Hey, Real S.L., try the independent approach

So this is where we're supposed to be talked off the ledge of an office building?

Pro soccer in Utah took a major hit this week when Salt Lake County financing for a new soccer stadium was withdrawn. Which made for an interesting week. The dealings of local government and Real Salt Lake have been front-page, banner-headline news. That's hard to ignore, whether or not you know a goal from goat's milk. Pick up the newspaper expecting to read about immigration, war and gas prices and what do you get? Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon's opinion on stadium funding.

Financing sports arenas is a fact in most major American cities. Minnesota officials are considering a seven-county sales tax hike to finance homes for the Twins and Vikings. The Pittsburgh Penguins are threatening to leave if a plan to get a new building financed by casino funds doesn't occur. The Florida Marlins are mulling a move to San Antonio if a new stadium isn't built. In New York, plans are rolling along for taxpayers to help fund venues for the Yankees and Mets.

And so forth.

Now all we have to decide is whether such things are important in Utah.

And the truth is yes — sort of. Right up until the moment the stock market crashes, the water supply is tainted or the ozone layer dissolves.

Sports aren't a necessity, just an amenity.

I haven't been this worried since I lost my Kato Kaelin Fan Club card.

Still, it's an issue for all Salt Lake County residents to consider. The controversy ignited late last week when financing plans for Real Salt Lake's stadium in Sandy were leaked to the media. That led to cancellation of a meeting between county officials and RSL. Next, Corroon announced that after scrutinizing RSL's highly optimistic — if not unrealistic — growth plans, he couldn't in good faith proceed. He withdrew the county's $35 million hotel tax commitment.

RSL says it can't survive without a new stadium and it can't build a stadium without tax dollars. Salt Lake County says RSL's numbers don't add up to a good investment.

I don't know much about borrowing millions. My idea of high finance is adding a matching love seat to go with the couch. But if Corroon is interpreting the figures right, this could cost Utahns a lot more than $35 million before the team starts pulling its own weight. This for a stadium that is supposed to rise in suburbia, rather than downtown — a mistake in itself. But that's another story.