Boardregeln » of our team in India for

ATLANTA -- When Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed found out a neighbouring community had made a generous offer to help finance a new Braves stadium, he balked and said the city simply couldnt compete. Reeds decision comes a few months after the mayor faced tough criticism for pushing through a plan to use public money to support a new NFL stadium downtown. And it underscores the challenges facing cash-strapped communities nationwide as they weigh the risks and rewards of using public money to help finance major sports venues. "The bottom line is that the city was presented with a choice, and that choice was encumbering between $150 million to $250 million in debt and not having money to do anything else," Reed said, referring to the citys share of costs for desired improvements at Turner Field. Instead, the mayor announced Tuesday that Turner Field would be demolished when the Braves leave in 2017, making way for a new large-scale development. Reed has said the city couldnt match Cobb Countys offer of $450 million in public support to the Braves, though the team disputes that figure. When faced with the question of how much to contribute to stadium construction or refurbishment, local leaders have to weigh the state of their communitys finances. In Atlantas case, Reed said the city has a $900 million backlog in infrastructure projects. There have been instances of communities not putting up public money, but those are the exception, said Judith Grant Long, an associate professor of urban planning at Harvard University. Most notable is the current home of the San Francisco Giants, which was the first privately financed major league stadium in decades. On the other end of the spectrum, Long pointed to the $975 million Minnesota Vikings stadium project. There, the public contribution has been estimated at $498 million. "The impact of the recent recession on state and local tax revenues, and consequently fiscal management, should influence thinking about all new capital projects and the role of public debt," Long said. The new 42,000-seat Braves stadium would be located about 10 miles north of downtown and cost $672 million to build. Reed has said he was informed of the $450 million in public financing during a meeting with the team, but the Braves said the costs havent been finalized and "reports of this figure are erroneous." Cobb County appears to have at least three financing options that would not involve raising taxes on residents, including a hotel/motel tax that brought in $10 million in revenue last year, a community improvement district that pools money from area businesses for infrastructure projects and a budget surplus. The proposal does include options for commercial development, including restaurants, retail, hotel and entertainment facilities that would surround the stadium and also would boost revenues. Details on the public funding are expected to be released in the next few weeks. In defending his decision, Reed argued the Braves situation was much different than the citys plan to contribute at least $200 million in public funding to support a new $1.2 billion, retractable-roof stadium for the Atlanta Falcons. Reed said the Falcons deal will use the citys hotel/motel tax for improvements to state-owned property where the NFL stadium will be built. There was no such funding mechanism for the Braves, so any contributions would have forced the city to take on significant debt, Reed said. "It doesnt mean I dont want the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta," Reed said. "Were not going to put the city on its back financially." Reed touted the publics relatively small share of costs for the NFL stadium. Long said that was lower than the average of about 70 per cent in public money for stadium projects. William Perry, executive director of the government watchdog group Common Cause Georgia, was a vocal critic of the mayor for not seeking more public input on the Falcons stadium deal. He said this week that the mayor appeared to be applying inconsistent logic by fighting for the Falcons but letting the Braves leave. Braves executives said the decision to leave Turner Field was based on several factors, including $150 million needed to replace seats and pay for other upgrades as well as another $200 million to improve the fan experience. The team cited a lack of mass transit options in the area, too few parking spaces and limited freeway access. "Our new location will give us the opportunity to develop the surrounding area of the new ballpark, transforming it into a mixed use, 365-day destination and creating an enhanced atmosphere for our fans during Braves games," the team said in a statement. Studies have shown stadium projects create only modest increases in overall tax revenue and job creation, Long said, although more teams are taking a role in developing lodging, entertainment and retail around the venues. "In part, this is evidence of a trend where teams are more interested in development around the stadium as part of their evolving business model," Long said, adding that it can also help with gaining approval. "However, these urban development benefits ... are slow to materialize." For Cobb County, the benefits of the project are clearly worth any risk. "This makes Cobbs marketability so much stronger, and it helps us become more than a suburban community," said Brooks Mathis, an executive with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce who helped negotiate the deal. "We are going to see huge benefits for many, many years to come especially having such a wonderful organization like the Braves be a part of our community." Delino DeShields Jr. Rangers Jersey . