" To Google-riffic: You like to rhyme cause you have no brain, your control of English is really quite lame, you hide behind the scenes spouting your version, I can't understand it - it's very un-nerving, I wish you would write English when you post a new letter, hopefully not about politics or race... write something better! "

" This baseball stadium will be what most others become: a bar with live sports. It makes me laugh. They won't hire local workers to do anything but cold call ticket sales which, ironically, doesn't come with benefits. The owner isn't from the area, either. The decisions are all being made by those outside of Southern Illinois so shouldn't the team really be called the St. Louis Lawyers and Anheuser-Bush drinkers? I'm all for a Southern Illinois baseball team but this isn't going to be one. Until then, I'll go to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch sports. At least they hire local workers. "

" so i like to rhyme. Whoopee! I guess only "puff daddys" (not sure if it was a racist jab or a homophobic one-very so ill regardless) can write in rhymes. Oh well sticks and stones etc etc. Attack the messenger, ignore the valaidity of the message. Republican't Much? Yeah It shows. What I was trying to say, (in the very slim chance your question wasn't just some rhetorical hate speech), Everyone is getting "Backdoored" everyone except thoese tha t are so neatly embedded in the SIBG. By judge im a ssuming you like to stand in judgement of others....N.....I......C.......E!! :) "

" This whole baseball thing is a joke. An absolute joke! We don't need an independent semi-pro baseball team, we don't need an over-priced multi-million dollar baseball stadium, and we don't need government officials forcing things down our throats! Go ahead and let our schools fall down, let our seniors die, and let people continue to be unemployed. But go ahead and bring in this worthless semi-pro team and build that worthless stadium. Some of you people make me sick! "

" I love the fact that baseball is coming to Southern Illinois. What is more American than going to a baseball game with your family and munching on hot dogs? Southern Illinois is a great place but let's face it, it can be quite boring in the summertime. Now instead of our family taking day trips to Paducah or elsewhere, we can keep our money in Southern Illinois and have fun too! Good clean American fun. We will proudly support the new team! "

" I think the team name could have been a little more creative but I plan to go to the games for sure! "

" On another post I saw where the question"When and where are the tryouts" I too am curious when and where the tryouts are. Im sure someone from SIBG monitors the comments here, so when and where. I doubt this post will be responded to, but we'll see. "

" MISSING HOME - don't worry...a huge majority of Southern Illinoisans want this team and appreciate Governor Rod for helping it become a reality. He won Williamson County (where the new stadium is located) by a landslide, BTW. What you see here is probably just bitter trolls trying to ruin the fun for most others. Ha - they'll need to do more than sit behind a computer and insult others. My money will speak for itself when buying season tickets for my family. Play ball! "

" If you dont like the baseball team then dont go. Just sit and complain about everything. I hate the new wal-mart,I hate the team, I hate this and I hate that! It is something to do with kids that is outdoors. "

" To Google-riffic: WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY PUFF DADDY??? "

" Seems like the same old same old cynics always write in trashing something that means alot to others. It was the same when I graduated from SIU in the 70's. Other ballparks have been partially funded by the State. What about the Chicago ballparks? As you get older you learn what is important in life and what is not. I am a former resident of Marion. I am proud of our Illinois Centre Mall(which was opposed by some residents of Carbondale), the restaurants, the many fine hotels, new businesses,& the Heartland Regional Medical Center. The list goes on and on. No one on any message board will make me feel guilty because "Gov Rod" helped fund it. What other town in their right mind would have turned him down? The teacher's pension fund I belong to is only 60% funded. We don't like it either, but that is true of most state pension funds. I say "Go MINERS!!" I can't wait to see a game the next time I visit. Let these others sit around.....being professional whiners. "

" To some, the name "miners" remind them of the glory days of Southern Illinois when mining was a big part of the economy. Others remember some of the "miners" who worked with me who gave us a bad name...idiotic, pro-union-or-death, let's wild cat strike over nothing, protect workers who get caught sleeping on the job numerous times, throw "jack-rocks to ruin people's tires, to-Hell-with-everyone because my job will last for a lifetime. Do you know any of these people? (You can recognize them by the way their knuckles drag the ground.) Most of the bad miners are still losers today; the good ones have retired or found other gainful employment because they take pride in their work. "

