Regarding the July 9 story, "New Richmond ballpark now has general contractors on the team," which reported: "The Richmond Flying Squirrels selected Gilbane and Prestige Construction Group as general contractors of the ballpark on North Arthur Ashe Boulevard that will be home to the Flying Squirrels and VCU’s baseball program."
Was this a competitive bidding process? And why is a Double-A baseball team qualified to "select" contractors or give out our tax money? Sounds like a slush fund to me.
From the archives: Richmond Flying Squirrels mascot Nutzy
2010 Nutzy
Nutzy is introduced at the Byrd on 2/11/2010 .
DEAN HOFFMEYER
2010 Nutzy
Shay Webb, 2 yrs. old with Nutzy prior to the home-opener of the Richmond Flying Squirrels at The Diamond in Richmond VA Thurs. April 15, 2010.
MARK GORMUS
2010 Nutzy
Flying Squirrels opener 4/15/10 - Nutzy and fans
DEAN HOFFMEYER
2010 Nutzy
Richmond's newest mascot Nutzy has become an instant favorite of fans, and is especially popular with kids because of his quirky stunts like riding a skateboard on top of the dugout, handstands and balancing acts on superbox rails.
DEAN HOFFMEYER
2010 Nutzy
Richmond's newest mascot Nutzy has become an instant favorite of fans, and is especially popular with kids because of his quirky stunts like riding a skateboard on top of the dugout, handstands and balancing acts on superbox rails.
DEAN HOFFMEYER
2010 Nutzy
Erin Freeman coaching Nutzy for the Richmond Symphony Celebrity Maestro concert.
Richmnond Symphony
2010 Nutzy
Dominion VIrginia Power CEO Paul Koonce (left) has his water bottle swiped by Nutzy during the United Way campaign kickoff at the Boys and Girls Club on northside in Richmond on Sept. 16, 2010.
DEAN HOFFMEYER
2011 Nutzy
Auditions for Nutzy the Flying Squirrel involved Q-94's Kash (left) and The X's Michael Mason (right) as judges and one of the contestants, who was invited to "mix it up" with the two. Nutzy's first birthday was also celebrated with games for kids outside the Diamond, and National Anthem auditions.
DEAN HOFFMEYER
2011 Nutzy
Mickey Caramucci, 5 of Richmond, got a kick out of an autograph from Nutzy during his first birthday party at the Diamond on Feb. 12, 2011.
DEAN HOFFMEYER
2011 Nutzy
Richmond Flying Squirrels player Roger Kieschnick watches as Nutzy glides from the sky during pregame at The Diamond on Thurs. April 7, 2011.
MARK GORMUS
2011 Nutzy
Jennifer Marshall (right), from Midlothian, photographs Richmond Flying Squirrels' Nutzy and her son Elliott, 2 yrs. old, who dressed up as Nutzy during the first Squirrel-o-ween at The Diamond Sun. Oct. 30, 2011.
MARK GORMUS
2012 Nutzy
Richmond Flying Squirrels mascot Nutzy, left, lives up to his name as he pretends to autograph the shaved head of Super Bowl champion James Farrior, right, at the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at the VCU Medical Center in Richmond, VA Friday, April 27, 2012.
BOB BROWN
2012 Nutzy
Shrinidhi Nadgouda (cqbb), 9, gets a high five and a gift bag from Richmond Flying Squirrels mascot Nutzy, left, at the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at the VCU Medical Center in Richmond, VA Friday, April 27, 2012.
BOB BROWN
2012 Nutzy
Nutzy the Flying Squirrel waves to fans from his 5th inning perch at the Diamond on May 28, 2012.
Dean Hoffmeyer
2012 Nutzy
Nutzy, the mascot of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, stocks up on peanuts at Martin's Food Market in Richmond, VA Thursday, August 16, 2012.
BOB BROWN
2012 Nutzy
Nutzy, Chris Heston and Nick Liles (right) greet fans and sign autgraphs before their home game on Jul 4, 2012.
DEAN HOFFMEYER
2013 Nutzy
Nutzy throws promotional items to fans during the Squirrels opening night game against New Britain Thursday, April 4, 2013.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND
2013 Nutzy
Nutzy gets a high 5 from Rosita Harris being held by Jamie Cooney of the World Pediatric Project during a visit of Squirrels' to the Hospital Hospitality House.
JOE MAHONEY
2013 Nutzy
Nutzy (left) and Richmond Times-Dispatch senior photographer Bob Brown after Brown threw one of the first pitches before the game between Richmond Flying Squirrels and Trenton Thunder at The Diamond in Richmond VA Fri. May 3, 2013.
