City Commissioner Randy Leonard says he may kill Merritt Paulson's Major League Soccer deal with the City of Portland unless Paulson "recants" on remarks made Tuesday night, to the effect that Paulson won't bring Major League Soccer to Portland unless Beaverton residents give him a baseball stadium.

"He won't have a deal here," says Leonard. "I'll beat him to the punch."

Leonard, who had Paulson's public relations consultant Greg Peden in his office when I arrived to follow up on this morning's post, said "we're in the process of dealing with the communication of that message, now."

"He has a chance to recant," said Leonard. "And he better do it quick. I'm not known for being patient, and my trigger finger is itchy."