Passion For Atlanta’s Hockey History Is Still Aflame – Pt. I
I met up with TJ’s owner Tim Ecclestone last week to discuss some the history of hockey in Atlanta as well as the perceived lack of interaction between the current NHL franchise and those who are affiliated with the old Atlanta Flames.
Ecclestone was drafted by the Rangers in 1967, he was then traded to St. Louis during the ’68 expansion. He played in three Stanley Cup Finals with the Blues before spending time in Detroit and Toronto. Then he came to Atlanta in 1974 where he played for the Flames and also became an assistant coach. When the franchise moved to Calgary in 1980, Tim was offered a chance to move with them… Cliff Fletcher telling him that he would be head coach there, or with some NHL club, within two years.
After much thought and consideration to the idea of relocating his family and leaving the business he had here, he decided to remain in Atlanta and has been here ever since. He’s a member of Atlanta’s chapter of the NHL’s alumni group, along with a handful of other former Flames…Tom Lysiak, Eric Vail, Dan Bouchard, Willi Plett… and players from other teams.
In the late 90’s, Tim and the group were excited to learn that the league had awarded the city of Atlanta with another franchise and they availed themselves to help promote the new team. And in the beginning, that is exactly the relationship shared between the alumni group and the new organization.
“The Thrashers came aboard”, Tim stated, “There was Harvey Schiller and his son Derek, and their marketing team. They called us every week to go out there to different places…promoting the team…signing autographs…and try to drum up season tickets”.
These guys were happy to do it too. The sport does have a rich history, contrary to what some northeast hockey elitists may think, and Ecclestone and his former teammates knew that they could be a big help in marketing the team. After all, as he puts it, the Flames didn’t leave town two decades prior due to a lack of interest in the area.
”This city here has a love affair with the Flames…we put 15,000 down there every night. People think it failed…it didn’t fail. Mr. Cousins had a business decision to make”. Continuing, “We had 18,000 for playoff games and the Omni was rocking…people loved the Flames”!
However…as the inaugural season in 1999 neared, the alumni group suddenly found themselves on the outside looking in.
Ecclestone continued, “They basically brought us in, then kicked us out…I hate to say ‘they used us’, but it was almost like that”.
The purpose was served, so to speak?
“Yeah, you could say it was kinda like that”.
So, what change? Who possibly might have made the decision to place the history of the sport at arms length from the current NHL team?
Ecclestone answered by citing Waddell’s statements during the All Star Game held here two seasons ago. “He said that the gap was far too big between the teams. So we knew we didn’t have his support…Don Waddell has a lot of say-so down there”.
“However”, he added, “It’s really an issue with ownership.”
And a team’s decision to take advantage of the willingness of former players to help…even if they played for a franchise that had been relocated…can be very prudent. Case in point, the Minnesota Wild.
As Tim explains, “The Wild owners embraced the players of the past…North Stars or anyone who played in the league. They brought them in, sat them down and said ‘we want you to be a marketing arm for us. We want you to go out there and be supportive…sign autographs…we want you to be a part of us’”.
“That’s what they did in Minnesota”, he said, “Their alumni is very active in the community”.
Tim says he’s been frustrated with the current ownership’s unwillingness to work with the alumni group though he’s tried to contact them regarding such. Michael Gearon, he says, has been polite enough to return his contacts, but not so Bruce Levenson.
Regardless, Ecclestone and the alumni group continued to support hockey in the community by holding celebrity golf tournaments to raise funds for youth hockey. “We gave money to kids who could make the travel team but didn’t have enough money to go on the travel team…that made us feel good”.
How much money could be raised?
“$15,000 a year…sometimes more. And we gave that to the Cooler…The MIC…minor league hockey…scholarship money…we did this on our own”.
When I asked if he’s still personally active in pursuing any partnership with the Thrashers…to be that link to the city’s hockey roots…he simply said no, and here’s why.
“There was this story in the paper about Darren Eliot taking over promoting youth hockey in the area”. Which was fine and good with Tim and the rest of the guys as they would have been happy to assist him in such endeavors.
