Here in Louisville, there's a lot of talk about how to lure new companies and retain young talent. I have an idea: How about some leadership that will actually get an arena built in downtown Louisville. I speak for many young professionals when I say that having a vibrant downtown is crucial to keeping me here.

Because this is my hometown, I think I've given our leaders more than enough chances to finish this deal.

I was astounded when U of L President Jim Ramsey and Athletic Director Tom Jurich announced last week that they might stay in Freedom Hall rather than be part of a new downtown arena. Ramsey argues that his school would have gotten more money in the state budget had it not been for the arena.

But his threat to pull out of the arena deal is childish, and it won't get U of L any more money. I'm ready to see the whining, bickering and posturing come to an end. U of L would reap millions of dollars a year more from a new arena than it does at Freedom Hall, so I find it unlikely that Ramsey would actually pull the plug.

We don't always get what we want, especially when it comes to the state budget. My alma mater, Western Kentucky, is the fastest-growing university in the state. It also hasn't gotten the respect it deserves, but at least its leaders don't hold the rest of us

hostage when they don't get what they want.

I'm Brian Moore, and that's my Point of View.