So, Spirit Boys…What Do YOU Make Of The TSN Story?
By now I’m sure you’ve already read this TSN story about a Vancouver developer named Tom Gaglardi pushing the charge to buy the Atlanta Thrashers and relocate them to Hamilton, Ontario. Of course, that’s the same place that Research In Motion CEO Jim Balsilli reportedly wants to move the Phoenix Coyotes to.
In the TSN write-up it is stated that…according to The Hamilton Spectator… Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger will meet with a Vancouver-based group on Monday to discuss a proposed lease for Copps Coliseum. The story ends with the line, “Gaglardi is reportedly interested in having the Thrashers in Hamilton in time for the 2010 season”.
So, what’s to make of all this?
Well, obviously it’s created quite an uproar in the blogosphere…especially among those who believe in the foolish, asinine notion that the NHL should limit it’s market only to Canada and maybe, possibly U.S. states that border the Great Lakes. I guess if you view this from the vantage point of those north of the border, if you can get more teams to play up there…it will probably improve the chances that a Canadian team might just bring home the Stanley Cup for the first time since the first year of the Clinton administration.
Of course, we could look at this as a city’s mayor playing the two groups against each other for leverage if we wanted to…or chalk it up as simply yet another in a series of “The Thrashers are moving to (insert name of city here)” speculations that we hockey fans in the south have to endure with nauseating frequency.
But seriously…as Phil Foley points out among other things…someone is going to take a team currently away from a city with a metro population of over five million to one inhabited buy around seven thousand? Yeah…right!
(Oh and Phil…I linked your story partially due to the fact that you so eloquently outlined reasons the Thrashers aren’t on the move…but mostly because of your reference and picture of Elisha Cuthbert. Nicely played)!
But in the end…it doesn’t matter a bit what you or I or Phil or Elisha…or even our friends up north who salivate at the thought of an All-Snowbird NHL…have to say about this. No, in the end the only people that can squelch such a rumor…they only ones that can adequately move to put an end to this chatter…is Bruce Levenson and/or any other member of the Atlanta Spirit, L.L.C.
That’s why I now call upon Levenson to go on the record and state unequivicably that this story is 100%, unadultered, grade-A…shall we say… “male bovine excretion”.
And the longer he or any other of the Spirit Boys take to do just that…the longer this story hangs out there to be speculated upon as truth. And that then leads to unease in Thrasherville. Unease at Thrasherville then leads to season ticket holders re-thinking their plans to re-up for their packages next season…and a decreasing STH population is not a good thing at all, as I’m sure the Spiriteers must have learned last season.
To his credit, general manager Don Waddell has gone on the record saying that the story is absolutely false. Of course, if I wanted to be cynical, I could point out that this is the same man that just last summer denied John Anderson had been offered the head coaching job with the Thrashers the night before it was announced that, indeed, he was hired as the coach. Also, let us not forget the whole, “Alexei Zhitnik is going to be a big part of the team this coming season” comment. Days later, Zhit’s contract was bought out.
I guess Don’s comments were correct given that paying him to not play helped keep the team just north of the salary floor.
To that point… and in Don’s defense here… the ownership has not won many brownie points with the fans given the way they have penny-pinched the team’s payroll over the course of the past few years. The paying customers have been asked to support with more of their hard-earned dollars a team that they themselves don’t seem to believe in given their lack of willingness to invest more in.
So, those who support the team with their sports entertainment dollars understandably are already an antsy bunch. This type of news simply doesn’t help matters if left to fester without comment by Levenson and Co.
But, this is one circumstance in which the owners could improve the ground that the organ-I-zation stand upon that would not cost them one single, red cent. All Bruce would have to do is simply state…on the record…very clearly and concisely…that they are not involved with, nor are they currently entertaining the thought of talking to, anyone or any group that intends to relocate the Thrashers away from Atlanta.
Not Don…not an unnamed source…Bruce Levenson and the Spirit Boys needs to say it.
It would be quick, simple and could do away with so much needless nonsense.
So, step up to the mic Bruce and/or other of the Spirit Boys. Put this whole thing to rest once and for all.
Or just continue to remain mum and add to the unease that permeates throughout your fanbase.
Yeah…that would be good.