“But there was this night down there at Philips Arena when the Calgary Flames were in town playing. There were hundreds of red Flames jerseys, mostly Atlanta Flames jerseys, in the stands…which makes us feel good, we always like to be remembered”. He goes on, “J.P. Dellacamera comments about it and says…’Ya know, I don’t see too many of the old guys around’”.
“Eliot then says, ‘All I know is the Atlanta Spirit and the Atlanta Thrashers down here have done everything they can do to get these guys involved…but they just don’t seem to want to get involved”.
And what was your reaction to that statement, Tim?
“He made that statement”, he replied, “…you’ve got a situation where we’ve busted our butts to raise money in this city for youth hockey…an alumnus in Darren that publicly states we don’t seem to care… and you’ve got a GM that has no interest in us…and an ownership that won’t return our calls. It was disappointing”.
He then stated, “The organization has been very generous to us in regards to providing tickets for alumni, and we are appreciative of that…but I firmly believe that we could be a great service to them in their marketing efforts and promoting the NHL product in the community”.
Ecclestone strongly feels that he and the other members of the alumni group can indeed be a bridge to Atlanta’s hockey past.
“The history of hockey in Atlanta…you can’t just sweep it under the carpet. It’s still there”.
In part two of my discussion with Tim, he shares with us his thoughts on the Thrashers lack of a team “identity” and how it possibly could have been constructed…his attempt to sponsor an Atlanta Hockey History area at Philips Arena…and about two men that were also considered for the GM job eleven years ago, Cliff Fletcher and Brian Burke.
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222 comments Add your comment
Eileen
May 12th, 2009
6:20 pm
Tri cat, I can’t believe I am responding to you, but your comment is really strange. Canadien boys, Northern boys. Please. . The world is changing. Do you also take credit for Russian boys? There will be a lot of “southern” boys in the next decade or two entering the league. We are a city full of young boys AND girls who play hockey. May you find peace as well as have your Hamilton team some day. Leave the Thrashers and their fans to enjoy their “Southern” hockey.
Alan
May 12th, 2009
6:27 pm
Leave the Thrashers and their fans to enjoy their “Southern” hockey.
Amen to that!
Switching gears a bit, Sports Illustrated has ranked the top- and bottom five ownerships in the NHL. Guess where our octo-cluster of fail landed?
Hijacker
May 12th, 2009
6:44 pm
Higher than I expected Alan.
FUBAS
May 12th, 2009
6:46 pm
We’re moving in the right direction.
LAC
May 12th, 2009
7:35 pm
Well this tri-cat thing must live a very very dull non-existant life.
To go onto a blog of a team he dislike, not so much the team, but Southerners, shows he is more of a RACIST than anything else.
Let’s see tri-cat, how many fortune 100 companies have heir HQ’s in Atlanta VS Hamilton ? Wanta guess ? Have you ever been here other than in your pea size brain ?
Why should itbe OUR team you complain about ?
Just what the HELL IS your problem ? We don’t give a DAMN what some small time canada hockey fan, as your comments & thoughts are WORTHLESS.
I’v been to Hamilton several times and it STINKS PERIOD as a city !
It’s dirty, people are NOT friendly, traffic is worse than a nightmere
and there is NOTHING to do in that town….
Why don’t you get Edmonton to move there ? Or try for Buffalo or New Jersey, How about Carolina, they are in the south right ?
No tri-cat just go away nobody here gives a DAMN about anything YOU
have to spew out !
Glovesave29
May 12th, 2009
7:44 pm
So if we use the logic that you can only play hockey up north where it is cold, do we take back baseball and football, where it should be played in the nice warm sunshine. Which we have – 10 months out of the year. Which is why everyone moves here and not the other way around. you don’t here us crying about the travesty that is the 3 down CFL.
This is all just so silly. I seem to recall those glory day’s in the 1970’s where the Wings and Leafs played bad hockey before empty home arenas. If the product is bad, people have every right to stay home. You had Ballard, we have the ASG.
As for the Atlanta sports media – they let EVERYONE off the hook. It’s not just easy on hockey…the Jackets,Bulldogs, Falcons and Braves get off easy too in the AJC. Atlanta is just a more laid back place.
