Stadium Re-Naming Moves Forward: DCist reported last week that local pro-democracy activists are pushing to have RFK Stadium, currently searching for a $1.5-$2 million a year corporate sponsor, named the “Taxation Without Representation Field at RFK Stadium.” The initiative’s initial goal was $10,000 by April 3, but overwhelming support for the idea pushed them to up the ante to $20,000 and now $51,000 by April 14, the date of the Nationals home opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. As of 12:30 p.m. today, they stood at $28,872. Their main competition is the U.S. Army, who has un-officially offered $1.4 million a year to attach their name to the stadium.

Residents Complain of Parking Woes: Hoping to dissuade RFK attendees from skimping on $10 parking by leaving their cars in the residential neighborhoods surrounding the stadium, city officials announced their intention last week to ticket and tow cars parked illegally during games. Local residents and churchgoers, though, are complaining that their cars, properly registered and tagged for Zone 6 street parking, were given warnings on Sunday and Monday that they would be subjected to ticketing and towing if they did not move during games. The D.C. Sports and Entertainment informed neighborhood activists yesterday that residents living within a certain proximity of the stadium would be required to get a “Special Event” sticker from RFK.

Inside Account of Baseball’s Return: The April issue of the Washingtonian includes a detailed historical account of the negotiations that brought baseball back to Washington. Written by Harry Jaffe, the magazine’s national editor, the article revolves around the sometimes testy negotiations between business leaders, public officials, and Major League Baseball team owners over where the homeless Expos were to settle. Jaffe writes:

It is a story of wealthy men with big reputations and good intentions. Of the old guard with mellowed money and a new guard with fresh cash. Of political leaders with grand designs for new stadiums built with public money. Of major-league owners driven by big money and bigger egos.

It was a deal driven at times by two men who were not in the room: Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos and President George W. Bush.

Looking back on the long campaign to bring baseball back to Washington, Tony Williams says, “It was like being in an auction, except that it was rigged the whole time — for Virginia.”