Thrashers fans want answers from team owners
If you take a look outside, you’ll see the sun shining and the sky a brilliant shade of blue. We here in north Georgia and in other areas of the south are enjoying some very fine weather, even though it’s just a tease of what awaits us this spring.
However, there is also a dark, menacing cloud that remains camped above Thrasherville. It’s been there since the turn of the New Years and has cast a shadow of misery over hockey fans throughout the city.
Obviously, some of this stems from the current slide that the Thrashers have been on for the better part of a month and a half now…one that has seen them play to a 6-12-5 record since the 20th of December last year. However, Thrashers fans are quite used to the feeling that normally accompanies watching the team fall off the edge of the playoff table ‘round about this time of year. It’s almost a routine in these parts…a time honored ritual that serves as a rite of passage. You can’t really be a Thrashers fan, it seems, unless you’ve suffered through this kind of slump come mid-to-late winter.
But this particular cloud is much darker than those in years past. This one brings with it an additional spirit of gloom and despair that even the most longsuffering and emotionally scarred Thrashers fan is accustomed.
Almost since the day the A.S., LLC purchased this franchise, dark clouds began to hover over Thrasherville: L-R Steven Belkin, Todd Foreman, Ed Peskowitz, J. Rutherford Seydel,II, J Micheal Gearon, Sr., Bruce Levenson, Michael Gearon, Jr., Dominique Wilkins and Bernie Mullin. March 31, 2004 (AJC staff photo)
This year’s cloud that blankets the sky comes with the recent revelation that those who own the team, the group that make up the Atlanta Spirit, LLC, have for some time been trying to sell off the Thrashers. This particular piece of 411 came in the form of yet another lawsuit entered into by the Spirit Boys and contradicts the countless denials put forth by Bruce Levenson, the Spirit Boys and their mouthpiece Don Waddell.
Now for most of us, this little info-bomb dropped on Thrasherville a few weeks back came less as a surprise and more of an insult. For six years we’ve suspected that this bunch have looked upon the Thrashers as their unwanted stepchild and were less-than-caring for their well-being. But to have our suspicions confirmed in such a cold, callus fashion…reading for ourselves the legal filings that stated how they wished to “dispose” of the team…came as yet another slap to the face for the paying customers.
Here’s the latest, as reported by AJC Thrashers beat writer Chris Vivlamore:
“Atlanta Spirit co-owner Michael Gearon said there is now a “sense of urgency” to find additional investors or a buyer willing to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta. If the ownership group does not get additional financial help in the near future the franchise could be sold and moved to another city.”
(Update: AJC sports blogger Mark Bradley just filed his reaction to the story.)
I guess this is just another thing we are supposed to “deal with”, eh Bruce?
As stated above, fans in Thrasherville are also “dealing with” this team making its annual March From The Playoffs. Even though this team has shown a certain degree of improvement this season, they are clearly in need of some help if they’re to make a serious run. Help that comes by way of a trade to shore up the roster.
Unfortunately, these same fans also understand that any such deal may increase payroll over the last several weeks of the season. And given how the franchise has conducted its business, right at the league minimum for the last few years, it’s understandable why many doubt ownership would authorize any such increase in spending.
Also, this is the time of year that season ticket holders are beginning to receive their invitations to renew once again. While I’m certain that each and everyone of them are tickled pink blue that they’ve once again been considered worthy of such an invite, I’m confident that more than a handful of them are considering whether or not this team is still a viable choice for their entertainment dollar.
Oh, it’s not that the hockey market here is not what some had thought it’d be a decade and a half ago when the league returned to this area…quite the contrary, in fact. Atlanta is home to a great number of hard-core hockey fans that love the sport and enjoy it live and in person. But the fans here are now “dealing with” the fact that the same people who have lied to their faces are now sticking their hands out and asking for more of their money.
That’s putting the nice folks in the ticket office at quite a disadvantage, if you ask me.
In light of this…and I’ll speak directly to Mr. Levenson…you and/or any other member of the AS, LLC need to join forces with Waddell and hold one of the other time-honored traditions in Thrasherville, the always much-anticipated, highly entertaining, informative and spirited Town Hall Meeting.
This needs to be done and done soon, because quite frankly Brucie… you got some ‘splainin’ to do.
Yes, Levenson and the boys owe these fans an explanation…an accounting of just what they intend for the team that they love and support so much.
