Standing in front of The Diamond, the former home of the Richmond Braves, Charlie Diradour tried to bury the hatchet.
On Thursday, July 2, Diradour extended an invitation to those who had backed building a new stadium in Shockoe Bottom to join with him in rallying around the new Eastern League team now expected to move to Richmond for the 2010 season.
The day before the Eastern League held talks to discuss which of its teams will fill the bill, but league officials still have offered no clues as to whether it will end up being the Connecticut Defenders, or not. It was the Defenders franchise that Bryan Bostic’s group, Richmond Baseball Club, tried and failed to purchase earlier this year.
Diradour has been a visible player in the debate over where to play baseball. He was one of four invited panelists at the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Public Square forum on May 12. He spoke effectively in opposition to the now failed Highwoods Properties plan to build a baseball stadium in The Bottom. Beyond that Diradour started a Baseball on the Boulevard Facebook page and subsequently launched a web site -- BaseballontheBoulevard.com.
"Baseball on the Boulevard will be taken down this afternoon," said Diradour, "Friends of Richmond Baseball will take its place." He called his new effort a step toward "reconciliation."
April 2010 … picture it … an umpire behind home plate points at the Richmond pitcher and yells, "Let’s PLAY BALL!" What a great day that will be for Richmonders! We have a lot of work to do as a community before that day, and April 2010 is not that far off. Let’s come together and ready ourselves for success.
-- From Friends of Richmond Baseball
Diradour was obviously addressing his remarks to all baseball fans in the metro area, regardless of where they stood during the debate over Highwoods’ Shockoe Bottom Center plan. He also called upon Mayor Dwight Jones to respond to the proposal that Opening Day Partners aired out last month -- a plan to refurbish The Diamond for $28 million.
"At least call Peter Kirk," said Diradour, directing his advice to Mayor Jones. Kirk is the chairman at ODP, which publicly released its proposal on June 9.
The Richmond Metropolitan Authority’s general manger, Mike Berry, said the ODP proposal had similarities to the plan that would have given the stadium an $18.5 million makeover back in 2004. The RMA owns and operates The Diamond on behalf of the City of Richmond and the two surrounding counties, Chesterfield and Henrico.
"Kirk has not received one phone call," said Diradour, who acknowledged that while Kirk and Berry may have had talks, to his knowledge the mayor’s office has made no attempt to reach out to anyone at ODP.
As he stood behind the microphones, holding onto his Friends of Richmond Baseball sign that was threatening to take a ride in the breeze, Diradour had the look of a man who might run for political office one day.
Speaking of politicians, former city councilman Bill Pantele showed up for the made-for-television-cameras event. After Diradour concluded his announcement some of the reporters began asking Pantele questions.
With little reluctance, and much to the amusement of some on hand, Pantele then proceeded to highjack the press conference. Smiling for the lenses he mused and opined on this and that, including the latest push for a baseball stadium -- the soon-to-be-abandoned Reynolds Metals plant just across the James River from Downtown Richmond.
Diradour, who owns Lion’s Paw Development, which holds several properties in the Fan District, pointed out it would still come down to how to finance such a project.
Since Diradour’s unity gesture last week, the comments under baseball related articles online and in blog posts to do with the subject have continued to bubble with animosity and accusations. The dogged boosters and bashers of Shockoe Bottom baseball may eventually calm down. Or, maybe they need each other in a way that has little to do with baseball.
Meanwhile, it’s not clear how much money it will take to make The Diamond ready for opening day 2010. Or, who would pay for what.
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