Bad night for Kovalchuk and vuvuzelas
So, what do Ilya Kovalchuk and a vuvuzela have in common? What’s that you say…they both have made themselves out to be an annoying nuisance this summer?
No, no, no…that’s not the answer I was looking for. What I was getting at was both of them got B-slapped in the NHL community Tuesday night.
League Says No-No To Kovy’s Contract
In the case of Kovy, the league office nixed his newly inked 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils. As TSN reports, the league rejected the deal saying that it circumvented the salary cap rules.
Under the contract, Kovalchuk was to earn $10 million per season over the next eight years, $7.5 million for the following two seasons then one mil per year throughout the course of the final seven years.
I guess The Great Kovy Signing Saga of 2010 continues.
No Vuvuzela For You, Sir!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…the Atlanta Thrashers banned the use of vuvuselas in Philips Arena. In case you don’t already know, vuvuzelas are those obnoxious sounding long stadium horns that gained notoriety during the recent World Cup tournament that was held in South Africa.
The horns were fashioned after a kudu horn, which was used to call out to surrounding villagers to gather for community events. But they sounded like giant bees swarming overhead while watching an otherwise very entertaining tournament that ended in Spain hoisting the World Cup trophy for the very first time.
They made such an “impression” in the wide, wide world of sports that the Thrashers organization are now telling Thrashers fans, “No vuvuzela for you”!
The banning of vuvuzelas at Thrashers games is...
- A good idea (81%, 152 Votes)
- A bad idea (19%, 35 Votes)
Total Voters: 187
Loading ...Located under the Fan Conduct heading on the Thrashers web site, fans are provided a list of items that will not be allowed inside Philips Arena for Thrashers game. The seventh bullet item down reads, “Prohibited entry items such as containers, food & beverage, airhorns, vuvuzelas, weapons and laser pointers. Cameras, video cameras and audio recorders are prohibited when posted for certain events”.
Some may disagree with me on this subject, but I for one welcome the news. It’s one thing for thousands of fanatic soccer fans…excuse me, football fans…gather in a large outdoor stadium and blast the bloody things for two hours or more. But it’s quite another to have these things buzzing your eardrums inside an enclosed hockey arena.
So, giving vuvuzelas the boot from Thrasherville is a good thing, in my humble opinion. And I think it’s something the NHL league office could support as well.
You know, unlike the Kovalchuk deal with the Devils.
And Finally…
Hey guys, you ever ask a young lady out on a date only to have her respond, “Yeah…when donkeys fly!” Well…here ya go.
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190 comments Add your comment
Joe Friday
July 21st, 2010
9:47 am
“All Grossman and Lou need to do is shave off the last two years on that contract, take it down to $101M/15 and there won’t be any argument the League can make. That puts Kovy at 42 when the contract expires – same as Hossa’s deal – and DiPietro has already set the precedent for a 15 year contract. It bumps the cap hit up a bit to $6.7M but the Devils will just have to get over that and take those lumps.”
yep, this is precisely what will happen, unless the arbitrator rules in favor of the contract and against the NHL, which is quite possible. I completely agree that the contract was a farce and he obviously was just going to retire at 39 or whatever, but the precedent had already been set with Hossa, Pronger, Luongo, was it Datsyuk’s also that was similar? The NHL can’t have it both ways, they can’t allow some of those and shoot this one down. This is a might big hole they’ve dug for themselves by already allowing some of these ridiculous contracts to pass.
So, do we call the vavuzela ruling, the “Stroz Rule”, now?
Joe Friday
July 21st, 2010
9:49 am
Trixie!
Viking
July 21st, 2010
9:49 am
I wondered why Kovy only got 6 million the first two years and then top pay. Obviously they do not think he is going to be more valuable after a couple of more years.
Apparently the initial salary is to enable the rediculous end of the contract years. There is some NHL clause regarding drop in salary based on the two first years. Even if the contract is within the parameters for what was dictated after the lock out, this is another thing showing that it was constructed in a fashion to circumvent the cap.
It blows me away that they did not foresee this to happen when they instituted the NHL parameters without mathematical holes and instead ultimately rely on an iffy “maybe we will allow it” – policy.
Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)
July 21st, 2010
9:55 am
Mr. Joe Friday – Your 9:47am has been freed from Blog Purgatory.
Russ
July 21st, 2010
10:03 am
I think a pretty simple solution to this in the next CBA would be to just make the team still take the cap hit for the contract even if the player retires and the money still left on the contract after retirement can go into the pool for revenue sharing for smaller market/less revenue generating teams. If you wanted to take it one step further you could also require all contracts and extensions to have a consistent amount to be paid out per season and not allow any fluctuations. That’s my two cents worth.
Monkey
July 21st, 2010
10:04 am
You guys must really hate Chicago where everyone is screaming throughout the anthem. I didn’t know they did that there until I went to the Winter Classic at Wrigley. I was like WTF?!? I really like it and find it a celebration of our country, not disrespectful at all. But to each his own.
glovesave29
July 21st, 2010
10:06 am
I was here for the Flames and the Knights. I am deep into Atlanta hockey history. I wore the flaming A as a memeber of the Junior Flames all over Canada when I was a kid. I was coached by members of the Flames. I bleed hockey and as an Atlanta resident for over 34 years, I care deeply about this city.
Want to remember the past? Raise a banner for the Flames…retire a number or two (30, 12 and Boom Boom). Put a Knights TC banner up. Have an old timers game with all the Atlanta alumni….I am all for embracing our history, but the screaming over the anthem is just disrespectful.
R. Stroz
July 21st, 2010
10:08 am
My first amendment rights are being trampled by the ASG.
Besides, I re-upped my tickets before the rule was put in place.
Also, I have a “collapsable bullhorn”. I’ll wait for them to try and operationally define a vuvuzela.
SiCkOfThIs
July 21st, 2010
10:08 am
Word!
Russ
July 21st, 2010
10:14 am
Monkey – I’m sure some of the Chicago fans are just drunk and stupid when they do that, but I believe they usually have service men or women out on the ice that they are honoring when they sing the anthem. I believe they still do this, not sure, but I know that is how the tradition of cheering during the anthem started.
Alan R.
July 21st, 2010
10:22 am
was it Datsyuk’s also that was similar?
Zetterberg.
Contracts like these are horrible, but the one Kovalchuk signed went too far. It was genius how it was structured, but it went above and beyond contracts in the past.
The NHL finally had enough, and drew their line in the sand. It’s obvious these sort of deals will be an issue brought up as the next CBA is negotiated.
Grossman is going to want this settled between him, Kovalchuk, and the team. His career as a NHL player agent is in jeopardy if the NHLPA appeals and the NHL wins against the arbitrator.
h
July 21st, 2010
10:24 am
I believe the cheering during the national anthem started during the first Gulf War. I do not remember it happening before that time.
Badger Bob
July 21st, 2010
10:30 am
Before that time, in the old Chicago Stadium, it was just plain drunk and rowdy in there.
glovesave29
July 21st, 2010
10:32 am
Another way to look at the contract…
Of the total $102M value…$98.5M (96.5%) of the moneys will be paid over the first 11 years of the the 17 year contract (64% of the term).
How do you fix it? Simple. Whatever the player is paid in that particular year, then that is the hit against the cap. No more cost averages.
Mikey
July 21st, 2010
10:40 am
Keep those God awful stupid horns out of Philips! Glad they wised up and decided to ban those horrendous things before any found there way into the buidling.
If you need a horn to blow in order to make yourself heard, you’re not fan enough to be at a hockey game anyway! Stick to soccer.
Joe Friday
July 21st, 2010
10:40 am
“I believe the cheering during the national anthem started during the first Gulf War. I do not remember it happening before that time.”
Nope. While it probably gained more fame when the All Star Game was held in Chicago during the first Gulf War (find the YouTube of the anthem for that All Star game, if you don’t have goosebumps all over your body and want to go kick some terrorist’s rear by the time that’s over, you just ain’t an American, son), the practice of cheering during the anthem goes way back. My earliest memory is about 1970 when by dad took me the game and I was scared when everyone started cheering during the first stanza. But we learned quickly “if you ain’t hoarse by the time the anthem is over, you aren’t cheering loud enough”.