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Jose Trevino Rangers Jersey . -- Top-ranked Stacy Lewis birdied the last three holes and five of the final six Thursday for an 8-under 64 and a share of the lead with Mi Jung Hur in the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/171...ey-rangers.html. The Boston Celtics hadnt played since the All-Star break. So the Suns 100-94 victory over Boston Wednesday night was an uphill affair, with Phoenix relying on balance rather than its trademark high energy. Rangers Jerseys China . - Chris Davis hit a two-run double, scoring Nelson Cruz in his Orioles debut in Baltimores 9-7 win over to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Joey Gallo Rangers Jersey . The thinking at the time was Clowney could have already been promised he would be selected first overall by the Houston Texans, therefore negating any need to meet with any other teams. The plot took another twist this week.Sir Ian Bothams impending return to Durham as chairman comes 25 years after he joined the county in the twilight of his playing career. The clubs ambition to shake up the first-class scene and its proximity to home convinced the England all-rounder in 1991 that the wrench of leaving Worcestershire after five happy seasons was worth it.It appeared the perfect match… On the upBotham wasnt the countys only big-name player - Australian Dean Jones and Wayne Larkins, his 13-Test England career recently over, teamed up with the likes of Paul Parker and Simon Hughes under the captaincy of David Graveney. It was Botham who stole the headlines, though, and many - including Beefy himself - expected Englands greatest all-rounder of all-time to lead the team after Durham became the first county to be granted first-class status for 70 years. So when Director of Cricket Geoff Cook preferred Graveney as skipper it didnt make for the happiest of starts. Dean Jones: scored 904 Championship runs for Durham in 1992 Instant impactBotham didnt disappoint in the countys maiden County Championship match against Leicestershire at the Racecourse in April 1992. He struck a run-a-ball second-innings century after claiming Durhams first two wickets in the big-time - dismissing Foxes skipper Nigel Briers caught and bowled for 12 before bowling current National Selector James Whitaker for just two on his way to figures of 2-51 off 25 overs. However his swaggering hundred, which featured seven fours and five sixes, couldnt save the new boys from a seven-wicket defeat.Still in the swingBotham would make just one more first-class hundred for Durham in his remaining 24 matches - his batting average for the county eerily echoing his final statistics for Worcestershire in half as many games, but his bowling a fading force. Bothams first-class batting record at Durham Matches Innings Not Outs Runs Highest Average 100 50 Ct 25 40 3 1,121 105 30.29 2 7 15 Bothams first-class batting record at Worcestershire Matches Innings Not Outs Runs Highest Average 100 50 Ct 54 75 6 2,097 161 30.39 4 10 36 Bothams first-class bowling record at Durham Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Best Average 5w 10w 507.5 108 1,599 39 4-11 41.00 0 0 Bothams first-class bowling record at Worcestershire Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Best Average 5w 10w 1,105 224 3,372 131 7-54 25.dddddddddddd.74 6 1 In June 1992, Botham became the first Durham player to play Test cricket for England, against Pakistan at Edgbaston, but by his own admission was a mere shadow of his best self in both that rain-ruined match and the Test that followed at Lords - the last of his 102 England caps.One final flingHow else to sign off? With a bit of Aussie bashing, of course. By the time the tourists rolled up at The Racecourse, Bothams mind was long made up that he wouldnt see out the 1993 season - a two-day defeat to Surrey in the Championship at the start of the month in which he made eight off eight balls across two innings on the same day deciding matters once it was clear he didnt have a chance of forcing his way back into Englands plans. Batting at six, Botham made a bullish 32 off 37 balls before falling to Steve Waugh before the match fizzled out into a draw. Bothams overall first-class batting record Matches Innings Not Outs Runs Highest Average 100 50 Ct 402 617 46 19,399 228 33.97 38 97 354 Bothams overall first-class bowling record Overs Runs Wickets Best Average 5w 10w 10,576.1 31,902 1,172 8-34 27.22 59 8 The aftermathLater on in his autobiography Dont tell Kath Botham would describe his move to Durham as one of the worst decisions he ever made. Generally speaking, I got on well with most of the playing staff, he wrote, but my real problems were with members of the committee. Initially, promises were made that were never kept and the level of in-fighting grew and grew. A quarter of a century on, Bothams comeback gives him the opportunity to fashion the club just as he played his cricket - his way. Ian Botham, pictured in Durham colours in 1992 Botham will be part of our team in India for all five of the Tests between India and England live on Sky Sports 2, starting with the first Test from 3.30am on Wednesday 9th November. Or watch the whole of the first Test for £10.99 with no contract, with a week pass from NOW TV. Also See: Botham confirmed as chairman Live cricket on Sky Get Sky Sports Cricket videos ' ' '