1.   Brinksmanship and threats of leaving town are the usual tactics used by sports team owners seeking taxpayer help in building new arenas or stadiums.

2.   Colescott managed to make prints and a considerable living as an artist and college professor for four decades without taxpayer help.

3.   Ownership takes some well-deserved pounding over its quest for taxpayer help to build a new park, but discouraging words are never uttered in the Sox clubhouse.

4.   Reversing his earlier position, Florida Marlins owner John Henry now says he must have taxpayer help if the team is to build a new ballpark.