The Vote Is In.

The article discusses the popularity of the Washington Nationals baseball team, formerly the Montreal Expos. The marriage between the Nationals--né Montreal Expos, who were best known in recent years for traveling (and sometimes playing) like Ringling Brothers--and Washington, best known for being first in war, first in peace and last in the league, is a match made in personal-ad heaven. Single, thirtysomething, divorced baseball team seeks long-term relationship. Turn-ons: outdoors, financial security, cable TV. Turn-offs: small gatherings, clipping coupons, international travel. Lovelorn Washington, already a two-time loser at the national pastime, with one winning baseball team in the past 52 years (including no franchise whatsoever for the last 34), fell hard and fast. In December the District sealed the engagement by agreeing to spend more than $500 million in public money for a ballpark that is planned to open in 2008 on what is now desolate waterfront property. Since then everyone from politicians to pundits to exurbanites have been scarfing up tickets at a rate that has the Nationals topping 2.5 million in attendance this year and outdrawing their backyard rivals, the Baltimore Orioles. And as was evident last Thursday, the rivalry between the Nationals and the Orioles is likely to be intense on and off the field.