Bruce Levenson, right, owes Thrashers fans an explanation. He should do so face to face and not via a carefully crafted corporate memo (Curtis Compton)
In that meeting, Bruce…or whichever one of the Spiriteers possess the wherewithal to do so…should look these people square in the eye and explain why they have repeatedly misled them about their intention to “dispose” of this team. After all, it’s one thing to lie to a person…multiple times…but it’s quite another to insult their intelligence by remaining silent as if no one ever noticed.
Also, Bruce needs to outline to those assembled whether or not he thinks additional help is needed to seriously make a postseason drive…or whether or not he feels the roster is good enough to do the job in it’s current condition.
That is, of course, if he actually cares enough to formulate any such opinion.
Oh sure, sure. To do this right now would place Bruce in quite an uncomfortable spot as he would undoubtedly have to endure the verbal slings and arrows that would be lobbed his way. I’m sure even he understands that there are some mighty peeved residents of Thrasherville. But an owner with any ounce of integrity…any sense of honor and decency…any shred of common courtesy for those forking over good money on tickets…would do so given the circumstances.
Meeting face to face with Thrashers fans is the one and only way he and the Spirit Boys can even come close to regaining any of the credibility needed to once more ask these fine people to pony up the funds required to remain members in good standing of the Thrashers Season Ticket Holders Club. And that’s a club which, as a direct result of the current ownership group’s influence, is becoming more and more exclusive by the day.
Certainly no one expects any of them to delve in depth as to the issues surrounding this current round of legal action. Everyone understands that when a case is pending it’s wise for all parties to say as little as possible. But what the good people of Thrasherville should expect is a certain level of intestinal and testicular fortitude to be shown by their team’s ownership group…especially in regards to their commitment level to the team they continue asking you to commit money towards.
To date, such fortitude has been sorely lacking. But now would be as good a time as any for these guys to start showing some.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
295 comments Add your comment
Thrashy Thrashy
February 15th, 2011
5:40 pm
Nice to see the Buff signing. Get Ladd done and go add some guys to this team. Maybe that would change the mood a bit.
Russian
February 15th, 2011
5:40 pm
Good Deal for Big Buff. Ladd contract should be next.
But we need help now. Dudley has to bring players.
Joe Friday
February 15th, 2011
5:54 pm
Sage, don’t be a jackhole. You lose any credibility with that tripe. Signing Buf for 5 and into his UFA years is quite the coup.
Rawhide
February 15th, 2011
6:00 pm
Sherry Taylor – Very, very well put.
OMG – Rumors coming out of ASG headquarters are saying that 2 of the owners are suing the other 5 for signing Buff to his new contract. News at 11…
Tom -
ziltort
February 15th, 2011
6:00 pm
Whoopie doo! I s anyone on this team gonna break 30 goals? Anyone? Will one player on the entire team get at least 70 pts? Will we ever have a plus for goals on the entire season?
tonyb
February 15th, 2011
6:12 pm
Lets all hope this is the first step in the right direction by the ASG to right many wrongs.
Remember people, this one little thing that everyone keeps forgetting. THEY OWN THE ARENA RIGHTS. Name me one sports team in any league that has ever moved or threatened to move from their own building. Just one. To do that very thing is insane. Why? Because the money is in the building.
Smoothie
February 15th, 2011
6:12 pm
Wow, you know it’s a good day when Joe Friday calls someone a “jackhole”! Love it!
Still need another damn scoring winger, but hey, this is a step in some direction other than into a black hole of doom & despair. I’ll take it for now.
Smoothie
February 15th, 2011
6:16 pm
tonyb – it all boils down to how ironclad their naming rights deal and covenant with the NHL is. If those two things are assailable in a court of law, and these cowards try to challenge the efficacy of those agreements, then we have serious trouble. But you’re right, makes no sense to sell to anyone that would move the team since they’d be giving up those 41 nights of lease revenue from the buyer. And that’s if the covenant with the league didn’t exist. Of course, we can’t get anyone to give us clarity on how long that covenant lasts, but you would think at least 15-20 years.
Iron League 13
February 15th, 2011
6:48 pm
I gotta say I’m very surprised at Buff’s re-upping. He and his agent knew he coulda gotten such a deal (maybe better) in the offseason with a franchise in better shape than this one. That said, I find it very telling of Buff’s character, he wants responsibility, he wants to be part of the foundation of something promising. I know what you just read, trust me I can’t believe I wrote that “something promising” bit either, but there’s gotta be something promising. If that’s not the case then both he and his agent are dimwits and I just don’t buy that.
