There's been a lot of discussion and enthusiasm for the Portland Diamond Project and its mission to bring Major League Baseball to Portland. I've followed it closely Mike Barrett, a managing partner with the group, told reporter Billy Gates in a 43-minute podcast released today that the group has centered on a location and design.

Listen to the full podcast with Barrett here. It's worth a listen. In part, because he talks about his time with the Trail Blazers and his vision with MLB.

"I think it's safe to say that we're extremely close," Barrett said.

On how the project is being received:

"I don't want to say that we've been surprised by how the idea has been accepted but I think people are understanding what a great thing this could be for a city. In this day and age when we're more divided than ever... I truly feel like this whole project and going down the road on this whole thing can be a huge unifying thing for this city."

On Barrett being fired by the Trail Blazers:

"I got done and I had a year left on my contract so I could take my time and look at what I'm going to do next. The first week your phone starts ringing. I had one, straight up job offer in the NBA. And I remember thinking and telling my wife, 'I'm not going to call another team... that's my team,' I'm not just going to jump around from thing to thing. This was my team."

Candid stuff. Good insight. And it makes me think that we're not far off from an announcement on stadium design and location. Barrett said at one point, "This is going to happen. I can't wait." Still, the matter of the financing for the stadium and the team and the identity of the investors is a big question, isn't it?

Listen to the full podcast here: