In case you've forgotten...

Carlos Alvarez artwork courtesy of rakontur.

Okay, I'll admit it...I watched the Opening Night ceremonies at the new Miami Marlins ballpark....a place that seems to combine elements of Disney World, a South Beach tourist trap and a Las Vegas casino all rolled into one, big marvelously tacky package.

My favorite moment of the evening occurred sometime during the third or fourth inning when the fire alarms went off and it seemed as though my wildest dreams were about to be realized: The place was actually going to burn to the ground on Opening Night. That never happened, of course.

Least favorite moment: "The sad, shameless sight of Loria trotting out [Muhammad] Ali's disease-ravaged body for a forced on-field ceremony."

TV showed lots of ecstatic fans spouting effusive praise for the new stadium; all of them eager to get inside and guzzle $9 beers and munch on $6 hot dogs. And all of them apparently suffering from amnesia or simply choosing to ignore the fact that as taxpayers, they'll be paying for this white elephant for years to come.

As I watched, I wondered how many of them will still be making the trek to Little Havana in July and August when the Marlins are in last place. I think we all know the answer to that.

There were no soundbites with pissed-off Little Havana residents who live nearby and who will be saddled with and inconvenienced by this monstrosity for as long as they choose to remain in the neighborhood.

But, here's a little video for those of you who are still feeling all warm and fuzzy after last night's festivities and have apparently forgotten how the stadium got built.



More reading: Securities And Exchange Commission Investigating Marlins’ Stadium Deal Because Of Fishy Accounting.