A face meant for radio

Had an opportunity make my radio debut Saturday.

Our lead sports columnist, Jack McCaffery, doubles as a weeekend host on sports talk radio WEPEN-950.

Jack asked me if I would come on and talk about the deal to funnel $47 million in state funding into the project to build a professional spors stadium in Chester. I agreed. There is just as much anonymity on radio as there is in the newspaper. And if you've seen this mug, you'll know it's a countenance that was made for the newspaper.

While I was on with Jack (longtime listener, first-time caller) I made the point that thew newspaper has been a big booster of this project on our editorial page, which makes us something of a minority in the media across the state.

If you haven't noticed, there is not a lot of fervor out there to continue pouring taxpayer monday into these kinds of stadium projects.

But the point I tried to make on the radio is that, if this were only a stadium being built, I would heartily agee. But the fact is it's not.

This is not just a $115 million stadium project. Yes, I realize this is not chump change. But that's only part of a bigger picture. The stadium is a crucial cog in a $400 million project that could turn the Chester waterfront, already home to one economic juggernaut in Harrah's Chester Casino & Racetrack, into a destination point that wold rival anything in Wilmington or Camden, let alone Philadelphia.

I know not everyone agrees. One of them would have been state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, who represents much of the city. When the plan was first floated, Kirkland made a good point. Why should the state dump money into a stadium for a city that does not have a major supermarket?

That has now been addressed. Part of the deal unfurled by Gov. Ed Rendell and state Sen. Dominic Pileggi on Thursday will include funds for a supermarket as well as putting money into the struggling Chester Upland School District. And that's something the deal that set up Harrah's did not do.

Now, we wait for word from Major League Soccer. It's believed Chester/Philadelphia and St. Louis are in competition for the 16th MLS franchise, which would likely being play in 2010.

One other point I made on the radio. I realize that this franchise is going to carry the Philadelphia moniker. But I would like to see Delaware County, and the team's home in Chester, be a part of the new franchise.

A month or so ago I mentioned in this space that the team could honor the proud legacy of two county icons, Sun Ship Building and Drydock Co, whose longtime home is just a stone's throw down the road where Harrhah's now sits, as well as another Delco institution, Sun Co.

My idea? The Chester Sun.

It as not terribly well received, being roundly harpooned when it got picked up on the forum hosted by the Sons of Ben, the 1,100-strong fanatics who have pushed the region for an MLS franchise.

Think you have a better idea? Offer a response on this blog.

As I told Jack, maybe the newspaper should sponsor a contest to name the team. Jack jokingly wondered if the newspaper was getting naming rights to the stadium.

Could it be a sign of the Times? Yeah, sure, right up there with me being on the radio.