In Chicago it’s 100% about respect for our flag and love for our (once) great nation (and will be again soon). Yelling Knights during the anthem here is just plain idiotic.
fes
July 21st, 2010
10:43 am
As has been said before, shouting during the anthem is disrespectful to those that serve for our country. It is especially annoying that the shouting is for a defunct minor league team. If it were something related to the lost Flames, pro-level team, it would be a bit more understandable (but still disrespectful). I have to disagree with Zombie Steve, in that I don’t see how that is “unique” to the Thrashers or Philips. The Knights were in no way affiliated with either.
Back to Kovywatch…I’m still laughing at the smackdown from the league. Here’s to hoping Lou will just walk away now. Go west or to the motherland Ilya!
you're still minor league
July 21st, 2010
10:46 am
That you all still yell “knights” during the national anthem is proof you’re still a minor league hockey town. and you probably should be able to bring in those vuvuzellas because it’s the only way you can make it sound like there is more than 3 thousand people in the place.
Alan R.
July 21st, 2010
10:51 am
you’re still minor league – Get back under your bridge.
barry
July 21st, 2010
10:52 am
You know I’m glad Kovy’s deal got rejected. A 17 year deal is just retarded anyway. Hopefully this will finally be a reality check to Grossman that “hey Kovy is not worth more than any other player in the league because he’s not the best all around player in the league.” Ovechkin and Crosby are better than Kovy and they aren’t getting this kind of deal. When will Grossman and Kovy realize that 10 years at 8mil a year is reasonable?
WM
July 21st, 2010
10:54 am
Just curious if anyone see the bigger picture regarding the Kovy deal. I truly believe that the outcome of the artbitration hearing will have a direct impact of the CBA talks/agreement going into the 2011 season. The league, as we know, loathes these long term deals as they feel it hurts the spirit of the current CBA. The players want more money (in some cases rightfully so) and the GM’s (a majority of them) want to be able to “give them the checkbook” so to speak and sign them. I say bigger picture because I see the one of the talking points of the new CBA will be exactly this. Teams will be forced to ask for a raise in the salary cap (by way of the NHLPA), which the league may be reluctant to do in order to keep prices down for us fans and keep the steady growth of interest in the sport (at a pro level) going. But keep in mind the NHLPA does have possession of the wild card here…they can threaten a strike which could lead to another lock-out. Obviously, that’s the worst case scenario, but still the question remains. Is the NHL prepared to raise the cap and allow these obnoxious contracts to continue, leading to sub-par players to demand these deals solely to collect a paycheck, or are they going to risk another work stoppage and alienation of fans and stand their ground? Just curious as to what the group thinks.
And Mr. Glovesave love the idea of the banners, but doesn’t Calgary “own” the A Flames logo and history? Wouldn’t the case the same for the group that moved the Knights to Ottawa?
World Be Free
July 21st, 2010
10:58 am
I have no issue with yelling Knights-what I have an issue with at both hockey and basketball games, is that very few people actually sing the national anthem. Some people stare at the waving flag on the scoreboard with their arms folded. Others talk it up, catching up on the day’s events. Not signing the national anthem is far worse than yelling “Knights”. So does everyone know the words? Canadian anthem too?
Finally, we need Keith singing the national anthem at all Thrashers games. The rest of the amateurs can take a seat and listen to how it’s done.
Jack
July 21st, 2010
10:59 am
” If the reported remarks by Lombardi regarding Atlanta are true, then we’re back in the mix as well.”
What marks about Atlanta did Lombardi say?
I will follow-up that question saying I do not want Kchoke anywhere around here. Totally hilarious that his contract got nixed.
The Joker
July 21st, 2010
11:15 am
Which is worse, 10 years of listening to noise from Don Waddell or a vuvuzela?
Dwayne
July 21st, 2010
11:20 am
to H.E. DOUBLE HOCKEY Sticks with koastalchuk. I am going to buy a program at the home opener, roll it up in the shape of a vuvu and make all the noise I can with it. Will they take my program away from me? Will they kick me out?
Alan R.
