Economic news returns, offering respite from gloom about pitchers and catchers reporting

Florida _ In a grand American tradition, economic news once again trumps the sadness and woe of baseball's annual migration south.


"It's just in time," said MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, as he gazed at news about steroids, excessive salaries and free agents. "It was getting depressing, thinking of another baseball season. Now that the economy has collapsed, we have the escape from the woeful times of the game."


Across the nation, economic junkies are again getting regular Wall Street fixes, and they're loving it. The news will take their minds off the turmoil and sadness eminating from camps in Florida and Arizona.