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Atlanta Thrashers: Ice Man

The Atlanta Spirit – Lies, Lawsuits and Contempt

7:19 am January 22, 2011, by Bill Tiller (Rawhide)

So…the Atlanta Spirit, LLC lied to us, did they? When asked many times over if they intended to sell the Thrashers organization over the past several years, they denied it…only to reveal in court documents recently that they had indeed looked to do just that. Not only that, but now we’ve learned of yet another lawsuit being entered into by the ownership cluster known as the Atlanta spirit, LLC.

The LLC, it seems, could now stand for Lies, Lawsuits and Contempt for the fans.

Really, no one should be terribly shocked to learn that one of…if not THE…most dysfunctional collection of businessmen ever to own a sports franchise actually dared to speak untruths to their paying population. The Great Octocluster has from day one proved themselves to be unworthy of our unquestioning trust.

One can’t help but wonder how much healthier their NHL team would be if they had invested as much money in it as they have on legal representation over the past six years. But as it stands now, if the Thrashers franchise were children and those who comprise the ownership cluster were the parents, Georgia DFCS would have been called in long ago to rescue them from such abuse and neglect.

I know it, you know it and the Thrasherville people know it.

Even so, hockey fans in Atlanta are indeed justified in being 100%, USDA Grade-A pissed off about being lied to for so long, and the Octocluster is deserving of any backlash they may receive from them. When one’s lies have been found out, that’s to be expected.

And while I join your cries of outrage in the aftermath of this info-bomb that was just detonated over our heads Friday afternoon, there is a big part of me that welcomes this news that the Great Octocluster have looked to sell the Thrashers. Given that those who make up this mess of an ownership have done enough damage to this franchise since acquiring it, the best thing for the franchise and its fans is for them to find a new buyer and stop doing more damage.

I can say this, you see, because I’m not one of those who will automatically jump to the knee-jerk conclusion that any such sale equates to their relocation. Sports franchises are bought and sold all the time and not always are they relocated.

It’s true. Look it up.

Of course, this little fact nugget doesn’t prevent the endless parade of rumor mill fodder created by certain bloggers, both of the domestic variety and north of the border. Of course, most of this drivel is produced in their mother’s basements in a pants-optional environment. Unfortunately, a story like this will only prove to encourage their rumor output even more.

Countering such nonsense, we’ve all read and heard the reasoning of why such relocation stories are simply nonsense. From the naming rights to Philips Arena being tied to having at least two pro sports teams play there… to the agreement with the league by the A.S. LLC when they bought them that they would not relocate them from Atlanta… to the NHL’s stated desire to remain in the Atlanta market as opposed to moving them to a smaller one…there are a host of reasons to support filing these internet rumors in the fiction section.

But even if you don’t fully accept the above as the gospel, there’s still this piece of logic to take under consideration. If YOU owned the Thrashers, Hawks and Philips Arena and YOU were in fact looking to sell off the hockey team, why in the world would you seek to strike a deal with someone intent on taking them out of town? I mean, would you want this future tenant to drive away from the market and depart with all that potential rent money?

No, I would think you would try to do exactly what the spirit Clowns have sought to do and find a local buyer whose aim is to keep them right here in Atlanta.

And if the AS, LLC had indeed sold the Thrashers years ago, they would probably be in much better shape today than they are. True, we’re seeing some serious progress finally…but we would be years further down the road, I truly believe, if the franchise were actually owned and operated by competent, passionate, people who might just have a love for the game.

That, or at least a fundamental understanding and appreciation for it…either would be an improvement.

Now, while some will use the occasion of this mighty revelation to renew calls to boycott going to games, I would instead insist that quite the opposite would be the appropriate response. If you want real, fundamental change to come to this franchise…specifically speaking, new ownership…then you have to give any prospective buyer the reason to make that investment.

And empty seats will not help in bringing about that change.

If, in fact, there is someone or some group out there looking to take our Thrashers off the Octocluster’s hands and do so with the intent of doing whatever it takes to building a winning NHL franchise here in Atlanta, I want them to see that there is a most live and vibrant fan base here and is starving for just such ownership.

Besides… I love the experience of live NHL hockey games, the greatest sporting event in the world, in my most humble of opinion. And after all…true, sincere, passionate, genuine NHL hockey fans are at games if and when they have the ability.

So while some may profess the correct path is to sit idly by and not attend games, I will instead continue to whip out my wallet and buy my way into Philips Arena to watch these Thrashers. I’ll continue to go, whether it’s just me, with a friend or with my family.

Of course, some may accuse me of subsidizing an incompetent ownership or supporting failure. But that insistence would only have merit if I were doing so to keep the current cast of clowns in charge of this organization.

If I’m “subsidizing” anything, it’s an investment in the future of hockey in this city. And for it to survive here, the A.S., LLC must finally get their wish and sell them to someone who is in fact buying them.

If you care to join me in ‘subsidizing the future” for this franchise by attending games, you know I’ve already got the tools in place to help you out. Simply click –>HERE<– and use promo code RAWHIDE to get deals on the remaining games in January.

Also, for the February 13 games against Carolina you can get seats in 203-204 and a replica Thrashers jersey for just $26. Simply call Karin at 404-878-3781 or e-mail her at Karin.Beckman@atlantaspirit.com.

By: Bill Tiller – AJC.com Thrashers Fan Blog

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137 comments Add your comment

Snoopy

January 22nd, 2011
7:37 am

FIRST!

I wish Bruce Levenson had been one of Michael Vick’s pit bulls.

Snoopy

January 22nd, 2011
7:47 am

By the way, it is “D E F A C S” who would’ve taken the Thrashers away from ASG, Rawhide.

” D E F A C T S” is an imaginary acronym you thought you’d heard other people incorrectly use and wrote in your original version of this blog (before sheepishly & discreetly editing it) while trying to sound smarter than you actually are.

Maybe were hoping Georgia had added the “T” to the “Family and Children Services” letters in DEFACS to expand the department’s responsibilities to protect the welfare of our beloved THRASHERS.

“De Facts” might be what Atlanta Spirit has NO been sharing with us or what Michael Vick tried to hide from the FBI.

(I’m sorry, but somebody was going to call you on a goof like that eventually.)

Zoomo

January 22nd, 2011
7:47 am

I’m really not surprised or shocked at this latest umm… revelation. But, it does explain a lot about the lack of salary spend and the unwillingness to really market the team.

We can only hope for someone to come along and buy the team, and keep them here. That’s really all that’s left. Right?

Snoopy

January 22nd, 2011
7:50 am

Yes, I am just angry because of ASG, and I have to take it out on somebody.

Snoopy

January 22nd, 2011
7:52 am

Hey!

Get my non-offensive, yet scolding, post out of the blog filter.

I didn’t say anything crude. I was harsh, but I wasn’t crude.

Joe Friday

January 22nd, 2011
8:03 am

I don’t know Rawhide, I’m not so convinced that they e reached a point to sell the team and move them. But I want to be convinced so explain Bill Daly’s comments. He never said that about Phoenix, or Buffalo. I do remember the NHL did say that about Pittsburgh when it looked lime the city wouldn’t help them on a new arena and after it was done Mario admitted later that they would have moved the team if the city hadn’t helped with a new arena, and that was the Pens!

I am worried but I completely agree with you that now the fans have to show up to give a prospective buyer a reason to buy the team. But the Octocluster have been trying to find that local buyer, aided in the search by investment banks, to no avail.

Snoopy

January 22nd, 2011
8:11 am

Wow.

I’ve got quite a few typos this morning as well.

I’m clearly still drunk from all the liquor this ASG story has driven me to consume.

Rawhide

January 22nd, 2011
8:12 am

Snoopy – Don’t ask me explain why there is such a hair-trigger on the blog spam filter. It catches a lot of things that shouldn’t be. Many comments have needed to be freed from there. Regardless, as soon as it was noticed there it was set free.

As for the “T” that should not have been added into DEFACS, it was my mistake…it happens. But thank you anyway for catching it and pointing it out.

Joe Friday – I understand fully where you’re coming from. However, as I stated last week in a post, I serioulsy thing Daly was trying to respoind to someone’s question without making them look foolish. You know, like…”You think we’regoing to abandon a market like Atlanta for Winnipeg? Are you serious”?

moriler

January 22nd, 2011
8:31 am

There’s no “E” or “A” in DFCS, either. ;) http://www.dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/null

Now, that said: Daly probably meant what he said. But he didn’t mention a timeframe, and people assumed a timeframe that was “six months”, whereas Daly probably meant “several years” — ie. the NHL knows the ownership group is a cluster**** and the fans from Atlanta know it, so they’d like to see stable ownership of the franchise in place and a real, honest try to win before trying to make any call on whether the fans will “ever” support the team. After all, they also know that ownership sacrificed several years’ worth of future to make the playoffs in 06-07 (Zhitnik for Coburn, etc.), so they know ownership isn’t making good long-term hockey decisions.

Darren

January 22nd, 2011
8:38 am

The one season in which the ownership authorized spending over the cap max notwithstanding, without question the uncertainty of the ownership has affected the on-ice play. They did make the $100 million+ offer to Kovalchuk, but even that decision must have been reached with the belief that doing so would make the franchise more attractive to potential buyers.

The frustrating part is, as has been pointed out by Jeff Schultz, John Kincade, and others, they have done a very good job of finally placing the right people in place to allow the franchise to succeed, but without the commitment to keeping the younger players and the willingness to add needed pieces to the roster, the team will retain its reputation around the league and make it difficult to attract top-tier talent in anything except a trade.

However, this mess might mean potential buyers demand a lower price to purchase the team (or perhaps some deal wherein they agree to assume a portion of debt or something), which could mean more money could be applied to investing in the roster.

Let’s just hope *this* lawsuit doesn’t take another 5 years to get resolved in the meantime.

Sherry Taylor

January 22nd, 2011
8:38 am

I think you are probably right, Rawhide, the ASG would be far worse off if the team was purchased and moved. And, I hope that with this revelation being made public, that perhaps the NHL/Bettman will step in and do something as they did in Tampa and Phoenix. I know that is giving him more credit than he probably deserves, but I (for whatever pie in the sky reason), believe that the NHL wants hockey in Atlanta. And, I think they can have it, but not under the ownership of this group of buffoons. We the fans have known them for what they are (second graders on the recess field of play) since day one. My husband and I have been season ticket holders from the very beginning and will continue until they wrestle us to the ground and pry the ticket out of our hand and ripe our jerseys off our backs. We love hockey, we want hockey in Atlanta on the NHL level and I will hope that the league can and will do something to keep it here.

When I first read the article yesterday about the new lawsuit and all of the lies that weren’t really lies, because we all knew what they were about, I got this vision in my head of season ticket holders, pitchforks and torches in hand, storming into the ASG headquarters demanding the ‘monster’ be released. Maybe, we should insist they release the team and the fans from their tyranny and then perhaps the ‘valley can live in peace again’.

moriler

January 22nd, 2011
8:39 am

As far as those who are crying about “subsidizing the incompetence” … there is a phrase called “penny wise and pound foolish”, and many of those who work grunt jobs in the financial industry are subject to this particular delusion. They confuse miserliness with future planning, and spend their days worrying about perceived wrongs being done to them ‘now’ rather than understanding and reacting to the big picture. They worry so much about being taken in that they deny themselves pleasures at every turn, and end up bitter and angry.

Rawhide correctly notes (and I mentioned as well in the prior blog, though on late pages) that buyers are not going to want to purchase a team that doesn’t put butts in seats. Ownership may even (accidentally) realize this, and hence the addition of Dudley and Ramsay, both good hockey minds who then brought in Buff and Ladd. I’ve said before that the part that’ll keep me away from the arena is if a crappy product is being put out there — but we have a pretty solid product this year, certainly worth well more than we’re paying for it. So I have no problem going to home games in the future, knowing that new ownership… the root cause of the problem… is in the relatively-near future.

It doesn’t hurt, of course, that I’m not one of those who feels the need to be miserly — I set my future in motion nine years ago, and that’ll happen and continue to happen independently of what I choose to blow my disposable income on in the short term. I like hockey, so I’ll blow it on hockey… because with this team, I can at least see GOOD hockey in Atlanta (most of the time). I recognize that in this economy, not everyone is in this kind of shape, but that’s where the big picture (as well as the cheaper seats!) comes in — if you like hockey, there’s no reason not to go downtown to the Bulb, have a ginger ale or two, bang on the glass, and tell the opposing goalie “YOU SUCK!”.

It’s even sort of fun.

Darren

January 22nd, 2011
8:40 am

I most humbly request to have Trixie free my 8:39 am post from blog purgatory.

Truth

January 22nd, 2011
8:41 am

The truth is is boycotting Thrasher games would feed right into the hands of the spirit as it would make their case that the NHL can’t make it and thus they sell it to the highest Canadian billionaire and they make millions! Don’t be a bunch of meatheads. (schmaltz is a bit too emotional about this and isn’t thinking clearly)
We show up then Bettman doesn’t move team…..period!

Darren

January 22nd, 2011
8:43 am

In the meantime, outstanding perspective and points from Sherry and moriler, in my opinion.

Ray

January 22nd, 2011
8:47 am

I agree with Rawhide; I’ll continue to support the team even though it does support the ASG because I like live hockey. I’d hate for Atlanta to lose another NHL team because of inept ownership, but if fans don’t support the team, forget the owners, there really will be no reason to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes, though. Ray

R. Stroz

January 22nd, 2011
9:04 am

Everyone that is attending tonight’s game, please bring the following sign:

RELOCATE THE OWNERS

NOT THE TEAM

R. Stroz

January 22nd, 2011
9:06 am

Even Better, here’s the second idea, bring this sign:

RELOCATE THE OWNERS

NOT THE THRASHERS

:)

January 22nd, 2011
9:10 am

I think what’s lost in this all is whether or not they still want to sell the team. All this lawsuit means it that they were planning on selling the team right after purchasing but feel as though the contract didn’t allow them to. But do they still want to sell the team or are they honestly just looking for another investor like what they’ve been telling us? I haven’t seen an answer to this anywhere.

Either way, we need new owners. And preferably for both teams (I don’t even trust them with the Hawks at this point, even if it’s the team they apparently wanted to have from the start).

glovesave29

January 22nd, 2011
9:11 am

“Of course, most of this drivel is produced in their mother’s basements in a pants-optional environment. ”

Great, now I gotta clean my corn flakes and milk off of the monitor…

Tincup9

January 22nd, 2011
9:34 am

Well said rawhide. As angry as we all are – at not just the lies but the product we have been forced to endure – we read your blog because we love hockey and this team. I hate the thought of giving those clowns a penny. I hate more the thought of a winter without live NHL hockey

Sage of Bluesland

January 22nd, 2011
9:40 am

Interesting and eloquent arguments put forth by Rawhide and others…”subsidizing for the future of hockey in Atlanta”?

Hmmm.

I’d prefer to hear something from the league office on their intention to:

1. force the current ownership to sell; and,
2. unconditionally keep the franchise in this city;

Outside of that, I’m too afraid of lining the incompetent buffoons’ pockets with any more of my money. That is something I’ll never reconcile.

If only the team/organization were cared for as well as this blog; No comparison to the days of the “Ice Queen” or whatever that was…where information/opinions were shared about once every week, on average, if that much…

Rawhide

January 22nd, 2011
9:49 am

moriler – OK, I got it. Thanks. DFCS. Obvioulsy it’s a department I don’t deal an awful lot with, (thank goodness). :grin:

Anywhoooo…I’m sorry I butchered it so.

Darren – I freed your 8:48 am post. Trixie has the day off… Saturday and all that.

Sage – Thank you, that was kind of you to say. I’ll agree with you in that I too would really like to see those two proclomations come from the league office…though I doubt we’ll see it.

GS29 – Mission accomplished :lol:

EA

January 22nd, 2011
9:50 am

Rawhide, you articulated exactly what I was thinking yesterday. Thanks. I will continue to support the Thrashers, the future of hockey in Atlanta as well as cherish the good times I share with my children at the games. The thought that kept running through my mind yesterday was let’s show a prospective buyer how strong of a hockey market we can be with a winning franchise. You so eloquently expressed my feelings and I hope many others in Atlanta.

Ward

January 22nd, 2011
9:52 am

Bravo Rawhide and Moriler…support this year’s team….they deserve it. “I am sick and tired of hearing about these owners….screw the owners…their time is (nearly) over……it’s this year’s team time….now go out there and fight for the playoff berth”….ward

Tom Lysiak

January 22nd, 2011
9:52 am

While these arguments are “interesting and eloquent”, they are nothing new. That is what we have been arguing this whole time, you moron. Hockey here…in the future.

Rawhide, you sir appear to be a fellow sheep.

Rawhide

January 22nd, 2011
10:07 am

Tom Lysiak – Sheep? Me?

Na-aaahhhhaaaaaahhhhhaaaaahh…. :cool:

Phil Foley - Atlanta Thrashers Examiner

January 22nd, 2011
10:12 am

The one thing that everyone needs to be kept in mind in all of this is that these allegations were alleged in a legal complaint.

The crap thrown in one of those things is kind of like the stuff your eight-year-old asks Santa Claus to bring him for Christmas.

Realistically, the Spirit may be entitled to recoup some of the legal fees they forked over to King & Spalding. The rest is just legal posturing BS. Never take anything that is written by lawyers seriously.

The chances of the Spirit proving that they would have had a ready, willing and able buy to take the Thrashers off their hands in 2005 and that they lost money because the lawyers bungled the purchase sale agreement (as opposed to losing the alleged $130 million because of managerial incompetence and pissing off season ticket holders) are about the same chances a snowball has surviving hell.

They put that allegation out there because: 1) it’s salacious and gets the story into the newspaper, 2) it raises the stakes and could increase the value of a potential settlement and 3) it makes King & Spalding look bad.

The problem is that it also makes the Spirit look like a bunch of incompetent liars that can’t run a hockey franchise that’s devauled the same asset they are trying to sell by claiming they lost so much money.

Who exactly wants to buy a hockey team that’s allegedly lost $130M over five years when you won’t control the arena you’re going to have to play your games in?

Who exactly wants to pay a $70 million premium (plus whatever the league tacks on) to pay your way out of the naming rights deal and relocate the team if you move it to some small-market in Canada?

Who exactly wants to do business with a bunch of guys who seem to be happier racking up legal fees suing anyone and everyone instead of putting a quality product on the ice?

Nice move Spirit. Good luck selling the team now. You just undercut yourselves.. again…

Paminski

January 22nd, 2011
10:19 am

free Bogo jersey = ditching merch quick since he won’t be here much longer?

I’ll be subsidzing something tonight, but in my mind it’s just a night of entertainment and a turkey sandwich. Using a voucher, so no idea where I’m sitting.