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82 comments Add your comment
A2B
May 11th, 2009
10:46 am
Wow, so who thought a silly rumor could cause so much distress. This is the deal with the thrashers:
1) naming rights to phillips is leased for 99 years based one factor: there is an NHL AND NBA team there
2) the inital contract has in writing the Thrashers can’t leave for 15 years (after the 15 years its to be reevaluated and the contract is editied from there)
3) Gary Bettman wants a team here since its a huge market that he believes can challenge the NY area (yes he has gone publicly to state this about a year ago and I forgot where the story was)
4) lots of companies are coming to ATL during the economic downturn since its relatively cheap to do business in ATL compared to NYC or Boston (that is a lot of corporate sponsors and money coming into the team)
This team isn’t going anywhere and frankly the rumors don’t really make sense. Atlanta is a great place to be and knowing several people forget the crash with danny heatley and letting marc savard go are the two reasons why this team is in a hole. We had an amazing core going then, before we let savard walk and heatley asked to be traded we were close to being in the playoffs as a 5th year franchise. That two years set us back to where we started and now its like a second 5 year plan is just now getting done next year. Be patient people, I love hockey and am just as furious as the next fan, but sometimes things are out of your control and you have to try and find the best in the situation. There are brighter days ahead of us here at Blueland, it just takes patience to get there
Spud Webb
May 11th, 2009
11:07 am
Tyler in frog country, you calling us hillbillies is like me saying this…why don’t you do what you frogs/french do, RUN hahahahhahaha. IGNORANT isn’t it????
You’ve got your own issues up there with the frogs and that disappointing season!
FormerIslesFan
May 11th, 2009
12:08 pm
Okay, so here is a different topic for you (as this issue now appears to be winding down and degenerating into an insult fest). A lot of people on this ‘blog have stated their dissatisfaction with Darren Elliot as the Thrashers’ Color Commentator (I believe the word “homer” has been used with frequency). Reports out of S. Florida the last few days confirm that the Panthers have let Denis Potvin go as their Color Man.
See: http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_hockey_panthers/2009/05/florida-panthers-potvin-talks-about-leaving.html
So, assuming he was available and that a move would even be considered (by both us and him), what do you think? He certainly has the resume for it…
Thrashers27
May 11th, 2009
12:24 pm
I don’t have any problem with Elliot. I do wish he would stop with the soccer and other sport references. I would guess that there was a mandate from a higher power that told the crew to try to relate the game to novice viewers. I suppose it works in that sense.
If you have Center Ice you get to see a lot of the other commentators who seem to know a lot more about the game, but again, maybe our guys dumb it down for the sake of the novice viewers.
Overall, I think he’s fine. If he sucked I don’t think VS would want anything to do with him and he’s been on a lot of games over the last couple of seasons…although, could be because he’s one of the few available for post season since our beloved Thrashers have missed the playoffs.
GaVaHokie
May 11th, 2009
12:48 pm
Thrashers27… Elliot is also a writer for Sports Illustrated… I think he’s very knowledgeable. I believe the soccer references are more for his play-by-play guy, J.P. Delacamera who is a popular soccer analyst… that’s why we get Matt McConnell from time to time… J.P. is overseas covering soccer.
DWTOO
May 11th, 2009
1:07 pm
Yes it is time to move on. Lot’s of compelling arguements/facts that the Thrashers are going nowhere. However, there’s probably a large dose of frustration among Canadian fans that they don’t have more teams. There’s some good points made on the Nasty Nest sight about the feeling of Canadian hockey fans and the fact name calling is classless. Unfortunately, we’ve manage to attract the dregs of Canadian society.
In the future we should strive to remain above the hillbilly talk – afterall I’m an eduacated, well compensated redneck hillbilly!
Tony C.
May 11th, 2009
1:18 pm
I prefer the term “Good Ole Boy”.
AGTFan
May 11th, 2009
1:22 pm
Let’s get it over with. Move all of the non-traditional market teams to any place in Canada that will have them and watch how fast new European and Russian leagues spring to life and how fast the new all Canadian NHL becomes a farm system for the European Leagues.
Go for it Canadians. And when all the best talent deserts you to play in Europe and Russia, youcan go watch Curling.
kracker
May 11th, 2009
1:22 pm
I’m fine with Elliot.
Hijacker
May 11th, 2009
1:42 pm
@DB:
Daryl Katz is the owner of the Oilers.
Brendan
May 11th, 2009
1:45 pm
To me, Darren Eliot is an intelligent man. The “problem” is that he’s paid by the Thrashers. Which means? He can’t exactly yell, “Fire Waddell!” at the beginning or conclusion of any given season. Or, “Folks, look. The problem is horrendous ownership.” He’s paid to sugarcoat things, and exaggerate about how well things are going. One of the most infuriating interviews of the Year was that Nashville Predator game back in November, when Darren asked Waddell what he made of the season at the 1/4 mark. And one of Darren’s follow up questions was, “You’ve got to feel we’re close now. Do you feel we’re ‘close’ to turning the corner.” In a stunning development, Waddell said, “Naw, we’re pretty terrible, Darren. I’m at my wits end most days. I’m pretty much fed up and ready to quit.”
Kidding! I tease. I kid. I do that sometimes. You obviously know what Waddell’s response was. Later in the season, Darren Eliot repeated the “we’re real close” company line. I don’t believe Darren believes that. I think he’s a paid mouthpiece. When Darren covers other team’s games on Versus, then you hear the ‘real’ Darren Eliot. The ’smart’ Darren Eliot. The ‘thinking’ Darren Eliot.
