Any other Pirates fans here?

[sandgk]

I guess we can hope that someday the players will realize that 98% of them will NEVER get a $100 million contract from the Yankees, and realize it's in their best interest to have a competitive league.

Here's a thought from the vantage point of a Red's fan who would take his son to PNC while the family lived near Pittsburgh. (We are now back near Cincinnati).

It will not be the players alone that make this happen (though they have to agree). It will not be the owners alone that make this happen (though they may have to lead the charge).
It will take both parties coming to their senses and adopting a strictly enforced salary cap. Only then will a level playing field come into play. George Steinbrenner and the other "big market" team owners will still get their extra hundredweight of flesh. that will simply go their bottom line out of TV / Radio revenues and apparel / memorabilia sales. Only difference, they won't spend it in boatloads like drunken sailors on every player that comes down the pike.