Tom Lysiak

January 22nd, 2011
10:22 am

BTW Rawhide, this does set up an interesting conundrum for these rich frat-boy owners.

Do they:

1) Remain silent taking their much-deserved lumps?

2) Issue a statement saying they did before, but no longer do wish to sell the team?

3) Issue a statement saying they still want to sell, almost inviting the league to jump in?

I’m guessing door number 1 Monty Hall…..

Putting On The Foil

January 22nd, 2011
10:27 am

What do you expect from a bunch of freaking carpetbaggers?

LAC

January 22nd, 2011
10:33 am

This mess is almost like when that cousins owned the Flames, a guy with NO business sense and NO business owning a sports team and having to sell because of HIS bad business decisions.

Why does Atlanta get such LOUSY owners, rankin smith ???? Turner did not do too good at the beginning, but later recovered, but again… even he allowed his business to be sold along with the Braves. Now this clustermess,

The NHL should step in RIGHT NOW. Gary Bettman needs to ACT before it is too late, there is a real bad problem here and how can the NHL stand to have these “owners” own the team when they are now PROVEN LIARS. If the NHL has such High Standards, they would REMOVE these LIARS from being the owners and do whatthey did in Phoenix, I know it might get tense, but it is the ONLY way The Thrashers will survive in Atlanta. If not I really, I mean Really, wonder… Will there be NHL hockey here for 2011-2012 ????????? All the LIAR owners I hope one day BURN IN HELL
for their LIES ! Afterall Hell is where liars go !

Hoof Arted

January 22nd, 2011
10:50 am

These lying sacks of garbage have all but killed any “spirit” to be found in this city for hockey. The sooner they sell and leave this franchise alone the better we’ll all be.

AS, LLC = Lying Lumps of Crap

R. Stroz

January 22nd, 2011
10:56 am

As a fan of hockey in Atlanta, I advocate supporting the team; however, look no futher than the timing of this lawsuit to see the effect the owners are truely seeking.

1) Demoralize the fan base before a playoff run to keep attendence low.

2) Demoralize the “hard core” fans from renewing their season tickets, as season ticket renewal is just gearing up.

3) Demoralize the players with a constant nuisance factor motivating them to get as far away from this ownership group as possible.

4) Insure that Dudley will be unable to re-sign Ladd and Buff a multi-year deal with the Thrashers.

5) Thereby, forcing both Ladd and Buffs next one year RFA extension contract goes to arbitration.

6) Where the ASG will refuse to match the arbitration amount awarded to Ladd and Buff.

7) Allowing both Ladd and Buff to become free agents while the ASG blaming the arbitrator for Ladd and Buff’s departure.

For those of you who wonder why the ownership might act in this manner, I’ll assist.

With low attendence and poor season ticket renewals, the ASG can go the NHL and say, ” We tried and the fans just stopped coming.” To the casual observer, it appears Atlanta will not support hockey, when in fact, the ASG has never wanted to own a hockey team, other than to flip it to another owner. By stating that they wanted to sell the team six years ago in the lawsuit, the ASG has openly admitted this as fact.

The owners want to sell the team to whomever they desire and where the team ends up is of little concern to the ASG. The ASG only wants to maximize the “sale value.”

The owners are calling Bettman’s non-relocation statement as a bluff. The policy being employed by the ASG is often called a “scorched earth” policy. The ASG has “scorched” the franchise with the lawsuit and the timing of the lawsuit. The ASG has undermined the players, fans, and the general manager. This is no accident. The ASG has decided the cost of “scorching” the franchise in the short run will pay off in the long run by selling the team to the highest bidder.

The question is simple: What will Bettman do? Will Bettman step up, accuse the ASG of mismanaging the team to the point of “driving fans away from the arena”? Will the NHL seize ownership in some manner? I don’t know the answer.

I know this, I hope the “scorched policy” does a boomerang, bites the ASG in the butt, the franchise stays in Atlanta under new ownership, and the ASG can take their “scorched earth” policy and go straight to hell.

Buff-n-stuff

January 22nd, 2011
10:58 am

RAWHIDE….I have a serious inquiry – Just how much $$$ do you truly believe it would take to buy the Thrashers and how would a potential new owner “have-to-have” their rights to arena revenues from hockey games be a part of the equation, more specifically,in terms of dollars and cents, what would that entail ???

moriler

January 22nd, 2011
11:01 am

Stroz: Never assert malice when incompetence is a sufficient answer.

Fan

January 22nd, 2011
11:05 am

The story is headline news on TSN with the last three paragraphs all about how the Thrashers suck and attendance and should move blah blah blah.

The last story about relocation remained on their “Headlines” list for almost 7 days. Apparently there was just absolutely no other news to talk about in the NHL world that week.

Maybe we break that record with this story???

GaVaHokie

January 22nd, 2011
11:11 am

I can’t help but think that the Spirit Group saying they lost $130 million on the Thrashers is like Apple saying they lost $130 million on the iPod Shuffle.

Flagstaff

January 22nd, 2011
11:13 am

Rawhide: this, IMO, was the best of the best of your blog posts in a long time. Not trying to, as I think ZAvalanche said, “kiss behind”, but it’s true: you addressed the SOB issue (subsidizing the incompetence) and gave an even-headed, sensical response to this disturbing news. I’ll also continue going to the games, as often as I can, not to support the ASG, but the team we all love (whether we like it or not!), the Thrashers.

Flagstaff

January 22nd, 2011
11:14 am

See you all tonight!

Thrashers27

January 22nd, 2011
11:23 am

Where’s Bettman when we need him. Come on, Gary! Get down here and get rid of these clowns for us!

I’ve not said one bad word about the ownership to this point, but this crap is ridiculous. You guys at ASG are worthless as far as The Thrashers are concerned. Do us a favor and find someone who cares about the greatest sport in the world (Hint: it ain’t basketball) and sell the team to them. We want a winner and we want someone with passion for hockey.

ilan The amazing

January 22nd, 2011
11:28 am

They bought the team in 2004, and tried to sell in 05. These are investors, not sports fans. It seems like they tried to make a quick turnaround buck but this hazey contract screw with them. I will attend games using second-hand tickets and not purchase food inside Philips, anymore.

Btw, anything can be done if there’s enough money involved. The author states team won’t be moved, or Philips will not give up naming rights…put $100,000,000 in front of anyone and see what they’d do. Heck I’d do near anything for $150 or so!

R. Stroz

January 22nd, 2011
11:34 am

ilan – Will you hold a sign in front of Philips Arena for a hour before game time?

The sign would read:

RELOCATE THE OWNERS TO HELL

KEEP THRASHERS IN ATL

DWTOO

January 22nd, 2011
11:37 am

This might be the final straw. I’ve supported this franchise from the day it was announced and I’m tired of all the crud – from the owners to the Canadian press to our pal Sage. Right now they can take the damn team and stuff it. Live 10 minutes from the Gwinnett Arena – spend $14.00 on a ticket and slide next to the glass and the beer’s cheaper and parking free AND IT’S DRAMA FREE!

About the only thing I’d miss are the good folks I’vee met over the years from this blog and the tailgates. And the best thing that happened – playing again after a 30 year hiatus.

FormerIslesFan

January 22nd, 2011
11:45 am

Stroz: just a quick rebuttable on your timing conspiracy argument: not having reviewed the timing of everything to know when the relevant dates are, but it could also be that the lawsuit was filed only now because of: 1) the deadline running on the statute of limitations on a legal malpractice claim; and/or 2) the Belkin buyout was finalized, so the true measure of damages is actually known and finalized, as opposed to being speculative because the litigation was still ongoing.

I also don’t know if the Complaint was verified (sworn as true) but in Georgia, legal malpractice actions require te Complaint to be filed with an affidavit that swears that the legal services provided did not meet the standard of care and the bad legal action actually caused the damages claimed. I I’ve not yet seen or had a chance to review that affidavit either.

I’ll stop being my attorney self now and just go back to being a Citizen of Blueland for a while.

R. Stroz

January 22nd, 2011
11:51 am

If the statute of limitations didn’t run out until after the conclusion of the season, then you would be more inclined to believe my theory? Correct?

Mr. Heat Miser

January 22nd, 2011
11:55 am

My poster for tonight will be “Lies, Lawsuits and Contempt For Fans”

moriler

January 22nd, 2011
11:55 am

2) is accurate. This lawsuit could not have been filed before the prior litigation was concluded.

rob

January 22nd, 2011
11:58 am

F you ASG!!! I will be there tonight and using Rawhide’s nifty promo Feb 13th.

Stroz-well said

J/F-this new lawsuit will in fact keep investors/buyers away as the franchise continues to have a murky future thanks to the OCTOTARDS unrelenting STUPIDITY and childish ways. Any buyer will see this town actually will support hockey as is evidenced by the 1st seasons of this team. Even with a new, unsuccessful team the fans came…..until the OCTOTARDS made it apparent they didn’t give a dam about hockey, the players, the fans, the sport.

I 2nd Stroz suggestion…….it is far past time to call this ownership to accountability. Not by stopping attending games, but by going and being vocal…… Show the rest of the league that we want hockey to stay, and the only thing wrong in Atlanta is the OWNERS. They are what keeps hockey from succeeding here, and the league would do well to have hockey succeed in a market as large as Atlanta is. It is in the LEAGUES best interest to remove the OCTOTARDS from this team!!!!

Get The Puck Out

January 22nd, 2011
11:59 am

How about Bernie Marcus? I think he would make a great owner.

Tom

January 22nd, 2011
11:59 am

Let’s face it, this ownership group got the team because of who they knew, not what the have done. If you need further proof, check out the payout by Turner Broadcasting to David McDavid.

Can we say 281 million to keep the kids at the Piedmont Driving Club happy?

That was the first clue that incompetence would rule the day. These guys have made their money not off their own back but their connections.

Now they are losing their asses on the team due to their incompetence and it is someone else’s fault. It really is that simple.

The best thing for the franchise is that it goes into receivership by the league and the Eeyore like cloud that hangs over our heads is lifted.

We are like the first wife with these guys. They do not want us around but they do not have enough money to pay us alimony. So they give the very least they possible can to just kill some time.

And a final thought. We wondered for years why Waddell stuck around. Now we know, he is the keeper of the big lie. He has sold his soul to keep his job with the Thrashers and spent every day lying to the fans and the press since 2005. I wonder if he will retire now that he can not hold this over the owners heads…

We knew the owners were incompetent spoiled brats. We now truly know Waddell is a dirtbag lier.

lilibeter

January 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm

I hope that Coach Ramsey ended this morning’s skate with a team-mandatory viewing of the movie “Major League”.

michael

January 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm

At least we can take solace in the fact that they have never profitted from our money. I’ll continue to go to games as money allows because this is my sport and my team. The NHL should do something similar to what they did in tampa bay.

FormerIslesFan

January 22nd, 2011
12:04 pm

Stroz: Nit necessarily. I think the driving force behind it may be that the damages are finally known and so they now just want to start down the road to get their money back. The sooner they get started, the sooner they may think they have a chance to make a recovery. Just speculation on my part, but certainly plausible based on the little I know at this point.

BG33Brown

January 22nd, 2011
12:06 pm

As I said previously, my goal is hockey in Atlanta. PERIOD. Does that mean doing business with the Seven Dwarfs, unfortunately yes.

Hypothetical question for those of you who don’t agree with my statement above. When/if at some point in the future when we are fighting for our hockey lives, will you regret your decision? I’m not trying to be a smartass, I am truly curious, which do you think is worse. No hockey team in Atlanta or doing business with the 7 A** hats.

rob

January 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm

ASG + Dumbwad = ANTIHOCKEY

I DARE any of the ASG to show up and get their pic up on the Jumbotron…..DOUBLE DARE them.

THRASHERS ROCK…Owners SUCK!!!

Where is Bettman? Timing on this whole thing, just as the All Star break is approaching….the league has to stop giving these morons time to make more people look at this team as a joke. This market is too big not to take advantage of by getting competent owners in place ASAP, while we have players here who could be built on to make this team formidable down the road!

Thrashy Thrashy

January 22nd, 2011
12:19 pm

ASG bought these teams for two reasons: 1) An ego boost. 2) To make money.

Being fools, they are not making money from their operation. I can’t speak for their egos because, well, egos can be quite tricky to understand.

I do think the Philips Arena arrangement makes it less likely that this team would leave under new ownership. However, a new owner would have to be willing to convince these guys to give him a cut of the arena’s profits. Is it possible that such a deal could be done? Sure. Unfortunately, given the idiocy of the guys who own the Thrashers, it seems like it would take multiple years and lawsuits to sort anything out.

I know the world of business is filled with people who don’t know their a**holes from holes in the ground, but it’s really annoying when you have something invested (financially and/or emotionally) in a business run by people like that.

You know, there will always be sheep who feel that an organization’s ownership, management, and foot soldiers will find a way to improve things. There will always be people who never believe a word said organization utters. There will always be people who are a little more rational and end up somewhere in the middle. That is truth; and that truth is prevalent in any organization of people.

I am foolish enough to believe that most Thrashers fans are fans because they love hockey. They love it being played in their town. Some care more about winning than others, but I like to think that the enjoyment of having an NHL team here in Atlanta is enough to create a consensus for doing what we can to keep the team here. My best guess is that we can never make this team profitable enough for those idiots to want to keep ownership of this team. They really want to flip it to someone else and make some cash. I also think they really want to keep the team in Atlanta because it benefits them more. As incompetent and incoherent as they are, they’re trying to look out for themselves. Let’s hope they can rid themselves of us and find someone who is competent and passionate about perpetuating a winning product here in Atlanta. That would be the best of both worlds.

Twisted Wrister

January 22nd, 2011
12:20 pm

Coach Ramsay should sit the team down today and make them watch “Major League.” Afterward, he should pull out a stand up figure of Laura Turner Seydel and reward the players by taking off the pieces after each win.

lilibeter

January 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm

@Twisted Wrister: I’m a chick so the hated-but-naked-chick motivation factor escaped me.

bartdunwoody

January 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm

Let’s hope that Duds the coaches and players know that the fans appreciate them and support the effort that they are putting into this season. Maybe that will help keep them going.
It must be very disappointing to learn that you work for such a miserable organization as the ASG.
Please keep playing for us, the fans, and not the sorry SOB’s that sign your check.

Smoothie

January 22nd, 2011
12:43 pm

“Who exactly wants to buy a hockey team that’s allegedly lost $130M over five years when you won’t control the arena you’re going to have to play your games in?

“Who exactly wants to pay a $70 million premium (plus whatever the league tacks on) to pay your way out of the naming rights deal and relocate the team if you move it to some small-market in Canada?”

Phil – great post, hits the nail right on the head. I asked SOB basically the same questions and he could do nothing other than call me a foolish sheep for subsidizing incompetence. He won’t answer these questions because it undermines everything he is about. Now he’s complimenting Rawhide for his “eloquent and thoughtful” arguments even know many of us have been saying the same thing for months and years. He’s nothing but an a$$kissing jackwagon. As if simply boycotting is going to solve everything magically. Until Bettman intervenes and sets change for the better in motion, the only thing a boycott will do is severely undermine our city’s chances of keeping hockey long-term. I don’t advocate making any season-long ticket commitments, but the players do not deserve this and there’s no reason to desert them when tickets are so affordable and easy to get. If the boys go on a tear in February, I reckon the casual fans in this city who love a winner will find their way to the Arena and further dispel any mythical notion that Atlanta can’t support hockey. I just wonder how long Bettman will go before turning his attention to this mess. I suppose he will shift his focus to ATL once the sale in PHX to Hulsizer is finally closed.

wvubru

January 22nd, 2011
12:43 pm

Your best blog ever and I couldn’t say it better myself.

These same people saying they will stay home instead of rooting for their nhl team will be the same ones belly-aching the most about the city not having a team if they ever leave.

Fans are fans and owners are owners. Fans are not necessarily entitled to know all of ownerships dealings. Get over it the emotion and lets enjoy some good Thrasher hockey from a very entertaining team.

SomaAtl95

January 22nd, 2011
12:47 pm

Rawhide, with this post you have managed to do the impossible – you got your anger out in a thoughtful and succinct manner and managed to address comments that you knew were coming, to the point a certain poster that has the ability to rile us all up actually left a post that was not only on topic, but made suggestions, added to the conversation and managed to not insult anyone in the room. I am in awe of you sir. Thanks for being the mouthpiece for the way that most of the rational fans in the area (and throughout the country as I know there are Thrashers fans peppered everywhere) feel about this situation.
I want to remind everyone what LLC actually stands for, Limited Liability Company. We all know just how “limited” the ASG has been throughout their ownership stint. I think as fans we should start a serious online petition to the NHL asking for their help to get the city of Atlanta out of this mess. If done successfully it would show the NHL (and those people who covet our team) that there is fan support through thick and thin here in Atlanta and after all of this the poop can’t get much thicker. In the 90’s we stopped talking about Ted Turner and talked about the Braves. This past decade we talked about how much we hated the Smith Family and then there has been nothing but love for Arthur Blank, and the only time his name came up was when a certain “Dog Lover” got into trouble. Let this be the year we finally stop talking about ownership of the Thrashers and start talking about long term Stanley Cup aspirations! Right now that equated to winning in spite of ownership, a la “Major League” as many of you have referenced.
I am 100% serious about an online petition to the NHL. Since I’m not 100% sure on where to begin if anyone would like to chat about it, let me know.
I want Hockey to stay and I want us to capture what the Flames had before the left town. Atlanta is different 40 years later and can support Hockey, there just needs to be a reason to draw the casual fan in – when Joe Blow sees that there is constant infighting and that ownership doesn’t care, they want to spend their dollar on something slightly more stable, like a 5 minute table dance and one of the areas finer “Adult Establishments” – once that same Joe Blow finds out how exciting good hockey can be the only stripping they will see is when the gloves are dropped and the fighting on the ice starts.
Thank you Rawhide as well as all the people posting today. This has been one interesting read from you all and it is a pleasure to share this space with such a diverse group of people who all love the same thing, our Thrashers.
Anyone near section 213, row D, seat 14, drop by and say hi. I’ll be the dude in a yellow #33 Practice Jersey, shaved head and glasses. Pretty hard to miss :) We need to have a “Broadway Beat-down” so our boys can go off to Tampa with a W since we know tomorrow they will be playing 3 teams – The Bolts, The Refs and Stamkos.
Maybe we should bring our mason jars tonight so they can capture Marteen St. Loueeeeee.

Smoothie

January 22nd, 2011
12:59 pm

soma – I really admire your passion and creativity…never thought anyone would liken fighting in hockey to stripping by attention-starved trollops! :-)

ThrasherTim

January 22nd, 2011
1:00 pm

Rawhide – Quite a well written blog. Thank you for your voice of reason.

Rawhide

January 22nd, 2011
1:04 pm

BTW gang…In case you missed this…the Islanders claimed Nabokov on waivers.

Phil Foley – Excellent post and good points!

R. Stroz – Same to you.

RAWHIDE….I have a serious inquiry – Just how much $$$ do you truly believe it would take to buy the Thrashers and how would a potential new owner “have-to-have” their rights to arena revenues from hockey games be a part of the equation, more specifically,in terms of dollars and cents, what would that entail ???

Buff-n-Stuff – Great question. Right off the top of my head…shrugs…I dunno. I’ll see what I might dig up though.

Btw, anything can be done if there’s enough money involved. The author states team won’t be moved, or Philips will not give up naming rights…put $100,000,000 in front of anyone and see what they’d do. Heck I’d do near anything for $150 or so

Ilan The Amazing – Yeah…I don’t even wanna go there, dude.

SomaAtl95 – I’ll try to swing by and say HI tonight, dude.

ThrasherTim – “Voice of reason”? Oh, I slipped that line on the Divine Mrs. R when I read that…she told me to tell you…”HAR-HAR-HARDY-HA-HA!” :lol:

She knows better…but thanks anyway :grin:

SomaAtl95

January 22nd, 2011
1:06 pm

Given the amount of those clubs in Atlanta its logical – there wouldn’t be so many of them if they didn’t attract “Casual Fans” to their establishment. That being said I have been only one time, to the Oasis, for a bachelor party for one of my best friends. As much as I adore beautiful women I’m old fashioned when it comes to looking – I’m uncomfortable at Hooters. We win in spite of ownership and those fans (and probably the strippers too) will start coming to the games. I wholeheartedly believe that.

World Be Free

January 22nd, 2011
1:09 pm

There is one positive here-

Maybe people outside of Atlanta can now understand why fans have been so turned off with the Thrashers. In a town that started off so promising as a hockey town could be so jaded with the ownership and management that they stay away from Philips Arena in large numbers.

It’s not just Atlanta-look at what happened for YEARS in Chicago, until Bill Witrz was finally out of the picture. Get us some real owners, please.

And the Hawks aren’t packing them in either-look at their performance last night!

Smoothie

January 22nd, 2011
1:11 pm

Take it with a grain of salt, comments from Gearon in the Associated Press piece summarizing the lawsuit and its genesis:

“The team’s remaining owners contend that the dispute would have ended in August 2005 if the Atlanta law firm King & Spalding hadn’t negotiated a “fatally flawed contract.” The suit claims the firm’s attorneys doled out advice that was “poorly considered, self-interested, and, in many cases, blatantly wrong.”

“It’s the latest round of courtroom wrangling involving the Atlanta Spirit, the seven-man group that owns the Thrashers, the Hawks and the operating rights to the Philips Arena where the two teams play. Co-owner Michael Gearon said in a statement that the lawsuit will have no effect on either of the teams.

“My partners and I regret having to file a lawsuit,” Gearon said. “But King & Spalding made egregious errors that caused us to be tied up in litigation for five years and cost us an enormous amount of money, time and anguish.”

More of the article:

“The owners have repeatedly denied any plans to sell or move the team, instead trying for the past two years to find investors who want to keep the team in Atlanta. So far, no one has stepped forward.

“The lawsuit reveals Atlanta Spirit’s intent to sell the hockey team shortly after it completed a $250 million deal for the Thrashers, the Hawks and arena operating rights, capitalizing on a new labor agreement that was reached after the NHL suspended the 2004-05 season.

“Plaintiffs expected that once the new labor agreement was finalized there would be substantial interest from potential buyers and that they would be able to sell the franchise,” the suit says. “As plaintiffs anticipated, the value of smaller market franchises increased and potential buyers came forward.”

“The suit points to the sale of three franchises: the St. Louis Blues for $150 million in 2006, the Nashville Predators for $172 million in 2007, and the Tampa Bay Lightning for $204 million in 2008. But the owners of the Thrashers said they couldn’t sell because of the dispute with Belkin.

“Regardless of the lawsuit that has been filed, we have always been committed to finding solutions that keep the Thrashers here in Atlanta,” Gearen insisted in his statement.

“The NHL clearly wants the Thrashers to stay put in one of the biggest U.S. television markets, but acknowledges that it might have to look at other options if the team’s financial situation does not improve.” (referring to Bill Daly’s misguided comments to Canadian press)

SomaAtl95

January 22nd, 2011
1:11 pm

WDF, Irony would be if the ASG sheds the Thrashers and then the Hawks become the “Clippers East”. Would be fitting, wouldn’t it?

SomaAtl95

January 22nd, 2011
1:12 pm

WBF, my bad… not WDF. Stupid keyboard…

sisu

January 22nd, 2011
1:13 pm

Go Thrashers, let’s beat the Rags! I will continue to support the team no matter who owns them. The ASG has mistreated the season ticket holders for a long time, this is nothing new. I am relieved that the octocluster will sell the team hopefully soon!!!

CrazyDiamond

January 22nd, 2011
1:15 pm

We are so screwed!

Clueless owners who don’t know how to run a team.

Clueless owners wo don’t know how to sell a team.

Clueless owners who don’t know how to read a contract.

Rawhide

January 22nd, 2011
1:17 pm

Hmmm…the Spirit Clowns are a “seven-man” operation now. Hmmm…this means I may have to re-think referring to them as The Great Octocluster.

Maybe…The Sucknificent Seven?

World Be Free

January 22nd, 2011
1:18 pm

Being from Buffalo, I can rem,ember when the Clippers, then the Buffalo Braves were a good team. Last happened in the early stages of the Jimmy Carter Administration. You know you are bad as a team when your last good times were several presidents ago!

Nate

January 22nd, 2011
1:39 pm

Well said, Rawhide. Well said.

SomaAtl95

January 22nd, 2011
1:48 pm

Could always refer to them as the “Seven Sages of Incompetence”, with no disrespect to our sage. Yes, you all read that correctly.

Dana Blankenhorn

January 22nd, 2011
2:04 pm

I’d be willing to wager that NHL commissioner Bettman would let the Thrashers relocate to the Gwinnett Arena. A new owner would then have a high card to play in order to reduce the rent.

Also, look at where that $130 m comes from. Wasn’t some of the loss incurred before the lockout? And wouldn’t it include the losses from the time of the lockout? So the figure, by itself, doesn’t really tell us about the true viability of the team, in Atlanta.

I point this out because whoever buys the team must be in a position to turn a profit, or at least break even so that the equity becomes increasingly valuable. If the current numbers can be made to work, in other words, Arthur Blank might buy them. So might others who made their fortunes in the last 20 years, either through locating a major corporation here or in the dot-boom.

SomaAtl95

January 22nd, 2011
2:21 pm

Interesting point Dana, plus lets not forget that Blank did own the GA Force, which played in the Gwinnett Arena, so he may well be aware of what it would take to rent the facility. Is the Gwinnett Arena NHL Size/Caliber though? Last thing we would want is an area like Winnipeg saying that our arena is way to small…

LAC

January 22nd, 2011
2:31 pm

Also let’s least forget that LYING SOB DUMBE AS HELL don waddell. This Goof has lier his A$$ off to us for years as well, all part of the plan. He is as worthless as used toiletpaper !

It’s over and I sincerely hope these LYING owners LOSE in court as I believe their “lawsuit” will go as far as a car on four flat tires, NOT !!!! I hope they LOSE MORE AND MORE Money.

Where are you LIAR bruce ?, Bring Pig Nosed ed with you I will take you worries away from you forever !!!!!! You guys are Cowards and will not face your accusers !!!!!!!!

That’s right “ed” you have a BIG PIG NOSE and look more stupid than a Dead Fish !!!!!!!!!

Uncle Milty

January 22nd, 2011
3:13 pm

Dear “Ice Man”,

Could it be the Mayflower trucks ARE coming after all?

Sound familiar?

Rawhide

January 22nd, 2011
3:15 pm

Uncle Milty – As I believe I pointed out…I highly doubt it.

Uncle Milty

January 22nd, 2011
3:21 pm

You guys are likely in for a very big surprise soon then if your opinion is indeed the prevailing wisdom down there in Blueland.

Smoothie

January 22nd, 2011
3:21 pm

The days of flipping franchises are over as the market for pro sports is over-saturated and the economy may not fully rebound from the speculative real estate and “free credit” craze for another 5 to 10 years. That’s why Bettman needs to step in at the right time to force the ASG to sell to the NHL at MV regardless of losses they incurred so the franchise may be sold to a committed ownership group that wants to see not only the Thrashers grow and flourish but also hockey grow in popularity throughout the metro area. You can’t have a successful sports team nowadays unless the owner has a passion for the sport and is in it for the long-haul. There is too much competition for entertainment dollars and consumers are too savvy to keep paying for season tkts year after year without committed ownership.

Adam

January 22nd, 2011
3:23 pm

I just don’t see how this team can be sold with out the new owner getting a major, if not majority, stake in the gate revenue or it’s own venue. For the latter a new arena would need to be built which would be a huge turn off for a perspective buyer with out financial help from the city/county. Gwinnett Arena is way to small to house an AHL team let alone an NHL franchise so that is out of the question.

Without a near 100% stake in the gate dollars there is no way the team could even break even let alone make money. With an average ticket price of $65 and attendance of 17000 per game you just barely make it over the salary floor for the league. Now add personnel, equipment, travel (which includes housing & hotel fees) and the rental and/or ownership of the practice/training facilities… you get the picture. The owner would be in the hole in year one not even spending half way to the cap. The television income just isn’t there to support the investment without those gate $$$ now add to that the down economy.

Teams in these markets absolutely need post season play to make money. You get additional home games along with concession & merchandise dollars. So in a nutshell with AS getting anything from the gate and retaining all of the naming revenue for the Bulb along with all of the other event income and you have a deal breaker before negotiations even get started.

The Donald

January 22nd, 2011
3:24 pm

First of all everything is always for sell even reporters and bloggers. If you don’t believe that then you are as naive as a newborn. For the right price the Thrashers, the Hawks and yes even Phillips is for sale. Maybe all you sheep should actually read the documents filled before you bah bah bah and follow the doom sayers. You like hockey go to the flamin games! The boys are playing their hearts out most every night. SUPPORT YOUR TEAM! If they are sold and moved there is not a damn thing any of us can do. So go enjoy a game. You can see the Rangers and Thrashers tonight! Hopefully the refs didn’t ride in with the Rangers.

Rawhide

January 22nd, 2011
3:26 pm

Uncle Milty – I tell ya what then. You just come on back here this time next winter when the Thrashers still haven’t moved to [insert name of Canadian city her] and discuss it a little more. OK?

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to take off and get down to Philips so I can watch our NHL team play. Good luck with whatever you’re doing tonight.

Uncle Milty

January 22nd, 2011
3:38 pm

Have fun at the game, “Ice Man”.

FYI, TNSE (the group that will eventually be locating an NHL team in Winnipeg) was shown the Thrashers’ books at the all-star game held in Dallas a few years ago. It has been common knowledge to most actually involved in the sport that your team has been for sale as a portable asset for several years now. I guess that comes as a surprise to you though, basis your previous Mayflower Truck blog of a week or two ago. The only glitch in the process was the partner’s lawsuit, and that has now been settled and has also nicely cleared a path for the fat lady truck driver to sing her tune, again, FYI.

Talk to you next winter!

A27

January 22nd, 2011
3:56 pm

NHL team in Winnipeg? BWAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Keep drinking that Koolaid ” Uncle Milty”. Hartford will get a NHL team before Winnipeg. Sorry…but your a minor league city and you sit in the middle of nowhere. Winnipeg? HAHAHA… really…Winnipeg? Can’t wait to talk to you next winter… ahhhh… Winnipeg lol!! Your funny “Uncle Milty”.

TrueBlue

January 22nd, 2011
4:02 pm

Hey, Snoopy, there is no such thing as DFACS…It’s DFCS….Don’t call out the blogger if you can’t spell things correctly.

BG33Brown

January 22nd, 2011
4:12 pm

Sorry guys but Gwinett Place arena only has a 13000 capacity for hockey games. No way the NHL would let that fly.

Uncle Milty

January 22nd, 2011
4:47 pm

A27, you may laugh at Winnipeg all you wish should it make you feel better about your own lot in life. FYI, One half of the TNSE ownership group that will eventually locate an NHL team back in Winnipeg just happens to be ranked as the 20th richest man in the world. Google search “David Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet” and then read his wiki page. He is one of the reasons that Winnipeg will be getting an NHL team eventually. What is the current wealth situation of the entire ASG group combined, so we may compare? Just asking. The reason I ask is because the NHL showed the Thrashers books to TNSE during the All Star Game in Dallas a few years ago. Surely even you are capable of putting two and two together, no?

Talk to you soon!

Midfield

January 22nd, 2011
5:07 pm

Many people have suspected this for a long time anyway. My question is what on earth Bettman is doing with all this? Isn’t he the league market developing master? I don’t believe for a second that he was unaware of this situation. And if he was not, what was he doing all this time?

glovesave29

January 22nd, 2011
5:17 pm

First of all – the ASG is suing one of the largest firms in the SE? They have UNLIMITED resources to fight the suit. K&S will BURY them in paperwork, forcing them to spend untold millions having their attorneys fight each and every filing. It is going to bleed the ASG dry.

Pam – thought the same as you. I’ve been looking for a jersey for my 7 year old daughter and there are none to be found.

Stroz – the league can surely come back to the ASG and tell them that was HARDLY an honest effort.

Milty – and what proof do you have to support this claim that the books were opened to possible investors at the Dallas ASG? If Thomson is so ready to pull the trigger…why did he not back then? This is sensitive information that was supposedly shared…how do you know about it – unless you were part of the negotiation, and if so you’ve just violated a non-disclosure agreement that ANYONE with knowledge of this would have been FORCED to sign.

Not gonna trash Winnipeg. Played up there as a kid. It’s not a bad town. But IT IS just that – a TOWN. If the economics of the NHL would not allow them to keep a team in that city despite excellent attendance – then today’s model is even more detrimental for smaller market teams. I have absolutely no problem at all with Winnipeg or Quebec City getting teams…just not at the expense of a current market. The glitter is coming off of the KHL – fewer and fewer NHLers will consider it as a viable alternative. More lower level stars fringe players will stay in North America for less money – thus giving the NHL the ability to expand and add two more Canadian teams. The NHLPA must back down on the insistance that players be paid in US$. They should be paid in the currency in which the market they play in is located. If the Canadian dollar every goes back down to the 71% of the USD range…ALL teams up there are in REAL trouble.

Buff-n-stuff

January 22nd, 2011
5:34 pm

RAWHIDE _ thanks, I understand determining an acceptable (to the ASG) may be difficult to determine. I would venture to say, that the actual current mrket value is far less than what they would accept, but let”s say that someone offered $100M for the team, and agreed to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta, what would the “buyer” need, as it relates to the Philips Arena, and from the ASG, to make a deal work for the “New buyer”????

Uncle Milty

January 22nd, 2011
5:38 pm

That True North was given access to the books of two NHL teams during the All Star game in Dallas was reported in Canada at that time. The reason they didn’t pull the trigger at that time was solely because the team was still tied up in the ASG partnership suit, at that time, and now it isn’t. Regarding forward dollar risk, TNSE can easily hedge any future currency risk should it occur. Mark Chipman (the other half of TNSE) said on TSN (which happens to be owned by… David Thomson) that in their view the largest nearby currency risk will be during the purchase of a team, and the Canadian dollar just happens to be worth more than the USD at the moment. Seems like an ideal time for them to buy. League-wide revenue sharing now in place also lessens the risk you imply, somewhat. Hey they may not buy the Thrash, QC might? perhaps a local owner will fall from the sky and keep it there. This is a fluid situation.

glovesave29

January 22nd, 2011
5:51 pm

“That True North was given access to the books of two NHL teams during the All Star game in Dallas was reported in Canada at that time.” – rumors and innuendo. Sorry – that it was reported in the media doesn’t make it true. Far from it. Give me solid proof. Too many errors reported by the media to even account for. I know you know that this is true too.

No one will dare touch any investment that 30% is taken right off the top. Billionaire or not – he’s a businessman first and foremost. Your assertion of the currency situation is inaccurate – the CAD is 99 cents on the dollar to our currency. At that rate, the difference is a non issue…or is it? At just 1% at a salary cap of $62M – that’s $620K. Our economy is unstable right now, but Canada’s is more so. I do business there every day. I am very aware of the long range currency fluctuations and trends. NHLPA knows this too – which is why its in the SPC.

Iron Lumber 13

January 22nd, 2011
6:31 pm

Drivel…Mother’s basement…pants-optional environment…GOLDEN!!! Well, the pants-optional part’s true (too much info, I know). At least it’s not my Mother’s basement, so I’m only half-way lame so far as that’s concerned. Geez, I need to get back in the field, anyways, great article, Mr. Rawhide.

Hockey Biltong

January 22nd, 2011
6:33 pm

Keep your mitts off of My Team!
You want to dream of having a team? Fine. Grow your own.
We are waiting patiently for things to get better.

Tony C

January 22nd, 2011
7:06 pm

Anybody else having trouble with the atdhe.net feed? I keep getting the test pattern =(

ZAvalanche

January 22nd, 2011
7:19 pm

OK, I know this isn’t the right place to post this, but what the hell. Peter Forsberg is practicing with the Avs again. Holy sh!t that rocks. Hockey fans know who he is and recognize his abilities. lets all give out hearts out to Flacheimen for his lung clots. Good luck buddy.

Puckhead

January 22nd, 2011
7:58 pm

What’s up with the Thrasher’s Fan Club emailing the members not to believe everything we read and their email tomorrow would provide more information.

Matt

January 22nd, 2011
8:42 pm

Maybe this has been asked and answered, I haven’t scrolled through all three pages of comments, but why would someone buy this team, with no rights to Phillips, and keep them in the city to continue bleeding money? If the ASG holds onto the Hawks and Phillips, the only way this team gets bought is to be moved out of here. I would bet money that in five years the “Atlanta” Thrashers are a thing of memory. It’s sad, but I really don’t see any other way.

Iron League 13

January 22nd, 2011
8:52 pm

Iron Lumber? Happy fingers.

Gwinnett Fred

January 22nd, 2011
10:33 pm

I had already stated I wasn’t going back until Antropov was dumped, now I have even more reason to stay away.

But here is my promise – This group of lunkhead owners sells the team to a new owner that keeps them in Atlanta – I sign up for a season ticket plan for the following season!

I’m still a Thrashers fan, but refuse to put one more cent into these lying sacks of $h!% pockets.

This includes the Hawks too. This would also include any event at Phillips – and that’s not a big loss since they don’t even know how many hot dogs to cook for a promotion all December long!!!!!

Matt from MN

January 22nd, 2011
10:42 pm

Sick, just sick and darn tired of losing the freakin’ shootouts all the time. What a waste of a pretty solid effort by the Thrashers in front of a really nice crowd. Stewart’s goal was a result of pure hustle by Little and there was an incredible penalty kill. Entertaining game, but just another disappointing result.

Cornbread

January 22nd, 2011
10:48 pm

Man they have got to find a way to get an extra point in these OTs or two before it gets to them.

Good playoff hockey game. The Thrashers are playing some really good hockey. They are controlling play and time in the other end and are limiting the time in their own end. Some of these chances they are generating are going to have to go in. I would not say they are in a scoring drought for the past month but they really could use a couple of games where they get 4 or more.

I would really like to see a little more stability in the shootouts. Little should continue to go first because he’s hot but Dawes must be the number 2 man. He is their best shootout guy. He was brought up, now use him for one of his best skills! Whoever is hot should be the third guy.

Good physical game by the Thrashers who controlled most of the game. Very frustrating to have two goals go in off of what were essentially broken plays. It’s time for the Thrashers to start getting a couple of those themselves.

Hockey Biltong

January 22nd, 2011
11:01 pm

Ay Caramba…..3rd period breakdown….must keep scoring goals, not relaxing on offense….

Sean Grace

January 22nd, 2011
11:03 pm

I have a theory. Most franchise contracts include a gross mismanagement clause. In the case of gross mismanagement the franchiser has the option to buy back the franchise. To me, suing King and Spalding, (A.K.A King and God), should be considered gross mismanagement. Is the ASG attempting to have the NHL take away the franchise? If they have lost the money they say they have, maybe this is an exit strategy?

Also, make no mistake. The ASG bought the Thrashers with the intent to short-sell them after the NHL lock-out. They never wanted to hold the organization long-term. Never did the trust fund babies have the skills or where with all to do anything but run the team into the ground and the fan base screaming for the door.

Ted Turner save us!

R. Stroz

January 22nd, 2011
11:09 pm

Sean – You need to convince the misguided president of the Thrashers fan club of this information. The email she sent out shows she just doesn’t get it.

Flagstaff

January 22nd, 2011
11:10 pm

Well.

One good thing… if this team DOES make it into the playoffs this year, they won’t have to do ANY shootouts!

Sage of Bluesland

January 22nd, 2011
11:18 pm

It’s actually funny to read all of this “wisdom”–albeit a bit late…I saw all I needed to see from the ownership when they kept Don Waddell in place on assuming control of this abomination of a franchise…

Oh well, some just wanted to bewieve so badly…and continue to make excuses…excuses which look absolutely silly now, don’t they?

Nope, not another dollar for this incompetence.

Iron League 13

January 22nd, 2011
11:19 pm

I’m gonna say something that may not sit well with any trolls especially of the Cannuckian variety, but all of our attendance woes have EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE ASG, EVERYTHING. Not for one second will I entertain the notion that the other sunbelt teams, especially in the southeast put more a$$es in the seats because they’re better markets. That’s laughable. I’ll betcha just about anything that we’re more viable than Nashville, Carolina, Tampa and Florida (freakin’ MIAMI). I’m pretty certain we’ve got more transplants per capita than any one or all of those markets. The only reason they’re doing better is the product they’ve had on the ice and beyond all else the transplants in those areas willing to pay attention to them as a result. Remember, Pittsburgh Post- Lemieux/Jager and Pre-Crosby? How about the Isles? It’s all about product for the VAST MAJORITY of non-traditional markets, which again is the majority of them. This town’s done well with IHL and ECHL teams over the last 20 years why not an NHL team now? Exactly, product.

Anywho…BOO ASG!!! And before some troll makes a comment about why we lost the Flames, lemme put it to you this way, I’m a 30 year old Atlantan of transplanted parental origins (1st gen Georgian) and I’ve watched this town at least quadruple in size and grow to become a recognizable MAJOR metropolitan city in the US. Can yo guess why? If you guessed transplants, you guessed right. I should add that many, many, many of those transplants possibly a majority of them are from THE NORTH! Over 30 years ago, when the entire state had about 2 million inhabitants (NEARLY ALL SOUTHERNERS TOO) it may have been a real gamble to move an NHL team in this town, but NOT NOW!!! There’s no good excuse why this team would fail, none. What do we have in the metro ATL area about 5.5 million people? I dunno, something like that and anywhere from 1/3-1/2 of the population is from THE NORTH.

Simply put, good owners, good team (year after year and no bad press) makes a successful franchise.

CatThrashFever

January 22nd, 2011
11:27 pm

We’ll be there on Valentine’s Eve!!! Thanks for the new jersey, my Kovy jersey is getting old, even though I got Burmie to sign it! We will continue to go to games!! We love hockey and the Thrashers coaches, staff and players! We support them!

Iron League 13

January 22nd, 2011
11:29 pm

Well, we’ve more than doubled in size anyway, sorry those figures are bunk apparently.

R. Stroz

January 22nd, 2011
11:49 pm

Sometimes I feel like a character in the 2011 version of “Slap Shot.”

SomaAtl95

January 23rd, 2011
12:26 am

We lost. Was still a fun game and was glad to go – was happy to put my money towards the team staying in Atlanta because unlike some people I want the team to stay and the only way new ownership will come along is by seeing attendance rise and the hopes of making money.
Regarding “Uncle Milty” – I believe he is a regular on TSN.ca and he spews his vile and rampant mouth feces there as well. He’d be SOL if this blog had moderators that censor comments the way TSN.ca does (You post the comment then they have to approve it before it shows, so anything remotely making sense or slamming Canada doesn’t get posted) .

Hoping that the Thrashers packed their mason jars tonight so someone can put the midget in one. Now remember Thrashers, poke holes in the top of the jar so he can breathe, otherwise he will die, and nobody wants to flush a Saint Loueeeee as they tend to cause clogs.

ZAvalanche

January 23rd, 2011
1:39 am

Just a thought here: the Avs, who are an established franchise, average about 6 posts per blog. I am amazed at the number of posts here on AJC. Hockey loves Atl and Atl loves hockey. Keep it coming, the advertisers read this drivel and can only help. Keep posting Thrashy!

ZAvalanche

January 23rd, 2011
1:42 am

Just want to clarify, the blog is not drivel, it is fantastic, but some times the comments are drivel.

LL

January 23rd, 2011
2:00 am

RStroz please tell me how I am misguided…last time I checked you are not a fan club member and you did not recieve the email. I could care less who fed it to you considering it was 3 sentences stating we read the story, some of the facts were twisted and we would address it later. Again what the hell is misguided about that? Not a thing. I have a functioning brain that reads all of the facts and information before I jump to conclussions. Let’s get one thing straight, the fan club is here for the fans no matter who owns the team. I am sick of all this lawsuit stuff and wish it would all come to an end so we can enjoy hockey instead of complaining about whatever comes up with all of this. I for one certainly won’t be walking around with a sign on top of my head through the arena.

Red Light

January 23rd, 2011
8:58 am

In their last six shoot-out losses, Thrashers shooters are a sparkling 3-for-21.

glovesave29

January 23rd, 2011
9:27 am

LL – you will find SOMETHING to complain about. We all know you are best at collecting enemies.

Sara

January 23rd, 2011
10:44 am

Well, well, where to begin with all of this mess. First, I’d like to say it was nice seeing some folks from these parts last night at the game – Rawhide and Stroz as always, WBF and friends. Was very nice meeting Red Light and Joe Bob – yes folks, JF and I were within a foot of each other and the arena did not in fact implode ;) .

There really isn’t a whole lot I can add at this point to many of the very well-written comments on this ownership situation. As Rawhide points out, there is potentially as much upside to the thought of them selling the team as there is frustration. In fact the upside is likely greater. Actions always speak louder than words and the actions of Atlanta Spirit have always consistently proven that they are incompetent buffoons who lack both the interest and capacity to properly run a hockey franchise. They’ve lost $130M on this team?? Good. Karma b*tches. They brought it upon themselves and deserve to reap what they’ve sown.

There isn’t much point in looking at any of this logically – the AS employs none themselves. For if they did, they would have figured out that devoting more of those 130M clams earlier on to put a competitive team on the ice would have generated more revenue coming in via ticket sales, merchandise sales, and concession revenue. Logic would also dictate that a local buyer would be more economically viable for them in the long-term than even selling high to a Canadian buyer. While I suspect a Canadian buyer would pay more, the potential long-term revenues of a) lease payments by new local owners plus b) continued arena revenue from at least 41 home games would eclipse that difference in rather short order. It’s also a bit difficult to speculate as to whether or not there is truly a lack of local interest. The same legal issue that Uncle Milty states has interfered with the alleged sale to the Canadian group would have also posed the same hurdle for a local buyer. The team could not be sold while there was pending litigation amongst the owners so any interest would have been superficial at best.

For me, the best course of action is the one I’ve always taken – which is just to enjoy the hockey team we have, in whatever state it may find itself. Ultimately it’s that simple. Why deny ourselves the joy of hockey just because the owners are a bunch of douches? You can’t live your life reacting to the actions of others – you have to live it for yourself.