Oh, and last time I checked, they make the ice exactly the same here at Philips as they do at MLG. It’s not as if we are the only team not playing on some frozen lake in northern Yukon.
LAC
May 12th, 2009
8:00 pm
NEWS FLASH !!!!!!
Billionaire Warren Buffett is considering buying the Montreal Canadians
and moving them to The Sprint Center in Kansas City, a source at
Berkshire-Hathaway said this afternoon.
Quoted as saying, “The Montreal team would compliment my Kansas City holdings, in light of my Nebraska Furniture Mart and many other business ventures there, It would be the cornerstone of The Power & Light district and a solid sports addition to the Kansas City area.”
KSHB, NBC 41, reports Montreal could be sold to Buffett by season’s end and moved to KC. Likeone reporter noted, red jersey’s would match
The Chief’s red as well !
Look for more info on the possible sale of Montreal hockey club to Warren Buffett in coming days !!!!!
This is POSITIVE NEWS !
World Be Free
May 12th, 2009
8:01 pm
Go Thrashers, sign Marty, draft a star and upgrade our lineup with veteran talent. Thanks to Kovy for challenging management to get off their best intentions.
When driving to Toronto, I remember my Dad saying “Here comes Hamilton kids, close the windows and breathe through your mouth”
Brendan
May 12th, 2009
9:06 pm
Anybody else noticing how the Hurricanes are BLOWING IT. It’s 4-1, Boston, in the middle of the 3rd period. What duh?? This thing’s goin’ seven games, barring a miracle. There’s still 13:00 left. But, c’mon.
I can’t believe Carolina has let this happen. And the most “clutch” goal of this game … was scored by Marc Savard.
Brendan
May 12th, 2009
9:07 pm
Score!! Carolina!! Samsonov!! 4-2. This could get interesting!!
Rawhide
May 12th, 2009
9:19 pm
Marc Savard…boy, I sure wish the Thrashers had a player like him. I’m sure if Don Waddell was lucky enough to land a player like Savard, he would never let him go.
World Be Free
May 12th, 2009
9:25 pm
LAC-good one
Brendan
May 12th, 2009
9:49 pm
As we all know, maybe Don Waddell’s biggest coup was getting Marc Savard, who had simply fallen out of favor in Calgary, essentially for the rights to a player (Ruslan Zainullin) who never set foot in the NHL. During the 2005-06 season, many bloggers screamed, “Re-sign him! Re-sign him, now!” Waddell’s response was “The team doesn’t negotiate contracts during the season.” As the trade deadline approached, John Kincade, in CNN Center, asked Waddell, point-blank, “how are the negotiations going with Savard?” Waddell’s answer was to obfuscate that Savard was far too essential to deal at the deadline, in terms of the Thrashers playoff aspirations. Uhhh, what did that have to do with “contract negotiations?” I don’t know. I have no idea. Waddell never answered the question. Maybe there were NO NEGOTIATIONS. Maybe Savard’s agent flat out told Waddell, “we’re commited to leaving in the 2006 offseason.” I have no idea. In any event, many Thrashers fans felt retaining Savard was the most important thing, in terms of making the playoffs. Truthfully, the team only came up 2-points short of that playoff berth.
Florida went through the same situation with D-man Jay Bouwmeester this season. They didn’t trade Bouwmeester and wound up with an identical record to Montreal. Montreal made the playoffs in 8th spot, as they had a better “head-to-head” record with Florida, I believe. So, the Panthers gambled and lost. The Thrashers gambled and lost with Savard.
Will Jay Bouwmeester re-sign with Florida? I guess it’s not entirely out of the question. But I suspect that Jay wants to go to Western Canada, where he was born. Was Marc Savard sure he was leaving Atlanta? Maybe. Possibly. I can’t say. All I can say is … Waddell should have turned up the heat on the contract during training camp in September 2005. He probably could have gotten a good deal on Savard. But there was PROCRASTINATION, like ALWAYS. The price of Savard’s contract just kept escalating. Probably to the very point where Atlanta couldn’t afford to re-sign him. That’s a shame. Savard has remained atop the leader board for assists through all his years in Boston. At $5 million-a-year, he’s considerated a “steal.” But who KNEW that Cap would go from $39 million to $56.7 million in the 1st three years of the new CBA? Waddell amended his in-season negotiations “policy” for Marian Hossa, citing it as a “special case.”
