interested in blogging: he is interested in stirring up trouble. That’s what he does for amusement.

The “Jake” character on Chapa’s blog? C’mon, man! If you don’t realize that it is DPM…

Jerry Deal comments: Completely disagree with you, but respect your opinion.

Anonymous said...

Jake is a character that promotes nothing but hatred, speaks nothing but profanities. This guy blogs in some crazy blog in Harlingen. A low end blog.

Fustrated Harlingen Taxpayer said...

Politics really played in this one? The Whitewings got to have a season AGAIN on the taxpayer dime? What have they paid so far? They overcharge for this type of ball? With what they are charging? They should be able to pay off their bill? Have they????????