Darren does a good job, so he keeps his job with the Thrashers. And as long as he’s a paid employee, I wouldn’t count on much criticism of the organization coming out of him. I guess I can’t blame Darren for being a ‘good employee.’ But I’d sure like to. Instead, I’m giving him a “pass.” Everyone needs to put food on the table. It’s his job.
GaVaHokie
May 11th, 2009
1:45 pm
Wayne Gretzky, Jim Carey, Mike Myers, Pamela Anderson… all great Canadians that came to America to be discovered. You keep producing them Canada, and we’ll make sure the rest of the world knows who they are… I thought that process was generally accepted and understood.
Without wide North American expansion, the NHL is a tree falling in the woods… more so than it already is… sure everyone loves tradition, but hopefully you’d like to be noticed, right?
Bring on the Mexico City Maulers and the Tijuana Toro’s.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 11th, 2009
2:20 pm
Mexico City Margaritas and Tijuana Tacos sounds better to me. Maybe I’m just hungry…
Hose B
May 11th, 2009
2:59 pm
Mexico sucks!!! I boycott all things Mexico and would boycott the NHL if there were ever Mexican teams introduced to the league.
Bob
May 11th, 2009
3:56 pm
“Fans here are frustrated with the Spirit Clowns and even with Don Waddell…although more with the former than the latter…and that is the reason behind slumping attendance numbers”
I don’t think that’s an accurate take, Rawhide. I think the vast majority of former season ticket holders and former regular attendees to games are more upset/disgusted with Waddell.
I would say that if you look only at the pool of diehards that were left last year going to games, then more of those folks are upset with the owners moreso than with Waddell, but that was a pretty small pool that was left last year.
Brendan
May 11th, 2009
4:37 pm
Firing Waddell might cause a rush of ticket sales. But at this point, I think even those who desperately want Waddell fired, … still want to ‘wait-n-see’ who gets hired as GM before they return as STH’s. Firing Waddell is just the “1st Step” towards taking hockey seriously in this market. Replacing Waddell with some Spirit Clown’s little league hockey Coach isn’t really a remedy. It’s still more of a “symptom” of the mismanagement by ownership. If Ownership were to fire Waddell and systematically search for a suitable GM, thennnnn they’d (STH’s) come back in droves.
People can “talk” about how RESPECTED Don Waddell is … all day long. At the end of the day, it’s why hasn’t this team, with eight (8) Top 10 overall picks, including five inside the lottery draft, been to the Conference Finals yet? If not, why not? Is it because Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita demolished Philips Arena? Is it because a tornado ripped the building apart? Is it because there was a terrible flood downtown, that destroyed most of the infrastructure for the City of Atlanta? Is it because 1/3 of the Thrashers roster is sitting in prison, for character-related arrests, indictments and convictions?
If it’s not something along these lines, then accountability has to rear its ugly head. Stop for a minute. Everyone has an excuse. I can’t think of a single person who doesn’t have an excuse about why they’re not more succesful in life. And that includes Trump. People can rattle them off like nursery rhymes. In the end, the Spirit boys have to acknowledge that they’ve made missteps and effort to rectify them. Until then, well golly, gee whiz, fans might avoid hockey games at Philips Arena. They want to see change before they’ll return, en masse.
Stupid Waddell
May 11th, 2009
5:38 pm
It’a all my fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I will STILL KEEP MY JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL, all the way to Wachovia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ti-Cat
May 12th, 2009
10:33 am
“especially among those who believe in the foolish, asinine notion that the NHL should limit it’s market only to Canada and maybe, possibly U.S. states that border the Great Lakes.”
Are they as foolish as those who think the NHL should keep playing in front of empty stands in the south? All you people do is complain how its that GM of yours’ fault. But when teams in Canada or near the Great Lakes don’t make the playoffs they are still doing well and playing in front of big crowds. Not whining about how they hate the mgt. If you were a real hockeytown the owners would get pressure in other ways to make changes. Instead you just keep losing money hand over fist. And since you keep losing money the owners will never spend near the cap to give you a real team. No real fans develop then. It’s an endless cycle in your market. The Flames are doing quite well in Calgary. Perhaps we should learn a lesson there.
George
May 12th, 2009
3:23 pm
Last time I checked the Thrashers had more Canadians than AMericans on the team. Thrashers on most nights get lousy attendance and in Canada that would not be so. The Leafs who have had a mediocre team the past few yrs. always sell out, hard ticket to get any night of the week and their prices are out of this world! Bring the Thrash to southern Ontario, not necessarily Hamilton!