Mark Gormus
2013 Nutzy
DIAMOND DOGS: Nutzy gets a close look from Livvy an australian shepherd owned by Carolyn and Russell Bishop of PowhatanMonday, May 20, 2013.
JOE MAHONEY
2013 Nutzy
Nutzy, dressed as Uncle Sam in honor of The Fourth of July, waits to take the field during a Richmond Flying Squirrels game at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia on Thursday, July 4, 2013
Zach Gibson
2013 Nutzy
Drew Bowlin chats with Nutzy before a game against Akron at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia on Friday, July 5, 2013
Zach Gibson
2013 Nutzy
Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer and Nutzy make their way off of The Diamond after Beamer threw the ceremonial first pitch before a Flying Squirrels game in Richmond, Virginia on Friday, July 19, 2013
Zach Gibson
2013 Nutzy
Nutzy donned a Santa hat and beard and on-field emcee Mike Murphy sported an elf suit during the Christmas in July Flying Squirrels' game at the Diamond, 7/21.
JOE MAHONEY
2013 Nutzy
Nutzy dances with two-year-old Henry Edwards of Richmond on top of the Squirrels dugout in between innings as they play the Senators Friday, August 30, 2013.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND
2013 Nutzy
Colin Ferguson gives a lift to his 2-year-old son Kieran Ferguson so he can meet Nutzy during the Puritan Cleaners' Coat for Kids Drive at the Diamond Saturday, November 9, 2013. His mom Deena Ferguson is on the right
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND
2013 Nutzy
Richmond Christmas Mother Kathie Markel, right, introduces her grandchild, Dabney Winston, 2, to Richmond Flying Squirrels mascot Nutzy during a holiday party by Richmond Christmas Mother at Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond on Wednesday, December 18, 2013.
Daniel Sangjib Min
2014 Nutzy
Richmond Flying Squirrels' Nutzy and Hunter Strickland dump water on Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe as he takes the ice bucket challenge prior to the start of the game at The Diamond in Richmond VA Fri. Aug. 22, 2014.
Mark Gormus
2014 Nutzy
Nutzy's grand entrance at Squirrels home opener at the Diamond.
JOE MAHONEY
2014 Nutzy
Responding to World Cup fever, Richmond's Flying Squirrel Nutzy (left, 20 with cape) and Mike Murphy (right, 5, without cape) pose at the Diamond in the soccer-inspired jerseys the Squirrels will wear during an upcoming homestand. The homestand that starts on Monday (6/23) will include a weekend with a promotional schedule dedicated to the World Cup (giving away soccer scarfs and mini-balls, plus Squirrels will wear soccer-style jerseys one game) as the Squirrels try to ride the World Cup wave.
Dean Hoffmeyer
2014 Nutzy
Responding to World Cup fever, Richmond's Flying Squirrel Nutzy (left, 20 with cape) and Mike Murphy (right, 5, without cape) mashup soccer and baseball at the Diamond in soccer-inspired jerseys the Squirrels will wear during an upcoming homestand. The homestand that starts on Monday (6/23) will include a weekend with a promotional schedule dedicated to the World Cup (giving away soccer scarfs and mini-balls, plus Squirrels will wear soccer-style jerseys one game) as the Squirrels ride the World Cup wave.
Dean Hoffmeyer
2014 Nutzy
Responding to World Cup fever, Richmond's Flying Squirrel Nutzy (20) poses at the Diamond in the soccer-inspired jerseys the Squirrels will wear during an upcoming homestand. The homestand that starts on Monday (6/23) will include a weekend with a promotional schedule dedicated to the World Cup (giving away soccer scarfs and mini-balls, plus Squirrels will wear soccer-style jerseys one game) as the Squirrels ride the World Cup wave.
Dean Hoffmeyer
2014 Nutzy
Nutzy works the stadium during the Richmond Flying Squirrels Reading Fightin Phils game at The Diamond in Richmond VA Sun. July 6, 2014.
Mark Gormus
2019 Nutzy
VCU mascot Rodney the Ram and Richmond Flying Squirrels mascot Nutzy try out electric scooters on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/RTD
2019 Nutzy
Richmond Christmas Mother April Niamtu is shown with Richmond Flying Squirrels mascot Nutzy at The Diamond on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.
DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/RTD
2019 Nutzy
Brini Sharpe, 4, and Kamari Stone, 5, both of Henrico, pose for a photo with Richmond Flying Squirrels' mascots, Nutzy and Nutasha, during the annual Squirrel-O-Ween event at The Diamond in Richmond on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019.
DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/RTD
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Nutzy arrives at the Diamond in a horse and buggy before the game as the Flying Squirrels take on the Bowie Baysox in their 2015 home opener on 4/9/15
DEAN HOFFMEYER
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Nutzy bobbleheads are placed for fans at the Diamond in Richmond on Monday, April 13, 2015.
DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/RTD
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Nutzy works the crowd during game between Richmond Flying Squirrels and Harrisburg Senators at The Diamond in Richmond VA Thurs. July 9, 2015.
MARK GORMUS
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Richmond Flying Squirrels' Nutzy greets children at the Diamond in Richmond on Wednesday, July 22, 2015.
DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/RTD
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Richmond manager Jose Alguacil greets Nutzy at The Diamond, Tuesday, August 25, 2015
JOE MAHONEY
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The Flying Squirrels' Nutzy ice skated in West Broad Village on the opening day of The Rink Saturday, November 14, 2015.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND
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Nutzy relaxes with fans on Thursday April 7, 2016.
SHELBY LUM / TIMES-DISPATCH
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In 2016, Richmond Flying Squirrels' new mascot Nutasha, right, posed with Nutzy before a game at The Diamond.
DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Nutzy gives Piersen Norris, a four-year-old who is battling cancer, a high five during the ASK Kourageous Kids Walk at the Diamond Saturday, April 30, 2016, during the Squirrels game against Hartford. On right are (L-R) his parents Bryasan and Troy Norris and his sister Wramsey Norris, age 10.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND
20160510_MET_WILD
A dog from the Richmond SPCA looks around as Nutasha and Nutzy greet a dog at The Diamond during Bark in the Park night in Richmond VA Mon. May 9, 2016.
Mark Gormus
20160605_SPO_SQUI_AWE13
Nutzy and Nutasha lead swim teams walked around the baseball field for Swim Night at the Diamond before the Squirrels play Harrisburg Saturday June 4, 2016.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND
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Richmond Flying Squirrels mascot Nutzy greets first graders of J.H. Blackwell Elementary School, who participate in a ground breaking ceremony for the revitalization of Blackwell Field, in Richmond on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/RTD
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Nutzy dressed patriotically for the Flying Squirrels' game against the Reading Fightin Phils, July 4, 2016
P. KEVIN MORLEY/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Richmond Flying Squirrels' Nutzy, Eliezer Zambrano and Jose Casilla watch a game from the CBC Reds dugout as they visted the Flying Squirrels Regional Youth Baseball Tournament at the Ironbridge Sports Complex in Chesterfield County VA Sat. July 9, 2016.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Nutzy gets splashed by Todd "Parney" Parnell vice president, COO and general manager of the Flying Squirrels after they jumped into the pool for the Polar Plunge at Willow Lawn on Saturday Feb. 25, 2017. The plunge was to support Special Olympics Virginia's athletes.
SHELBY LUM / TIMES-DISPATCH
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Nutzy and Nutasha greet fans during the Richmond Flying Squirrels, Bowie Baysox game at The Diamond in Richmond VA Wed. April 26, 2017.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Nutzy and Nutasha, shown hanging out with fans during a 2017 game at The Diamond, have played major roles in delivering entertainment to Flying Squirrels supporters.
2017, Times-DISPATCH
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Jazmine Henley, left, looks at a picture she just shot of her daughters Mariah, 11, and Zania, 9, with Nutzy and Nutasha from the Richmond Flying Squirrels outside the new Walmart store on Nine Mile Rd. in eastern Henrico County, VA Wednesday, July 19, 2017. The store is the first Walmart Supercenterfor the community.
BOB BROWN/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Nutzy entertains during the Richmond Flying Squirrels, Altoona Curve game at The Diamond in Richmond VA Wed. June 20, 2018.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Richmond Flying Squirrels' Nutzy entertains during the game against Hartford Yard Goats at the Diamond in Richmond VA Fri. Aug. 17, 2018.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Ellen Hagler, 4, of Richmond gives Nutzy a hug during a Squirrels game on Wednesday Aug. 29, 2018.
SHELBY LUM/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Nutzy pulls a prank on vendor Andre Wallace during a game on Wednesday Aug. 29, 2018.
SHELBY LUM/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Nutzy entertains the crowd during the Richmond Flying Squirrels game against Hartford Yard Goats June 27, 2019 at The Diamond in Richmond VA.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Nutzy rides a Bolt scooter at One James Center during the Squirrels' pep rally for Eastern League All-Star Week Tuesday, July 9, 2019.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND
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Nutzy and Brian Jordan pose for a photo during the Flying Squirrels annual Hot Stove Banquet at the Siegel Center at VCU in Richmond VA Wed. Jan. 22, 2020.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH