Since at least 1997 – only 14 years after 63,000-seat Hoosier Dome was built for $82 million – Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was publicly lobbying for a new stadium to host his team.

Although pushed back by Pacers’ $175 million taxpayer-supported Conseco Field House deal, he said his turn would come. He has repeatedly said that his NFL franchise “cannot survive” on revenues provided from RCA Dome, and that a new stadium is needed “sooner or later.”

It’s tough making big money on an NFL franchise in a market this size without taxpayers subsidizing much of costs. Taxpayers coughed up $20 million in 1998 to enlarge RCA Dome’s suites and enhance value of its expensive box seats. This actually cut dome’s capacity to 57,900 seats, making it smallest stadium in league. In 2003 team ranked 27th out of 32 NFL teams in terms of revenue and 29th in value.

"We're significantly, significantly below average (in revenue), and that disparity is growing,” Irsay told Indianapolis television viewers. “Yet average determines what our expenses are with salary cap. That's what makes things so difficult."

However, as Cincinnati Bengals have proven, a new stadium does not ensure a better profit. Even with a new stadium, Bengals were 24th in revenue in 2002, with only $4 million more in revenues than Colts.

The Colts’ lease at RCA Dome runs until 2013, but team can break deal after 2006 season if its revenues aren’t greater than or equal to median in NFL in two out of next three seasons. Indianapolis could require Colts to stay by paying difference between team’s revenues and league’s median.

To get a true feeling of judicial and law enforcement climate fostered by Dean in Vermont, it is instructional to look at his # 1 Vermont appointee and life-long friend, William Sorrell. Dean owed a great debt to Sorrell family for mentoring his ascent in Vermont politics. Dean’s first notable gubernatorial appointment in Vermont was to install Sorrell as Secretary of Administration in 1992. In 1997, it became time to thank Sorrell family again and Dean attempted to appoint Sorrell as chief justice of Vermont Supreme Court. As Sorrell had no judicial experience, Dean’s zeal to appoint his favorite crony was met with a legislative roadblock. Dean had a backup plan, appoint Attorney General to Supreme Court and then appoint Sorrell to fill Attorney General vacancy. All was well with Vermont Cronies. (fn2)

In describing Sorrell, Dean was quite generous with his praise of his friend’s character and abilities, illustrating nature of their relationship: “I have an enormous amount of respect for Sorrell as a human being and as a really smart lawyer.”

A subordinate of Sorrell’s issued following prosecutorial written threat in a Vermont state court proceeding,

"The last claim involves a statement made to attorney Capriola warning that defendant would be charged with additional crimes if he did not clam down. The statement is a reference to defendant's continued harassment of victim and investigating officer in this case through court process. The defendant has filed a civil action against victim because of his participation in this criminal case. The State is currently reviewing a contempt charge against defendants because of this activity. The statement was a proper warning made through defendant's representative."

Sorrell approvingly has stood behind and defended above threat which now has become part of a prosecutor’s toolbox in Vermont. The above threat is epitome of government’s coercive use of power of criminal prosecution to influence and manipulate civil court proceedings tantamount to extortion and obstruction of justice concerning a matter before a federal court. Dean’s “really smart lawyer” and top appointee at work.

Sorrell’s conduct doesn’t stop there, his subordinates followed up above threat with a plea agreement that specified dismissal and non-pursuit of civil lawsuits against prosecutors themselves. The dismissal of a lawsuit is an item of monetary value benefiting Sorrell’s underlings – or to put it bluntly this conduct is tantamount to acceptance of a bribe by state prosecutors. Dean’s “really smart lawyer” strongly approved and defended conduct. One can’t assign full responsibility concerning this government corruption to Dean’s friend alone because two of Dean’s hand-picked anti-“legal technicality” judicial appointees presided over and approved government misconduct.