Randy Leonard threatens to boot MLS

PORTLAND, Ore. - There's a new wrinkle in the plan to bring Major League Soccer to Portland - City Commissioner Randy Leonard is threatening to kill the deal unless Portland Beavers Owner Merritt Paulson recants a statement he made to the City of Beaverton.

Leonard says it's all because Merritt Paulson told the City of Beaverton they would have to find a stadium for the Beavers or Major League Soccer in Portland is out.

Leonard told KATU News he did not like that at all.  He said the deal the City of Portland had with Paulson is only to get the Beavers out of PGE Park in order to make room for soccer.  Finding them a home would be icing on the cake

He said he doesn't appreciate Paulson making comments that put Portland in a bad spot.

"You know, he has to recant," said Leonard. "And he has to publicly recant because that's not the deal we had and if he doesn't, I'll beat him to the punch and I'm not known for being patient and I'll pull the trigger first." And do what? "Kill the deal," he said. "He's not going to blackmail the City of Portland using the City of Beaverton to take the Beavers or not. That's not going to happen."

Leonard said he believes Paulson got ahead of himself. The remarks came up as Beaverton city officials and Paulson were going over with Beaverton residents how much it would cost to bring the team to Beaverton, though they haven't said for sure where the Beavers would go.