Segue to Kovalchuk. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. If the Thrashers can’t get a deal in place by July 15, do they really want to go through another “Hossa-like” season? With that DARK CLOUD of uncertainty hanging over the team. And then there’s Kari, too. Kari will be unrestricted in 2010, just like Kovy. And just like Kozlov, as well. All three hit the open market if not re-signed before noon, on July 1, 2010. If anyone thinks there aren’t CONSEQUENCES for INACTION, they are WRONG. Inaction can be just as devastating as any action can be.
Glovesave29
May 12th, 2009
10:13 pm
Brendan – Savard loved it here. Still would return. He left because ol’ DW referred to him as a “locker room cancer”.
Don Waddell
May 12th, 2009
11:04 pm
I’m going to ruin hockey in Atlanta, that’s my real five year plan.
Each year attendance is lower and the fan base is further alienated, that’s incremental progress.
I’m moving in the right direction.
Hockey Biltong
May 13th, 2009
12:24 am
Best playoff hockey I’ve seen in years!!!! Really well matched, with suprises as well. Go Ducks, and welcome the Kansas City Canadiens to the league!!!
stendec
May 13th, 2009
12:47 am
I see Maryann Hosebag was the third man in during a brawl at the conclusion of yet another Dead Wing loss. Par for the course for this spineless quitter. Worthless oxygen waste. Hope one of the Mallards sends him to emergency room in game seven. Miserable back jumping piece of shet! GO ANAHEIM! BTW – Excellent article. Superb actually. Will always love the Flames and Knights. Will always revile the Thrashers! Good night my friend.
R. Stroz
May 13th, 2009
12:50 am
Ole Time Hockey, put a stick on um and let’um know you’re there. Punch’um in the face and let’um know you’re there.
The Ducks v Red Wings series reminds me of 1970’s games between the Flames and Flyers.
R. Stroz
May 13th, 2009
12:53 am
stendec – You’re up fairly late for an old man. Go get’um you old geezer.
scottbravesfan
May 13th, 2009
3:21 am
Vahokie,
The Milwaukee Brewers actually do have throw back games where they were Braves uniforms. They did it back in 2004 and 2005 and it was hard as hell to watch the game because you naturally root for the guy in the Braves uniform and then realize he is actually a Brewer. It was strange and Skip and Pete had a field day with it.
Although the Brewers haven’t done that the last couple of years now that they have actually been good.
Tri-Ace,
Man this is America your hockey team has to be good if it’s going to get support. I don’t care if it’s in Atlanta or New York. The Islanders and Devils don’t draw flies when they suck. The Chicago Blackhawks’s brand new arena was empty for close to a decade because they were such a terrible team. The Boston Bruins still couldn’t sell out every game this year even though the Bruins were the best team in the East all year. The Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics sell out every one of their games, but not the Bruins. Hockey is always going to be a niche second tier sport in this country that’s why ESPN barely covers it.
Dwayne
May 13th, 2009
6:41 am
Mr.Bill…based on the little girl seeing Ilya with the facial hair….Our battle cry for next year should be…..????
LAC
May 13th, 2009
7:21 am
Interesting the Ecclestone photo, taken at the old St.Louis Arena,with Gary Unger,who played here the Flames last season and sawhis game streak end.
The 3 on the Blues uniforms was for Bob Gassoff who died in an accident the summer before, making this photo 1977.
I remember those helmetless days well !
LAC
May 13th, 2009
8:11 am
OK… Read this folks, This is from Mr.Potty Mouth levenson, who spoke with TSN,not AJC or the FANS,typical.
Who are these investors ? Who can believe anything he says or waddell, makes me wonder !
Read for yourself PLEASE !!!!!!
FROM TSN…
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Thrashers have had “several inquiries” from possible investors, but have not had talks about moving the team.