I can’t stress enough how critical Ladd is. I don’t think the F.A.S.G. will allow Duds to replace him with another player of equal quality in a jiffy (are we paying attention to this trade thing?) and we shouldn’t want to, he’s a keeper.
Buff-n-stuff
February 15th, 2011
7:03 pm
I suspect…..Ladd re-signing gets announced tomorrow or Thursday….then the deal/deals happen…probably a top 6 forward w/RFA or a couple of years u/c left + a young, big, d-man. Probably lose an “older d-man” on current roster, a forwrd on current roster, a couple of prospects, a 1st rounder and a 3rd rounder….just a feeling !!!
CatThrashFever
February 15th, 2011
7:07 pm
testing italics and BOLD
Sara
February 15th, 2011
7:27 pm
Buff deal = awesomeness.
Smoothie – I forget where I saw it – I’ll try and find the linkage – but what I read said those non-relocation covenants are 7 years. Which makes sense – in theory 7 years ought to be enough to test any market, assuming of course you don’t have the tandem of AOL/TW & AS LLC to flush it down the toilet from damn near day 1.
Rawhide – you know better than anyone that crybaby Brucie isn’t about to let someone say anything not nice to his face.
Tom should be nominated for comment of the year – I spit my soup out over that one. Though Joe Friday’s Princess Belle snark was a pretty close second.
As for you Sage, BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
CatThrashFever
February 15th, 2011
7:34 pm
Random observation: I think I need to stop cheering for teams below us in points, hoping they beat teams ahead of us! Because unfortunately the teams below Thrashers are gaining on us!!! yikes: hmmmmmmm: Sabres, Devils, Leafs…
goose
February 15th, 2011
7:39 pm
I think that the Major reason that Buff resigned here was because of Toby. Who knows how he would be at defense without him, also when you find a line partner that you gel with as well as those two did and you already have cup, and are offered a good contract, Why not resign?
JT from Columbus
February 15th, 2011
7:43 pm
What are the chances we do a deal with Calgary? According to Darren Elliot ther were two scouts at the game Sunday.
LAC
February 15th, 2011
7:46 pm
I have to say, I Can’t Believe It !!!!!!! For the FIRST Time in a LOOOOOOOOONG time to owners Stepped up for a CHANGE. No lies, no being so damn cheap, they paid to keep a Top player after so MANY have departed, For a change, I cannot say anything negative, and I find that HARD to believe. Glad Buff had the NICE comments, unlike hossa,kovlepuke, and others who said all the wrong things. Makes one wonder if their is hope here… I hope so !
Jamie
February 15th, 2011
7:55 pm
The game’s a foot, check out http://www.arthurblankbuythethrashers.com/
Joe Friday
February 15th, 2011
8:31 pm
“There are a lot of good things that are going to happen here,” Byfuglien said. “I’m excited to be here and be a part of everything that’s going to happen. It’s fun to be in an organization that builds from the bottom up.”
Gotta love Buf. be a part of everything that’s going to happen . . .love his attitude, guys a winner.
“Byfuglien was asked if he entered negotiations with concerns over the possibility that the team might be sold and relocated.”
“It obviously is talked about,” he said. “I don’t have control over it. … It comes into play, but I’m not really worried about it because we put a winning organization together, we’ll stay.”
Good attitude again. If it happens, it happens, the players still are a team, just in a different place. But to me he sounds confident that if they begin to win, the fans come, someone will buy them and keep them here, is that the way anyone else reads that?
Ladd next, 5 years $21m sounds right for him, no?
Joe Friday
February 15th, 2011
8:33 pm
“you know it’s a good day when Joe Friday calls someone a “jackhole”! ”
“Someone”? that’s your nemesis, I don’t even get an atta boy? Should have gone with jackwagon . . .
Joe Friday
February 15th, 2011
8:41 pm
“Rawhide – you know better than anyone that crybaby Brucie isn’t about to let someone say anything not nice to his face. ”
I know, we need to forget about those buffoons. The only thing we need to work on is what we can do to facilitate new owners. The Art Blank save our team gang is in the right vein, but we need our local town crier here, that’s you Rawhide, to rally the troops around petitioning the league to facilitate new ownership here to keep them in place. Selling a few hundred tix to games is great, and a plus, but getting sigs of 1000s of fans on a petition sent to the NHL to help facilitate new ownership would be more effective to the ultimate goal here.
Smoothie
February 15th, 2011
8:54 pm
Joe – sorry dude, didn’t want to trigger the automated posting bot that dumps the same crap all over this blog every time someone uses his name or initials.
Alan R.
February 15th, 2011
9:23 pm
Good attitude again. If it happens, it happens, the players still are a team, just in a different place. But to me he sounds confident that if they begin to win, the fans come, someone will buy them and keep them here, is that the way anyone else reads that?
I really love the attitude. Spoken like a true leader.
I read it this way, too.
Last, good job calling out the jackhole.
AtlFlamesFan
February 15th, 2011
9:39 pm
I’d love Blank to by the Thrash, but I think there is no way that this will happen. He is dedicating his funds in an effort to replace the Georgia Dome (which I think is one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard. There is absolutey nothing wrong with that building.).
11pm News 11 Alive Thrash Owner Story
February 15th, 2011
9:41 pm
11 Alive should have a story, from a fan’s point of view, on the on-going saga with the Thrashers / ownership…….We are trying to rally Atlanta leaders to help find NEW OWNERS. If you want the Thrashers situation to improve it is NOT going to happen with ASG. Please send emails to Mayor and Governor and tell them Atlanta needs to keep the Thrashers. ASG is NOT the answer.
http://www.arthurblankbuythethrashers.com/fans.html
Winnipeg and Quebec leaders and fans are working to take our team – we need to work together to PROTECT OUR ATLANTA TEAM.
Flames
February 15th, 2011
9:48 pm
It is a good day…. Buff is a class act…The Captain is next! Then Penner for a first round pick…
Sage of Bluesland
February 15th, 2011
9:49 pm
It looks like Joe-Bob-Friday is waffling again…We’ve seen that before now, haven’t we?…
We’ll see.
Joe Friday
February 15th, 2011
10:04 pm
Sage, a 5 year signing into his UFA years of a top guy in this league (yes, he’s a top guy in the league, any team would want him right now) is a coup, no other way to look at it. It won’t hurt you to admit Dudley did right here . . . screw the owners, I’m sure Dudley did it on his own, even with the Octocluster in place, that’s even more a coup. Call a spade and spade here and admit they did good. Gooder even still if it’s followed up by Ladd. Waddell and the Spirit Squad are still a mess, but Dudley did right here.
HookyBob
February 15th, 2011
10:18 pm
I don’t want any stinking meeting with(or comment from) ownership,.. cause I wouldn’t believe a word they say. And I question the inteligence of those who would believe them. Actions speak louder than words.
Speaking of actions,..re-signing Buf is big, really,…really,…HUGE. Buf now becomes “the solid rock” this franchise can build on. However, I credit this to Duds,..not ownership. (Until we spend well over the salary floor ownership gets zilch credit,..and Duds gets extra credit for the handicap.)
Buf was always big, but now he is 9′ tall to Thrasher fans.
I was pleased when this franchise (finally) put “genuine hockey people” in key positions (that would be Duds, Rammer, & Torch). It is a start, (albiet 10 years in coming). Buf resigning is the next step. Resigning Ladd (be it 2 years or more) would be another. A trade in the next 13 days would be another?
The “coup de grace” (end the suffering of wounded followers) would be getting “genuine hockey people” as owners of both the Thrashers and Philips arena rights. Yeah baby.
Go Blue,..give ATLANTA SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN. ATLANTA WILL RESPOND.
Tom
February 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
Thanks Sara!
Smoothie
February 15th, 2011
10:41 pm
Flames – now you’re talking!
I find it humorous to think SOB thinks Joe F is looking for validation from anyone, especially a troll like Stooge of Blue-slander.
A lot of reason for concern, disappointment and “gnashing of teeth”, but today gives us at least a temporary departure from the doom and gloom. But will the “Peachtree City” Thrashers ever march forth from the forgotten orchard of unharvested promise? But three things are certain at least: death, taxes and our resident bell-tolling hunchback of “Bluesland”!
SomaAtl95
February 15th, 2011
10:59 pm
Its a privilege to talk to all of you folks about our team. It is unfortunate that we put so much time in letting trolls and the “usual suspects” get us all pi$$ed off. If we all put half as much effort into doing something to get our situation fixed as we do griping and name calling we could bring some media attention to our cause. Imagine if we could get Sam or Fred from WXIA to come to a practice in Duluth where it is packed with all of us, holding signs that say “Save the Thrashers, let A$G go extinct” or “Sheeple Pride” or even “Dear A$G, we love the Thrashers, even if you don’t!”
