Politicos Play Game Of ‘Me First’ With Stadium

With the issue of an Olympic Stadium right here in Queens looming large over the political landscape (how much better is it that all this takes place in an election year?), let’s take a closer look at what everyone has been saying and when they said it.
Trust me, this is fun.
Culled from the press release Potter’s Field known as my e-mail inbox, here’s a collection of quotes from city and state elected officials over last few days and months regarding a stadium in Queens.
Play along at home and see how many you get right.
QUIZ ONE — Who said what?
Match the quote with the politician (answers at the end):
A) Mayor Bloomberg
B) Helen Marshall
C) Anthony Weiner
D) Brian McLaughlin
E) John Liu
1. “While I did support the West Side stadium proposal…I am very grateful to both Mayor Bloomberg and Mets’ owner Fred Wilpon for this plan.”
2. “The Queens location makes sense in many ways.”
3. “It is not too late to salvage the bid by shifting focus to a site that would not engender the opposition, would save money and already has the transportation infrastructure necessary to host a world class event and a championship football team — Willets Point.”
4. “We took our best shot with our first choice on the West Side because we thought that would increase our chances of winning.”
5. “I have been a longtime supporter of a new Shea Stadium…Bring on the Games!”
BONUS — Who said what when? (answers at the end):
aa. February 25, 2005.
bb. Monday
cc. Monday
dd. Monday
ee. Just sent out an updated press release while you were taking Quiz One.
QUIZ TWO: Who is the biggest winner in all this?
A) Mets’ fans.
B) Mayor Bloomberg.
C) NYC2012 organizers.
D) Major League Baseball.
While the correct answer is actually (e) All of the above, the biggest winner is (d) the game of baseball, which once and for all is free of Chz (read: Shea) Dump, as I not-so-affectionately know it.
QUIZ THREE — Fill in the blank (answers below):
1. Mayor Bloomberg: “New Yorkers are not _________.”
a) As rich as I am. b) Quitters. c) Soccer fans.
2. Fred Wilpon on the stadium: “It’s _________.”
a) Expensive. b) Dirt cheap. c) ‘Da bomb.
3. Queens Olympic Committee chair David Oats on the plans:
“We think they’re __________.”
a) Hell, at least better than Shea. b) Wonderful. c) A last-minute, desperation, Hail Mary, hot-air-generating, hairbrained scheme that, by-gosh, might just work in this crazy town.
Bring on the Games, indeed.
politics@queenscourier.com