One of the team’s owners, Washington businessman Bruce Levenson, said Monday “there is no truth to the rumour” the ownership group has been involved in discussions about taking the team out of Atlanta, including with a Vancouver group reportedly interested in relocating the Thrashers to Hamilton.
The Hamilton Spectator reported on Saturday that Vancouver developer Tom Gaglardi heads a group interested in moving the Thrashers to Canada. There also are efforts to move the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton.
Levenson said his Atlanta Spirit LLC ownership group, which also owns the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and operating rights to Philips Arena, recently hired an agency to “explore inquiries” from possible investors.
He said there are ongoing talks but added “none involve moving either team.”
Seven of the owners based in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., want to buy out Steve Belkin, who is based in Boston.
The effort led to a long, ongoing legal fight and also prompted a search for new investors, according to Levenson.
“We have received several such inquiries, some targeted at the purchase of Steve Belkin’s interest in the wake of publicity regarding our litigation,” Levenson told The Associated Press in an e-mail.
The unsettled litigation between Belkin and the other owners would make it difficult for the Thrashers to move from Atlanta. Another barrier is the team’s commitment to Philips Arena.
The ownership split began in 2005 over Belkin’s objection to the Hawks’ decision to trade Boris Diaw, two first-round draft picks and a US$4.9 million trade exception to the Phoenix Suns for guard Joe Johnson.
Court documents associated with the case have revealed the teams have lost nearly US$174 million since the 2002-03 seasons, including more than US$50 million in the last two years.
Johnson, a three-time all-star with the Hawks, led Atlanta to the conference semifinals this season for the first time since 1999.
One of the owners, Atlanta-based Michael Gearon Jr., said the ownership group provides a wider financial foundation to help the Hawks and Thrashers survive the recession.
“The biggest challenge we have is the distraction of Belkin and getting that resolved,” Gearon said during the Hawks’ first-round playoff series win over Miami. “I think that’s probably the biggest issue.
“We don’t have any debt on the team. As much as people critique what’s going on in Atlanta, we have no debt,” he added. “Most teams in the NBA have debt. That doesn’t mean we may not access debt.
“It just means we have a lot of options when it comes to trying to invest in the product. We’ve got flexibility. We’ll just see what happens.”
geron… What a WORTHLESS little WIMP !
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 13th, 2009
8:20 am
RH — As you said, Minnesota incorporates the colors of the North Stars to help bridge the gap and pay their due respect. To the point of my post, we don’t see throwback night in Minnesota with the North Star logo, nor will we see it in Atlanta.
Back to the topic of your post, I have no problem with Atlanta attempting to pay homage to the Flames…but I’m personally not heartbroken because they don’t anymore or didn’t at all. I understand it’s easy marketing, and I understand how the team could easily benefit with the extra exposure and link to the city’s NHL past (I’m glad they ignore the Knights, the Gladiators should be the ones to honor the Knights’ success since they too are a minor league team).
However, failed marketing is something that seems to go hand-in-hand with this franchise. Thus, I’m not surprised to hear how the ex-Flames were treated (nor to hear that Eliott is a total ASG kiss-up, even when speaking about his former teammates).
But my question is, are you less of a Thrashers fan because they don’t honor the Flames? Are those people that aren’t attending games LESS of fans because of that one missed step in marketing? Is it going to solve the woes of the franchise to simply include the players of the past into their team promotion/marketing?
It’s probably a step in the “right direction”, but much more needs to be done than I believe hanging an Atlanta Flames banner will do.
Regarding ASG looking for another owner — How does it makes sense that they would seek assistance to buy out a partner? If they need money, they take a loan. The money can be found in their couch cushions, however they need a long-term solution to the lost bank account they’ll incur once Belkin is bought out. Thus, they are searching for a partner. Clearly they had problems finding a suitable partner last time (which is why they’re in the Belkin mess now), so they’re seeking external help to find one for the future.
Sure, that partner might help pay for Belkin, but the partner is not being found just to sell the entire franchise to him (or them). Everything they say and do shows they’re looking for someone to step into the void that Belkin’s departure has created, and not bring in another majority partner to take the Thrashers off their hands completely.
