When you're a politician you have to watch what you say. Tom Potter should know this as much as anyone.

I was at Mayor Potter's party the night he was elected. On big election nights they need someone to help string cable and keep the women away from the likes of John Becker and Kyle Iboshi, and that's where I come in.

Former Mayor Vera Katz was pretty pro-active in trying to get baseball to Portland. So having never met Mayor Potter and having never heard his opinion about baseball coming to the Rose City I went up to him as he was leaving the party and asked him.

"Mayor Potter my name is Ron Pivo I cam a sportscaster at KGW-TV and I was wondering if you are a baseball fan ? He said no. Then I asked, "Would you be in favor of a Major League team coming to Portland.?" He said, "Not on my watch. Does that make you happy or sad ?" That was the end of the conversation.

I relate this story because when Potter was asked yesterday by Adam Bjaranson about that comment he back-tracked and said, "No, what I said was that a public funded baseball stadium would not be built on my watch."

I have a very good memory because I have related this story several times to people over the last year or so. I also have old scripts that can refresh my memory as to exactly what the mayor said.

It's obvious he's not a baseball fan and has no interest in a team coming here. I just wish he wouldn't pose for the cameras with Florida Marlins officials, in what obviously was just a PR move, and then not be honest about a comment he made. Obviously he says a lot of things and can't remember them all. But if he doesn't remember something he should just say so.

Ron
RPivo@kgw.com