Despite protester, Washington rechristens Expos to Nationals

The 73-year-old former Washington Senators public address announcer was not about to let a protester ruin another big baseball day in the nation's capital. Charlie Brotman wrestled the intruder out of the way, clearing the stage for the Montreal Expos to be rechristened the Washington Nationals.

With approval by baseball owners and a ballpark funding package still pending, the franchise in flux forged ahead Monday with a splashy ceremony before hundreds of fans in the grand hall at Union Station, unveiling a new name, logo, cap and plenty of new merchandise for sale on the spot.

"Baseball is about our way of life," Mayor Anthony Williams said. "It's about opportunity. And now with the Nationals, it's about our nation's capital."

The team also announced its home opener at RFK Stadium, the club's temporary home until a new ballpark is built, has been moved up to April 14, so as not to compete for attention with a Jackie Robinson event at Dodger Stadium the following day.

Selling his baseball plan to Washington residents has not been easy for Williams, and the opposition was visible just before the news conference began when a member of the D.C. Statehood Green Party jumped on stage with a sign reading "Stop the $614 million stadium giveaway."

The protester, Adam Eidinger, managed to say, "This is a bad deal, people" before Brotman engaged him in a tussle that nearly knocked over the lectern. Others joined the fray, and Eidinger was eventually led away by security to cheers from the crowd. He was detained for about 15 minutes and released.

"This is about a baseball team coming to Washington," Brotman then told the crowd before pausing to catch his breath. "I'm breathing hard. This has nothing to do with a heavyweight championship fight coming to town."

Team president Tony Tavares later announced that Brotman "will become our head of Homeland Security."

Eidinger and a few other protesters scattered in the hall oppose Williams' plan for public financing to build a new ballpark, a concern voiced by many residents that has delayed approval by the District of Columbia Council. Estimates put the final cost well above the original price tag of $435 million. Recent compromises appear to have the legislation back on track for an initial vote on Nov. 30, with final approval expected before the Dec. 31 deadline set in an agreement with the Expos.

Baseball owners, who put off a vote last week, are expected to approve the move by Dec. 6.