We can all hope for ownership changes, but this trial is definitely not going to solve those woes for us in one fell swoop. Unfortunately we’re stuck with the ASG until at least 2011.
Finally, Ti-Cat, I appreciate your blogging here…you’re giving a stand point that the majority of bloggers on this site would never want to embrace, and will immediately disregard as Canadian bombast (and clearly have). It’s unfortunate that every time such an opinion comes in to our area that it degrades to mudslinging and name calling, but I truly appreciate reading what other people think of the situation, realistically (even if I don’t agree with everything stated).
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 13th, 2009
8:28 am
Mr.Bill…based on the little girl seeing Ilya with the facial hair….Our battle cry for next year should be…..????
I’d back the “Atlanta deserves playoff beards” campaign. It could even be adjusted based on whomever we feel is deserving…i.e., “Kovalchuk deserves a playoff beard”, “Little deserves some playoff stubble”, etc.
I like the idea.
Russ
May 13th, 2009
9:19 am
“Will always revile the Thrashers!” – Stendec
Then why do you get so mad when they lose?
Ti-Cat
May 13th, 2009
9:55 am
I am just so happy to hear that Warren Buffet is taking the Habs to Kansas City. Now instead of moving the thrashers to Ontario, we can move them to Montreal. Please, tell me how your one season of selling out more than half your games makes your city a better hockey market than Montreal. And for all the references of the future southern boys who will be playing in the NHL, where are all the southern boys that came up when the Flames were in town? Oh there is Vinny bag-a-donuts. That is all you have to show for the Flames being in Atlanta for 8 seasons. That is quite an impact you made there to the hockey community. What a joke you people are. Go buy some tickets now or won’t you support your team?
GaVaHokie
May 13th, 2009
10:00 am
I swear… every time this argument comes up on this blog, I can’t help but think of this episode of South Park.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFG2P-toC6k&feature=related
R. Stroz
May 13th, 2009
10:09 am
We have a new Pucks n Snot. YIPEEEE!
Alan
May 13th, 2009
10:16 am
THEY TOOK AR JERBS!
GaVaHokie
May 13th, 2009
10:34 am
Getting back on subject… Rawhide… the strangest thing to me is Darren Elliot’s on-air comment about “The team has done everything to get the old players involved, but they refuse.”
I don’t doubt that it was said… but it almost seems like a misunderstanding, or miscommunication or something. I don’t see Darren Elliot being so unprofessional to make such a comment without some kind of merit behind it.
I have often wondered why we don’t see more of the old Flames guys around, and I was always of the mindset of what Elliot said. They didn’t want to be involved… coupled with the franchise not wanting to associate itself with the past.
If it’s a disconnect based on misinformation… than hopefully your article can shed some light on it, and we can see some resolve… I for one would like to see the Flames guys around… I’m not ready to hang a Flames banner in the stadium, or put player statues out front… maybe an Atlanta hockey museum is the arena sounds good… but certainly, I would like to see some of the old players around.
Alan
May 13th, 2009
10:54 am
Is stendec actually Kanye West? You don’t ever see them together, do you? And besides, both of them feel their caps lock key is loud.
Rawhide
May 13th, 2009
10:57 am
Hokie – yeah…I kinda like the “Mini Atlanta HHoF” idea at Philips. Tim discusses that in detain during part two of this article…which should be posted sometime tomorrow if not tonight.
that, my friends, is known in the media business as a “tease”
Spud Webb
May 13th, 2009
11:40 am
Yea, I saw that with Savard last night. Geez. Depressing. He did love it here and loved playing golf over at Sugarloaf. I believe we could’ve kept him. Savard is and always will be a “selfish” sort of player. But up there in Boston you’ve got a few leaders (Chara) that keep him in check, I’m sure. Is this already year 3 for him in bean town?
Great games last night. Loved watching both games. Ducks can pull this out, should be interesting, game 7 caps vs pens tonight!!!!!!! YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
World be Free
May 13th, 2009
12:16 pm
I like the idea of recognizing the former Flames players. Quite a few still live in Atlanta and would like to be involved. We should recognize the players for their contributions, without trying to attach ourselves with the Calgary Flames.