Ti-Cat
May 12th, 2009
3:41 pm
Great post George. I personally think the Thrashers would do great right in downtown Toronto. Many from Kitchener, Mississauga and even Hamilton would go support the 2nd team since they can’t get tickets to the Leafs. By putting it right in Toronto you don’t have to worry about the Sabres being too close versus if they were in Hamilton. If NY can support 3 teams, gosh even Los Angeles can support 2, I think Toronto can support 2.
Rawhide
May 12th, 2009
3:54 pm
Ti-Cat & George – Let me tell where I agree with you. I do see Toronto or southern Ontario being able to support an additional NHL team…even with Buffalo being so close.
However, there is no way the NHL is going to allow a team to be taken out of a market like Atlanta and move there.
Not gonna happen…no matter how much you may want it to or how much chatter comes out of that region in support of it.
Ti-Cat
May 12th, 2009
4:19 pm
Rawhide – It’s not a matter of whether either of them can have a team. The question is which one should have it since there is only 1 team we are talking about here. If you were the owner where would you rather have the team, in Toronto or Atlanta?
Rawhide
May 12th, 2009
4:22 pm
If I had a choice between keeping a team in Atlanta or moving them into compete with the Leafs…I would keep ‘em here.
Ti-Cat
May 12th, 2009
4:37 pm
So you think all of Atlanta is more passionate about hockey than only 1/2 of Toronto?
Rawhide
May 12th, 2009
4:41 pm
That’s not the issue. I think the NHL would be foolish to limit the market of it’s product.
You and I will simply have to agree to disagree on this issue.
JAmes_kovyboy
May 12th, 2009
5:20 pm
Damn this is cool
Look, im all u can have in a Thrashers fan, but Im also Canadian
so if any of u think the USA hockey market is bigger than Canada’s hockey market, stop taking ur pills
2nd, the guy who said that the South doesnt have ”real” winters refers to the fact that do you see Bresilian hockey teams? U need snow in ur country to say that ur state or country is hockey-eligible
then ull say ”Bresil isnt a hockey country”
Ok then if USA is, why dont we joinn with the KHL?
finally, the biggest dumbest, most unthought retard comment I saw was from 12345 telling us to make our own 6 team league
Ok so u really are a stupid ass american… You want us to take our teams, and our CANADIAN players and make our own league? OK!
Which players will you have left Europeans? Theyll all go to the KHL
So only american hockey players…. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH
Americans cant even win in the IIHF u think ull see them show great hockey and support 24 teams?
Think before you speak
Hockey Biltong
May 12th, 2009
5:51 pm
Man,you all have just expanded my universe exponentially…pissed off Canadians, pissed off Americans, hell, where are the pissed off Mexicans??? You couldn’t swing a dead cat in this blog room without smacking someone…..
Ti-Cat
May 13th, 2009
10:12 am
It’s funny how the people in Atlanta all want to do away with the Canadians who want to see their players play yet at the same time they trash talk the American Ron Hainsey because they didn’t get the Canadian Brian Campbell.
Rob
May 13th, 2009
4:38 pm
There are no real winters in Anaheim, Raleigh, Dallas or Tampa Bay yet each of these teams won the Cup in the past 10 years. If by chance it comes down to a Carolina-Anaheim final series that should stop the old arguement that hockey cannot strive below the US Mason-Dixon line.
Ti-Cat
May 14th, 2009
9:53 am
Again Rob, let’s see hockey survive when you aren’t winning a cup. It survives in places like Ottawa, Buffalo, Minnesota during down years. And down years occur for every franchise – just look at Toronto. If hockey can do so well during down years why don’t you sell out your building during your down years?
kracker
May 15th, 2009
12:52 pm
I’m pretty sure the Thrashers leaving reaction poll was hacked or something. The ‘Not at all’ vote total has been on 401 all day today. Sometime around 10 or 11 last night it jumped to a high number, I don’t recall exactly what it was, after being the smallest vote by far earlier in the evening.
scottbravesfan
May 16th, 2009
7:24 pm
Ti-Cat
Actually hockey almost didn’t survive during the bad years in Buffalo. They had to declare bankruptcy and almost folded. They only started drawing again once they started winning again. Now that they are losers once again their attendance will drop again. It’s such a small market they can’t sign the good players that they develop. That’s why Campbell is playing in Chicago now.
Sara,
I love how you try to compare the Braves and Thrashers saying that the Braves only averaged in the low 30,000s for their games. You know how many teams would love to average only 30,000 a game. The Braves have drawn over 2 million fans a year for 18 straight seasons only the Dodgers have a longer streak than that. They have also drawn over 3 million fans 6 times in their franchise’s history. Only a handful of teams can claim that. When the Thrashers can actually finish in the top 20 in attendance then you come talk. The Braves and Falcons get support. The Hawks and Thrashers will get support when they actually show that they can win a game and get to the playoffs. Why should people piss away their money for the ridiculous prices that the NHL and the NBA charge for prices.