ESPN.com - MLB - Florida senate president: Marlins are 'terrorists'

When are people going to realize that professional sports teams are blackmailing cities? Why not just let the Marlins go? Does anyone really think that the Marlins are a vital part of the economy in South Florida?

I'm as much (actually more so) a sports fan as the next guy, but I can't see why tax payers should subsidize any business, much less a sports franchise.

This is an issue that both the left and the right can agree on:
The Brookings Institute (left of center) published this book showing that sports teams are not a source of economic growth.
The Heartland Institute (right of center) has this article, Sports Stadium Madness: Why It Started, How to Stop It

So my question is, who is in favor of these subsidies for stadiums and teams???