July 21st, 2010
11:24 am
Jack: We apparently made an offer for between four and five years at a cap hit of somewhere around $8m/yr:
“Atlanta had put out a four- or five-year deal with an average of $7.5 or $8 million. There’s no way we can fold in that AAV, but they can, because it’s only Bogosian and Kane there. So there’s not that issue coming up, backdoor, like we have. We’ve got one issue with a Norris Trophy candidate. In New Jersey’s case, they’ve got an issue with Parise, but it’s not the same volume of young players coming. So the things they’re able to do are different from ours, which are different from Atlanta.”
http://lakingsinsider.com/2010/07/19/lombardi-quotes-part-i/
Viking
July 21st, 2010
11:26 am
Since there is a conversation about the anthem and patriotic feelings, I would like to contribute with a little story from the past and an insight how it can be in some other countries besides USA and Norway and maybe some other places in the world…
Back in 1957, the final of the World Hockey Championships was held outdoors in Moscow, Soviet Repuplic. (By the way the record in Hockey attendance until this year (?)) For whatever reason there was no National Anthems being played and instead the players were supposed to sing their respective National Anthem – this year the Gold Medal Finalists were Sweden and Soviet.
This posed a problem for the Swedish players, since few of them knew the words of the Swedish Anthem, but they instead aggreed to perform a very popular Swedish drinking song;
Helan går, sjung Hopp Fadderallan Rallan Lej….
The content is about singing and that you would not be given the next drink unless you can handle your first.
And you guys are worrying about the Knights…
Virginia Flowers
July 21st, 2010
11:32 am
I know ONE guy who brings a horn. He blows it to get the “Let’s go Thrashers” chant going. You’d think they’d encourage anything that would get fans going. Heck if it would get more people to go to a game, they could give the things away.
rob
July 21st, 2010
11:38 am
WM,
one of the best things about the game is the fact that in times past, most of the players were actually very down to earth and approachable. As the players expect more and more in terms of salary, I no doubt think this will also mean distancing themselves from fans. Another lockout will be disasterous for the game IMO. Greed eventually ruins most things, the owners and players need to find a way to agree how they can all get paid without alienating us.
glovesave29
July 21st, 2010
11:41 am
WM – not sure who owns the flaming A. Reason says that it probably is the Calgary Flames. I cannot see how they would argue with it being used down here for a number retirement banner.
I’d love to see the Thrashers wear the old Flames unis when CGY comes to town. Raise the banners that night…have an old timers game. Have some fun with that whole evening.
rob
July 21st, 2010
11:49 am
VF,
I have stated quite a bit they need a better person in charge of getting the crowd motivated. Poor selection of music, they start the Lets Go Thrashers and then devolve into a basspumping cant cheer to it monsterosity. I wonder if they have attended other out of town hockey games to get ideas. Chants, cheers, crowd involvment is one of the things about seeing a live hockey game. But I dont know if I want a building full of vuvuelas……cheer, clap, stomp your feet on the metal steps down low, cow bell, and the like should be enough. A quality team will hopefully bring back enough fans to make it loud enough.
Zombie Steve
July 21st, 2010
11:58 am
Agree with WBF – someone on their cell phone during the anthem is far more disrepectful that those who yell “Knights!”…. at least they show homage to their country by paying attention and getting involved.
fes- Where else do they yell KNIGHTS during the anthem?? It’s not hard to see that this is unique to Philips Arena. Should I draw a picture?
fes
July 21st, 2010
12:00 pm
You were implying that there is some connection between them and there’s not. Of course it’s not yelled in other venues. Because it’s STUPID and DISRESPECTFUL. And yes, talking amongst others or on a cell is just as bad.
Baron
July 21st, 2010
12:06 pm
Disrespectful ? Nobody sings! That is Disrespectful
Alan R.
July 21st, 2010
12:09 pm
Via Twitter:
@DarrenDreger Kovalchuk’s agent, Jay Grossman will be issuing a statement shortly, says his office representative. Stay tuned.
Jay Grossman
July 21st, 2010
12:26 pm
Ban the vuvuzela!
Baron
July 21st, 2010
12:58 pm
So would singing in another language be unacceptable?
Tony C.
July 21st, 2010
12:59 pm
Yeah I’d worry about getting more people to actually sing the anthem before I got my panties in a wad over which words were emphasized…. I notice no-one complains about how Atlantans also emphasize/interject “Braves” at the end of the anthem….