Oh, we should all remember that the NHL failed in Winnepeg and Quebec City-2 supposed destinations for teams currently based in the south.
bob
May 13th, 2009
12:30 pm
every time one of the talking heads of an organIzation makes a statement, you can bet on the opposite to happen
NASCAR Dave
May 13th, 2009
1:02 pm
Wow, this is gonna be pretty damn funny when “CHRISTEN” and the DUCKS knock off the DEAD WINGS!!!
Funny how CHRISTEN goes to ANAHEIM and actually “tries” and “PERFORMS up to Expectations”… What does that say???
LOL, it must just be ATL Water, NOT the Thrashers FLAWED system!!!
NASCAR Dave
May 13th, 2009
1:03 pm
STENDEC… MARY HOSSA will not fight…
I think she is Gay (IMO)
Ti-Cat
May 13th, 2009
1:07 pm
Remembering something that didn’t happen is not remembering – it’s rewriting history. For example: to say that the NHL failed in Winnipeg is not true. The argument that a Canadian team could not survive with the weak Canadian dollar was the excuse used to move the team to the sun belt which we all know was Bettman’s main motive for his master plan. I find it hilarious that people from Atlanta (didn’t you receive a team after you failed the first time) would say another city should not have an NHL team because they already had one before. And who made Quebec City a destination for teams based in the south? Does anyone here know anything or do you just repeat your tired cliches over and over again?
GaVaHokie
May 13th, 2009
1:24 pm
Ti-Cat… actually, we didn’t fail the first time… a greedy owner sold it to Calgary.
GaVaHokie
May 13th, 2009
1:27 pm
Nascar… I think Christen has been scratched most of the playoffs… he only played 8 of the 12 games so far and has 2 Assists… that’s a FAIL in my book.
GaVaHokie
May 13th, 2009
1:28 pm
Nascar… I forgot to add… in those 8 games, Christensen has totaled 10 minutes of ice time.
http://tsn.ca/nhl/teams/?hubname=nhl-ducks
World be Free
May 13th, 2009
1:38 pm
I grew up listening to Foster Hewitt, Dan Kelly and Danny Gallivan (the best play by play man ever). So I think there is a chance I know alot more than you. Winnipeg and Quebec City failed, regardless of what spin you may put on the facts. They had plenty of chance to succeed and they failed-period.
Gary Bettman is the No. 1 whipping boy in Canada.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 13th, 2009
1:51 pm
From what I read on the TSN comments, Bettman is the root of global warming/cooling/lukewarmness.
GaVaHokie
May 13th, 2009
1:57 pm
It would be JUST like Bettman to take credit for lukewarmness.
World be Free
May 13th, 2009
2:03 pm
Canadian press has to have someone to blame.
Tony C.
May 13th, 2009
2:39 pm
Studies show that lukewarmness has reached crisis levels.
Ti-Cat
May 13th, 2009
2:54 pm
“I grew up listening to Foster Hewitt, Dan Kelly and Danny Gallivan (the best play by play man ever). So I think there is a chance I know alot more than you. Winnipeg and Quebec City failed, regardless of what spin you may put on the facts. They had plenty of chance to succeed and they failed-period.”
I grew up watching the Jets blah blah blah so I know more than you blah blah blah so I think there is a chance I know more a lot than you about the Jets. Atlanta failed-period. The Flames had plenty of chance to succeed and they failed-period regardless of how you spin it. Now the Thrashers are failing too.
Ti-Cat
May 13th, 2009
3:05 pm
New report came out that the Atlanta Spirit are the source of global warming. Even though ticket sales are not hot they are warming the earth. They were also seen on a grassy knoll in Dallas, Texas when JFK rode through town. From there they fled to Roswell, New Mexico until they finally bought a hockey team in Atlanta. Everything is their fault. The fans who won’t buy tickets have never done anything wrong. It’s the owners fault I tell you, not the fans who sit on their hands and won’t go to the arena.
World be Free
May 13th, 2009
3:21 pm
Like most losers, you obviously have no life.
Enjoy your AHL franchise, until that folds like everything else in Hamilton.