" Dang People, Chill Out!!! I dont believe the world will end because we got a ball team in S.I. I know that everything in southern Illinois aint perfect, but at least we got a little money thrown our way. Stop complaining and go enjoy a game with your kids. And by the way, am I the only one that is sick of hearing how bad of condition the Carterville school is in. WE KNOW!!! As far as I know Carterville is the only school in S.I. that got a extra couple of mil this year for improvments. There are alot of schools in this area that are in just as bad condition as Carterville, but I dont have to read or hear about it ever time I turn around. If you want a new school, shut up and pay for it. To all the state workers who are crying about not getting the retirement they were promised, join the club baby!!! "

" Has everyone forgot we live in illinois! There are no baseball teams in illinois! Does anyone watch are local T.V. they think we live in missouri? Where is the support going to come from here? Maybe everyone can have a team move down here from st louis and everyone will be happy. "

" I had a feeling that the "ain't gonna happen" crowd would start up their routine. I came back to southern Illinois in the mid- 1970's and after the mines went down, several different ideas were brought forward for new industries. All of them were rejected because of the attitudes displayed in the last few postings here. I was one of the first posters to comment about the team coming to southern Illinois and I was positive about it. Sorry to disappoint you "ain't gonna happen" people, but I am NOT associated with the team. I said that the team coming to the area would help the economy and it could, but after reading the last few postings, I can see that it'll be as usual, just something else that the "ain't gonna happen" crowd will ruin. God help you. "

" I'm originally from Southern Illinois and I now live over seas and I check "The Southern" every now and then to see what is going on, and I cannot believe the negative comments about this team. It looks great to me. Southern Illinois never seemed to have too much going on as far as stuff-to-do, and finally some baseball is in the region and people are opposed to it? Lightin' up and go watch a game. Have a dog and a beer and yell at the ump. Sounds like a blast to me. "

" Would it have been more appropriate to name the team the "Southern Illinois Wal Marters"? There are more people employed by them than the coal mines. Or, maybe the "Southern Illinois Public Aiders"? "Mildly Amused" is absolutely right...I do not believe the fan base will be there, and if they were, then SIU games would be alot bigger than they are now. "

" Just google the man-PiNtO, you will find blogs that say hey, he's a nice guy, but at the same time, he made some unexplainable trades last year.... if you feed the people a load of crap but do it nice and slow and down home like, they apparently will be eager to swallow. Wanna bes and never will bes sold to an economy thats barely able to breath, with the greatest of ease, by upper level sleeze, touting an attractive tease. Puh-leeeez. A boon you say windfall opening day, arresting econmiocal decay while your tax dollars pay whatever the sullivans say? critics abound indeed they resound mr poshard has been crowned king of the mound hires from outside of the pool that is the so ill ball school we were once only fools but now the sibg's tool. this is your butt---------------->> o this is your butt on so ill baseball-->> O was it good for you? HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA Base-BAWL, cause im sure it wont be long till we're all crying!!!! "

" Hopefully most of these party poopers will never attend a game. Great. Sit at home and stay bitter because of the right-wing getting their rears handed to them. That's one team that won't come out of the dugout for quite sometime. The few of you angry about this can stay at home and wait for the never-gonna-happen Rod conviction. Meanwhile, I'm saving up a few bucks and I'm going to take my healthy, well-educated kids to some baseball games this spring and make some good memories. "

" I wanted southern illinois polar bears "

" I too had the feeling that the first half dozen comments regarding the Miners were done by people associated with marketing for the team. They are just priming the pump to try to generate buzz for the new team. Unfortunately they will have to work much harder to overcome the stink of dirty politics that is stuck to this team. By the way; I expect to get in free to all the games since my tax money went to creating this team! "

