SI: March 12, 2007On weekends I try to sneak in a few quiet moments to grab a snack, kick back in my La-Z-Boy, and catch up on the world by flipping through a few weekly magazines. Imagine my shock to stumble upon the feature story in last week's Sports Illustrated on...wait for it...global warming!

Cleverly titled Going, Going Green, the article focused on the changes in store for sports - skiing, baseball, golf, etc. - resulting from the planet's rapidly changing climate. All in all, the story was well-written, well-researched and supremely well-placed. What a coup for the cause to have sports fans around the country learning about a pressing topic that concerns the fate of the entire world.

As a bonus, the article included a colorful and informative two-page spread (pgs. 44-45) depicting "The Arena of the Future." This feature outlined how the next generation of sports facilities could be powered by alternative energy, incorporate parks into the design, rely on mass transit, be built with reusable materials, and conserve water.

Check out the river-friendly vision for drainage:

"Rain washes particulates from the air and off hard surfaces such as roofs, roads, sidewalks and parking lots. In many cities outdated storm sewers are chocked by even a half-inch of rain, causing raw sewage to flow in the city's adjacent river or lake. Designed as a public gathering space, the park is carpeted in grass with the perimeter of the seating area and much of the slope up to the roof covered in native vegetation. The plants retain and clean rain as it drains off the roof. Whatever water flows from the site is stored in a pond at the base of the slope, then used for the toilets within the arena."

Now see what's envisioned for water management:

"Most of the water required by the arena and the hotel is for sewage conveyance - and potable water is not needed for that. Toilets make use of stored rainwater, and the resulting sewage is mined for nutrients to be used in fertilizer - potassium, phosphorous and nitrogen. The limited water used in the sewage conveyance is cleaned of pollutants and pathogens and returned to the groundwater."

Talk about a field of dreams! If they build it, river lovers will come. Am I right?