THE HOTEL MEANT FOR AN EMPEROR OR THE 2008 FLORIDA MARLINS

by Mac G, Mac G's World

The Florida Marlins are currently playing a three game series in Washington, DC at the Nationals new baseball stadium.

The most intriguing "news" angle is not about the games or the team's thoughts on the new park but where the Marlins players are resting their heads at night: The Mayflower Hotel.

The historic DC hotel is the location of the infamous February 13th paid tryst between then New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and Emperor's Club call girl "Kristen." The hotel has turned into a tourist attraction.

Hanley Ramirez, the Marlins' star shortstop, stepped outside the team hotel on his way to lunch when a tour bus screeched to a sudden stop on Connecticut Avenue.

Pressed against the windows, dozens of passengers aimed their cameras and snapped away. But they weren't photographing Ramirez. They were shooting the hotel's stately entrance with its famous sign - The Mayflower.

Few players were amused.

"I can't believe a tour bus would stop because that's where the governor did his thing,'' pitcher Scott Olsen said. "You have the White House and the monuments and the Capitol, and they stop at the Mayflower? That's ridiculous."

Olsen is avoiding Room 871 like his cheap ass owner's aversion to adding payroll.

"I'm not going anywhere near that room,'' Olsen said. "I'm not even going to venture to that floor. There's bad karma or something going on in that room."

Not all were scared of the sex romp locale which brought down the hypocritical Governor.

Catcher Matt Treanor joked that he was staying in the room where Spitzer's alleged $4,300 tryst took place. Treanor actually was staying one floor below. Room 871 is temporarily off-limits, according to a desk clerk who did not want to be named, because visitors were knocking on the door and disturbing guests.

Two weeks ago, the "871" placard on the door disappeared. "We're keeping an eye on eBay,'' said Joseph Cardone, the hotel's resident manager. A new placard has been installed, and the hotel will rent the room when the fervor dies down.

Most visiting sports teams stay at the Mayflower when playing against the Nationals, Capitals or Wizards. I eagerly await more articles like this in the upcoming future and it sure was more entertaining than sitting through a frigid evening of Nats/Fins sloppy baseball on Monday night.


Marlins, Spitzer enjoy D.C.'s infamous Mayflower Staying at the Mayflower