" OK, I'm not anti-baseball, and I'm not going to take cheap shots at the organization. But, I really get the impression that a lot of people are being just a bit too optimistic about the team. This article (as well as previous articles on various local websites) states the following: "The Miners will be marketed within a 90-mile radius of the stadium. The area contains more than 1.8 million residents and includes the communities of Cape Girardeau and Paducah." I have a couple of critical points to make about that statement. First of all, many people that live in the northern and northwest fringes of that so-called "90 mile radius" are more than likely going to attend Gateway Grizzly games as opposed to Miner games since they actually live much closer to the Metro-East area than Marion. And it's the same case with the eastern fringes of the "90 mile radius". Those people are more than likely going to attend Evansville Otter games since they are much closer to Evansville. So this so-called "90 mile radius" is misleading. Whoever came up with that, failed to consider the competition. The other point I want to make is that it's highly unlikely that residents of Cape Girardeau and Paducah are going to make the effort and take the time to drive to Marion to see a game. I don't know of anyone who would drive 50+ miles to see a minor league baseball game. If the owners/general manager wanted to truly market the team to those areas, then the team should have either been named the "Heartland Miners" or the "Tri-State Miners". Calling the team the "Southern Illinois Miners" geographically isolates potential fans in Missouri and Kentucky. So, why lead people on by making them assume that every person within this 90 mile radius is going to take interest in the team. More than likely, the fan base is going to simply be made up of residents in Williamson, Jackson, and Franklin Counties. The total population of those three counties is about 160,000. That's a big difference compared to the 1.8 million figure. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't wish to see the team fail (like some people), and I will probably even go check out a few games. But I hope that the "powers that be" within the organization aren't over-estimating the potential the ball club carries. It takes a lot for something like this to turn a profit. And if the team can't make money, then they will more than likely eventually either fold or move. And that brand- new stadium on "The Hill" would have been built all for not. "

" you people in southern illinois are very cynical. i was browsing online for some info about the new minor league and found this article via google news. i dont think the team stands a chance. maybe people should relax and bit and make judgments after it is here and have you looked at govt $$$ going to sports venues around the country? infrastucture isnt as big of a deal as u make it. just a thought. "

" I will never go to a Miners game! I am not guarenteed the retirement from the state I've been promised when I retire in five years, but we got a baseball team, funded from my pension. Thanks! "

" Hmmm... great that the baseball team, and Democrat Cash Cow John Simmons, can get a few million dollars from the Governor Blagojevich when the Carterville school is falling! When it rains outside, it is also raining on the inside at that place! I suppose it's only right that the governor gave a few more million to a billionaire trial attorney who helped make Madison County, Illinois the "Judicial Hellhole" of America! GO ROD! "

" I believe that on opening day, they should play the song "cheap seats" by Alabama. I feel that the lyrics of this song would appeal to the fans in Marion. "

" To Patrick Soon the word will be spelled c-o-n-v-i-c-t-e-d "

" Gov Rod - moot argument. The state money to be used to finance stadium cannot be earmarked for those areas you mention. It doesn't matter if baseball existed here or not - that money is allocated in the budget for tourism and regional economic development. Better it be spent on us than some upstate suburb. The state is also backing the construction of new schools in Williamson County, just like they did for Carbondale a few years ago. Referring to the Gov, check your use of grammar - you spelled "indited" wrong. The correct spelling is r-e-e-l-e-c-t-e-d. "

" Wow! I am glad I moved to Indiana before this election... Rod raided your pensions and nearly bankrupted the state, which is seen by Illinois having the lowest credit rating of any state, but he was able to pull up a few million for a billionaire to buy ANOTHER baseball team! That's right, Simmons already owns a team down in Georgia... perhaps old Rod will want to support that team with Illinois tax payer dollars as well! "

" I'd rather watch Saluki baseball. At least you're guaranteed to see a winning team. I don't think people realize how hard it is to start a minor league baseball team from scratch. It might not be pretty for the first few seasons. "

" Sounds like another upset republican who took a beaten this past election. This baseball is not a political issue this should be great for Southern Illinois. I think it would have been ashame if the State Of Illinois would not have helped because they have sure helped the sports teams in Chicago. I am glad for all the baseball fans and I am sure this stadium will be used for many other events. Go Miners!!!! "

" Should have named them The Rods since Rod Blagojevich is funding the stadium on the backs of Illinois tax payers... or even better, perhaps they should call the team The Taxpayers. "

" I knew Arthur Agency would come through with a great logo seeing as how Dennis Poshard, the SIBG spokesman, owns a significant stake in the fledgling company. They couldn't give work away before Poshard's union connections came along. Must be nice. Expect to see a lot of taxpayer funded work to come their way from SIU thanks to daddy President Poshard. Follow the chain: Democrat Glenn Poshard - Democrat contributor John Simmons - Marion Baseball - Union Contracts - Marion Baseball Spokesman Dennis Poshard - Daddy Glenn Poshard. It is a small world after all! "

" If our "Miners" win the championship of their division, we must keep the champaign out of the clubhouse. To do so would be a violation, since "miners" can't legally possess alcohol. Ar-Ar-Ar! "

" Watching the unveiling of the new baseball team and name, I had goodbumps. At first I was expecting the Peabodys or the Bluebirds and when it went back to the earliest coal mining and included three generations of mine, right up to date, and said Soutehrn Illinois Miners, it was perfectly set-off. Whata logo. all MINE! "

" I get the impression that a lot of the people writing comments with all the excitement are somehow involved with the team/marketing. P.S. That radio commercial leading up to the announcement of the team name was annoying as heck. I think the name is degrading to an area that has been on the downturn since mining jobs left the area, and echoing that other post, I hope G-ROD has fun in the federal pen. It is going to happen, only a matter of time. "

" If I want to watch semi-pro baseball, I'll go watch the Southern Illinois Bullets or a local American Legion game. "

" Arthur Agency in Carbondale designed the logo. The new website where you can get merchandise is www.southernillinoisminers.com ..Go Miners! "

" The "Miners" is a perfect name for baseball in southern Illinois as it will go the way of coal mining and be but a fond memory of yore. "

" Thanks to everyone involved in bringing PRO BASEBALL to Southern Illinois. The "SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS" is the perfect name for a team in our area. Everyone in Southern Illinois has family and friends with Coal Mining and Baseball in their blood. GREAT JOB AND PLAY BALL!!!!! "

" This team should be known as "THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS' BLINDSHEEP", After all, it seems like no one cares that our soon to be indited Govenor Rod used 4 million of our dollars to buy votes down here and it just happened to be he gave the money to a big political contrubutor. Schools and medical providers and pensions be damned!! You're getting a team of Pro wantabes. "

" This is pretty cool. I can't wait to hit the ballpark and watch some Miner games. And I'm pumped for the merchandise too. "

" The article said that the Arthur Agency, a local Carbondale business designed it... "

" Nice name. And nice logo. But I'm waiting for the environmental nuts in Carbondale to protest the nickname. I'm sure they consider it "environmentally unfriendly". "

" I think it is a fitting name...I fear that there is the potential for the UMWA to try to get involved then things will get really messed up. "

" Team apparel IS available at our team store located inside the Illinois Centre Mall. T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, women's and youth shirts are just a few of the items we have to offer! Thank you to everyone for all of your support! We look forward to seeing everyone at the ballpark in 2007! GO MINERS! "

" I like the name. It fits for around here...the only name better would be "The Rednecks," but that's another story altogether! "

" This is a great name for the team. with the rich history of miners in southern illinois. Also ther used to be a team for men in Orient for men named the Orient Miners. My father played on it. It was made up of former professional players in the area and was known as one of the best teams around.. "

" Wow! Professional baseball in Southern Illinois. It seemed like a pipe dream when Dr. William Hays and his friends first proposed it, now is is really coming to pass. I can hardly wait! "

" I feel this team name is very fitting to this area. I did guess correctly the team name. I had predicted Miners. Does that give me free season tickets? "

" So when thi team wins big will the sports heaadline read- S.I. MINERS MASSACRE OPPONENTS FROM THE NORTH Killer Pun. "

" Where can we all buy merchandise??? "

" Perfect name!! Where do I team apparel, etc? "

" A perfect name for this area! "

" I like the logo, does anyone know who designed it??? "

" Fitting name for the area. See you this Spring "

" Love the Name & Logo. Hope they will have merchandise available for the holidays! "