Lastly, Red Light asked me last night if I had softened my stance on Waddell. The answer to that is nope. Why would I? Nothing is any different today than it was a year ago or 5 years ago. This has never been about Don Waddell. It has always been and will continue to be about Atlanta Spirit. Waddell is a paid employee and like everyone else in the world who works for someone other than themselves, he does what he is paid to do and says what he is paid to say. You don’t like what he does or says … take it up with his bosses. And getting angry because he oft repeated the company line is assinine. Here’s some food for thought on that – in January 2008, Bernie Mullin left as the acting CEO for Atlanta Spirit and he made no secret of that fact he was disgruntled and displeased with the incompetence shown by these owners. However NOT ONCE did he let it slip that the owners were seeking to sell the team. Through the end of his tenure, he would have been well aware himself of their intentions yet remained silent. Probably because there are these little things called nondisclosure clauses that float around in employment contracts. Open your mouth and you open the door to litigation – which just so happens to be the preferred pasttime of Team Pinocchio.

My advice – just let it all go and live for the moment on this one. Enjoy the team, support the team, and time will take care of the rest.

Sara

January 23rd, 2011
11:12 am

I have to lol at myself – for someone who said there’s wasn’t much she could add to the previous comments, I sure had a lot to say. And one more note to go with it. re: speculation that the $130M in self-declared losses could/will scare away potential local buyers … I think that ultimately will come down to the *timing* of these losses. I suspect, based only on what we can observe from the outside looking in, that the majority of those losses were incurred over the past 2 years when attendance has been at its lowest levels. If I am a perspective buyer, I would ask for annual breakdowns of the financials to compare net income/loss of the last 2 seasons with the net income/loss of say, ‘05-’06 and ‘06-’07 – the two seasons when the team exhibited the best on-ice performance and when attendance was significantly higher. That will tell the true tale much more than an overall figure of $130M.

LAC

January 23rd, 2011
11:16 am

If you watch highlights of other games around the NHL, you notice a continuing trend, EMPTY SEATS.

In the Florida game the other night, there were empty sections, like here, saw a bit from Ottawa, again, a good number of EMPTY SEATS. There ware a lot in Denver yesterday and even a bunch in Detroit. San Jose has had a lot too.

In most of those venues, it is likely the on ice product causing fans to stay away. In Atlanta, however
it is these FOOL owners. Example, Charlotte Hornets of NBA years ago. Team was decent, but owner George Schinn, was a liar and kept raising ticket prices and simply got the fan base so PO’ed, attendence fell off the charts and now the Hornets are in New Orleans…

Same thing seems to be rearing it’s ugly head here. Team is not that bad, but as we ALL know, these owners here LIE, LIE, LIE and have Zero business even being remotely being involved in a professional sports team. They are killing the fan base, just read the blogs and we can all see the picture that is being painted before our very eyes.

It is a VERY SAD state of affairs to think the NHL might leave Atlanta again. But I feel, to a degree, the NHL is to blame for the mess. They should have taken a much harded look at these clowns, before signing off on their ownership. Now, I blame the NHL & Gary Bettman for not doing one damn thing to show that the NHL supports a team here and will do everything they can to keep the team here. After all…. Look what they did in Phoenix. Why are they sitting on their hands and NOT
getting involved. After all, they now know these owners LIE, would you want a bunch of LIARS running a team in YOUR league ?????

The NHL needs to get off their butt and take control of the club and work hard to locate a buyer who will commit to keeping the team HERE, before we have another team leave town.

But in the long run, if the Thrashers do leave, as did The Flames, it has NOT been because of no fan interest or support, it has been because both teams had/have owners who should in NO way ever have been permitted to own the teams in the first place.

glovesave29

January 23rd, 2011
11:22 am

LAC – don’t forget George Shinn’s little foray into kidnapping and sexual assault. Turned off more than a few in Charlotte!

Well said Sara – trends are what need to be considered here. And also as compared to the rest of the NHL. I also STRONGLY agree with those of us here meeting each other at games / viewing parties. Makes for a more civil discourse and a more enjoyable blog.

Adam

January 23rd, 2011
11:43 am

I honestly don’t think the $130M in losses or any continued red numbers will effect a potential buyers interest in the purchase unless there are heavy losses directly attributable to the arena itself. It does not appear that is the cast here. Unlike the Coyotes & Jobing.com Arena the city of Atlanta doesn’t own Phillips so there are no inflated lease payments.

What will matter is the selling price and the structure of the deal as it relates to a new lease and what cut of the naming rights and concession revenue the new ownership receives. If the numbers are reasonable and the potential is there to generate a profit down the road the Asinine Seven won’t have a problem spinning off the team. Now if they are under the belief that they are going to recoup all of their losses, or dare I say make a profit, on the sale then it will be much harder to find a buyer that will keep the team here.

Blueland Buddha

January 23rd, 2011
12:18 pm

Rawhide- As I mentioned last night, I did create a Facebook page for disgruntled fans to petition the way the ASG is running our franchise. The hope here is to prove that the passion for Thrashers hockey is there, but the frustration is beginning to outweigh it. Let’s send a message to the league and to potential local investors that the current ownership situation needs to be fixed, and if it is, the large fanbase that exists here will become immediately re-energized! My goal is to get 50K likes which would triple the official Thrashers Facebook page. Lofty goal- I get it. But I believe we have the numbers.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Concerned-Atlanta-Thrashers-Fans/157006297684589

R. Stroz

January 23rd, 2011
12:57 pm

Taken from an email titled A Letter from Owners Bruce Levenson and Michael Gearon sent on January 4, 2011:

As we look to the second halves of the 2010-2011 NBA and NHL seasons, our goals remain the same as when we bought these teams: to bring Stanley Cups and NBA Championships to the fans in Atlanta. We dream of being a part of the crowd and the city that rallies with pride around the excitement that comes with being a part of the hometown team.

Yet, they wanted to sell the team in 2005 by their own admission in the lawsuit.

Yep, things are twisted and some seek to misguide….by the owners of the ASG and those that seek special perks from self appointed positions.

Tim

January 23rd, 2011
1:21 pm

Prospective buyer not perspective buyer. In any event, get ready to kiss the Thrashers goodbye. They won’t be in Atlanta in a couple of years.

SomaAtl95

January 23rd, 2011
1:28 pm

Tim, you clearly forgot to read the manual on how to properly troll this blog. Go get some TP for your mouth and make sure its nice and clean, then try again. If the NHL is keeping the Yotes in the desert then there IS NO REASON THAT THEY WOULD ABANDON ATLANTA.
I wish every idiot that talks smack about Atlanta would use the “common sense” area of their brain first. They aren’t going to abandon Atlanta without ACTUALLY MAKING AN EFFORT to let it succeed here. We in Atlanta would like the same treatment Tampa had last year where the league intervenes and puts competent ownership in place.

Rawhide

January 23rd, 2011
2:02 pm

Is it just me…or does it seem like Groundhog Day has come to Thrasherville?

Sara

January 23rd, 2011
2:08 pm

LAC – I’d say it’s hard to skewer the League itself just yet – I’m not certain how much they could do given the original lawsuit. They cannot force owners to spend money if they do not want to (see: Wirtz, Dollar Bill). They couldn’t make them sell either. What will be crucial is how they proceed from here – as in stand up for the market and try to ensure a buyer could be found that would commit to a) keeping the team here and b) actually running it worth a poot.

Unfortunately, the League’s screening process leaves a lot to be desired. Del Biaggio, former part-owner in first San Jose then Nashville, is sitting in a prison cell. Then the Samueli fiasco in Anaheim, Rigas in Buffalo. Not the best track record.

Brendan

January 23rd, 2011
2:28 pm

I say it every so often, but I am so glad that we have a blog like Rawhide’s. Not only is it entertaining and informative, but by the way in which it is run … it does tend to attract some of the better posters. This blog isn’t, like several others, some race-baiting screamfest, where people expose much more about themselves than they, perhaps, ever wanted.

The name-calling on this blog is minimal. The posts have contained some good discussions, rather than just diatribes. There’s only so many times any of us can say the ownership is undesireable. And that Don Waddell played his part in it, too. And that the lease is unbreakeable, for all realistic purposes, so the team isn’t going anywhere prior to 2019.

I can’t even believe how litigation-happy our ownership is. When I first saw this story, the first thing I thought was, “And now … they’re trying to recoup their legal fees?? These guys just don’t get it.” But in the process, they’re going to be spending even more. Bruce Levenson once explained away the entire previous 5 years this way, “In a nutshell, we just bought out an estranged partner. But this lawsuit has had ZERO impact on how we do business, and how these teams are run.” Wonder how Bruce will “spin” this latest litigation? All I ever ask for Christmas … is new ownership for our Thrashers. I think the AS, LLC never met a courtroom they didn’t like. Do they do anything, normally?

Hockey Biltong

January 23rd, 2011
4:43 pm

lawyers r us is available for back up litigation…..my own start up!

R. Stroz

January 27th, 2011
4:10 am

LAST!

Rawhide

January 29th, 2011
2:05 pm

Anne111222 – You’ll notice that the vile, insulting and vulgar comment that you posted Friday afternoon has been removed. But don’t worry… it’s still around and in the hands of the people down at the AJC.com. I always find it interesting how some people find a certain type of “bravery” in posting such diatribes on a six-day old blog post. And the anonymity found behind a keyboard sure does seem to make up for certain other shortcoming, now doesn’t it?

I did make sure that everyone you took the time to insult in your childish attack was able to read what it was you had to say about/to them before it was taken from view. They all seem to share the same opinion of you that I do…which, to say the least, is not very favorable at all.

What I particularly like was the comment regarding my supposed attitude that the Atlanta Sprit, LLC could do no wrong. Really? Did you even take time to read the post I put up there…or is your problem the inability to comprehend what it is you read?

As for you disgusting and classless comment about my wife and the commissioner of the NHL…I would simply invite you to find me before a game sometime and say that to me personally. I’d be more then happy to respond appropriately at that time.