Electing to talk domes, pro baseball and arenas Pedro making pitch to fill fifth spot for Red Sox

Today is Election Day.

No, I’m not going to admonish readers to vote because I know most of you will. I would, however, like to address a few issues that I wish were on the ballot this fall.

Today, as voters stand in line and wait to cast their ballots for a variety of issues, including president, I couldn’t help but think about other issues which I wish we could address this year.

Let’s take a look at some of those sports-related issues today.

Issue Number One: There’s been a lot of talk in the sports world these days about making Major League Baseball’s fall World Series a Super Bowl-like event.

If you haven’t heard the talk, here’s the skinny.

Due to bad weather and the associated risks of playing outdoors this time of the year, the powers that be are considering a warmer clime or an indoor facility for the best-of-seven championship format.

Will that ever fly?

Probably not, but the 2009 World Series will not end until November, and the temps get mighty cold in places like New York and Boston this time of the year. On this one, however, I’d vote no.

Issue Number Two: What about a dome in Maine?

Remember all the talk a few years ago about a domed facility in Maine?

The good folks at Husson University explored that possibility, but it became too expensive. The multi-purpose facility went by the boards.

Oh, there have been two or three bubble domes in the area which were not often practical.

Do we need a dome in Maine?

Yes, we do. The idea will not, however, pass. A dome would still get my vote.

Issue Number Three: How about a new multi-sport facility, large enough to accommodate several sports, using the surface area for different activities?

Now there’s an issue whose time may have come as cities such as Bangor and Portland consider new civic arenas.

That’s a referendum issue with teeth. Consider a building large enough to hold basketball, football, hockey, and even baseball under one roof. It would get my vote.

Now, dear readers, there are some items that I wish were on today’s ballot. Granted, they’re a bit pricey, but as city fathers in Bangor go about the business of improving facilities and building a new Bangor Auditorium, the changing population bases statewide may require a serious look at just what the population and the sports base need here and elsewhere to prosper and survive.

30-Second Time Out

With the completion of baseball’s World Series comes hot stove league baseball and the real fun of speculation, especially in Boston, where free agents will land in the offseason.

Aside from the standard fare this offseason of C.C. Sabathia coming to the Red Sox, I picked up an interesting item on former Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez.

According to the Boston TV guys, Pedro has expressed an interest in returning to the Sox as their No. 5 starter.

Obviously, Martinez’s contract would have to be incentive-laden.

Pedro’s career numbers are, however, outstanding. He started 400 games, with a lifetime record of 214-99, and he had an impressive 2.91 ERA.

bdnsports@bangordailynews.net