As for the vuvuzelas-I was looking forward to using one whenever we were on the PK…. as much flak as we get for being a “dead quiet” crowd, you’d think the ASG would be all over anything that generates crowd-noise. I do understand the health concerns vis-a-vis the vuvuzela….120dB is really f’n loud, and it will damage your hearing…..I would like to see us do something unique as far as cheering….but that’d mean getting an actual crowd, and that means winning.
We’re still somehow in talks with #17&Co.? Look unless dude is committed to playing all 3 zones, I just don’t think there’s a place for him here.
Monkey
July 21st, 2010
12:59 pm
I like the idea of a Flames night. I too attended Flames games back in the day with my dad. Got autographs from Jiggs and Boom Boom. Dad even got me a Bouchard stick that I promptly destroyed playing street hockey. (DOH!!!) I was a season ticket holder with the Knights. I don’t like the yelling of Knights during the anthem…unless we are on the road
. And also, I love Keith! Bring him back for good.
hockeymom92
July 21st, 2010
1:11 pm
First, I must confess that I am a lurker – there I said it and I hope there is a 12 step program somewhere for those of us with this addiction. I really enjoy reading everyone’s comments, well except for a few. That said, my youngest tax exemption plays for the Atlanta Fire team and they wanted to use the old Flames logo for their jerseys, but were told it belongs to Calgary and cannot be used. I found this odd, since we wanted to use it with an A and they use duh a C, but apparently the rights to the “flame” part of the logo in any form belongs to Calgary. At least this is what we were told.
R. Stroz
July 21st, 2010
1:14 pm
I guess Thrash’s mic’ed up drum should be banned too.
It’s really loud.
I guess the bam-bams should be banned as well, because they are really loud when the person behind you hits them together.
IT’S A SPORTS EVENT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, YOU’RE SUPPOSSED TO BE LOUD.
or does the asg think we should behave like a bunch of tea sipping pansies at a tennis game.
Alan R.
July 21st, 2010
1:14 pm
Holy WTF. The arbitrator awarded MacArthur a 2.4mil salary award.
We have done the smart thing and walked away from that deal.
Just… wow!
Alan R.
July 21st, 2010
1:15 pm
Stroz: Pardon me, good sir, but would you please pass the biscuits? Boy, it’s a might bit chilly inside this arena.
Brendan
July 21st, 2010
1:18 pm
Welcome to comments section, hockeymom92. Post early. Post often. And yes, the logo is owned by the Calgary franchise. The flaming “A” is actually part of the uniform for the assistant captains on the Calgary Flames.
Don’t be a stranger.
Jack
July 21st, 2010
1:20 pm
Was the arbitrator Macarthurs father. Give me a break. thats like saying kozlov is worth 6 million.
Brendan
July 21st, 2010
1:23 pm
Alan R., thanks for the link. $2.4 million for Clarke MacArthur? Wow. Wonder how they arrived at that figure. As you’ve said, Atlanta has done the wise thing to walk away. Now, I don’t think it’d be a horrible idea to re-engage at $1.5 million, and see if MacArthur even gets offers in that range. I’m not anti-MacArthur Park. I’m just against overpaying him. If we can find better, I’m in favor of that, as well. I see the Thrashers as embarking on a “depth strategy” this season, so … we need to fill the roster with as many 15 to 20-goal scorers as we can. Ideally, at a fair price.
Zombie Steve
July 21st, 2010
1:25 pm
fes- there’s nothing to imply- it simply IS unique to the venue and the team, regardless of your opinion about it.
Alan R.
July 21st, 2010
1:28 pm
The NHLPA has issued their statement regarding the Kovalchuk contract issue:
TORONTO (July 21, 2010) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) released the following statement today regarding the rejection of Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract with the New Jersey Devils by the National Hockey League (NHL):
“The NHLPA is currently analyzing the basis upon which the NHL rejected the contract between the New Jersey Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk. We are evaluating the options available to us under the terms established in the CBA. The NHLPA will have no further comment at this time.” – Jonathan Weatherdon, NHLPA Spokesperson
rob
July 21st, 2010
1:30 pm
Was the arbitrator named Grossman????
R. Stroz
July 21st, 2010
1:35 pm
The arbitrator must have awarded that amount based on the contract Waddell gave to Todd White several years ago.
They are both so so soft….