Its a start. Anything worth fighting for starts small and builds up when people believe.
WE CAN SAVE OUR TEAM.
Its almost a shame that we can not buy stock in the Thrashers.
Tom Lysiak
February 15th, 2011
11:12 pm
Hmmm, now Ottawa sends Chris Kelly to the Broones for a 2nd rounder. Guess that Kaberle to Boston rumor has lost a little steam…..
Tom Lysiak
February 15th, 2011
11:13 pm
Whoops, forget the Kaberle part of my post please!
Tom Lysiak
February 15th, 2011
11:32 pm
My bad, I was thinking Campoli, the other Chris…..
Brendan
February 16th, 2011
12:08 am
Joe Friday, interesting post on the TV ratings. Thank you for posting that information. I had hoped … that Atlanta’s hockey fans would tune in more to the Stanley Cup playoffs. My TV is always on them, through all four rounds and two month’s worth of playoffs. I don’t fully understand why hockey fans, and there are hundreds of thousands of them in the 5 million population of the greater Metropolitan Atlanta-area, would NOT want to watch the NHL playoffs? Can Atlanta’s hockey fans be so streamlined … that if the Thrashers aren’t in the dance, then there’s no point in watching???
People … we’ve got to show the Commissioner that we enjoy hockey, and that we’ll watch it on TV. The Thrashers certainly aren’t eliminated from this year’s playoffs, but if/when they are, I would hope … that every fan who bothered to attend a game at Philips Arena this year … would make it a point to be watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs, too.
Wayne stuck in AL
February 16th, 2011
12:59 am
I think the reason Atlanta has such low TV ratings for hockey is simply that if you don’t have a rooting interest, hockey on U.S. TV (as opposed to Canadian TV) is simply dreadful.
LAC
February 16th, 2011
1:19 am
I noticed on the tsn site where they announced the Buff signing. In the reader ALL those LOSER canada fans are “looking” forward to seeing him in either winnipeg or quebec city, or like Anniston,Alabama or Gainesville…. Just how Stupid these “canada” fans really are, Go move New Jersey and all THEIR empty seats or Detroit with a lot of empty seats, or Dallas or Colorado…
You canada fans are THE worst fans in any country, you think you own the game…. NOT.
You whiners need to withdraw your 6 teams and form the CHL. We will expand to 6 more USA cities and whip you canada crybabies every time. Must really be tough being the 51st state, Right ???
Brendan
February 16th, 2011
1:46 am
Sage of Bluesland, I must say … that I’ve watched the Commissioner’s Office, and prior to that, the NHL President’s Office, stand IDLY by … while hugely important markets like Chicago, (Cupless since ‘61 until 2010, mismanaged badly by “Dollar” Bill Wirtz,) Boston (Village Idiot Harry Sinden, Mike Milbury, etc.), Detroit (in the 80’s, known as the Dead Things), and New York (which went 54 years between Cups) faltered. The Rangers used to field an $88 million payroll, while missing the playoffs for 7 straight years, with most of the league’s top talent on their roster.
So, I don’t know why we should think NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will intercede here, like a ‘Savior.’ If the league offices wouldn’t intercede to save New York, Boston, Chicago, or Detroit … when they were in lean years and bad ownership situations … what makes us think they’ll act now, for us? Seems to me … they just sit back and handle things, ‘crisis-by-crisis.’ Now, if the Thrashers declared bankruptcy … that might be different. If the AS,LLC were indicted on charges, or something swarthy like that, perhaps the NHL would step in.
Try to think of our situation like the Rick DiPietro contract, back in 2005. We all sat back, after missing a YEAR with a Lockout, in STUNNED DISBELIEF that the NHL Commissioner wouldn’t intercede to void a 15-year contract for a goalie, that pays him until he’s 40. Commissioner Bettman’s quote, “Sometimes these deals work out. Sometimes they don’t. Time will tell if the Islanders have acted wisely. But nothing prohibits this kind of contract.” Now, bear in mind, an annual salary of $4.5 million, for each and every one of those years, clearly is not cap circumvention. It’s Kovalchuk’s proposed 17-year, $101 million deal, that fronted him three-fourths of his salary in the first 9-10 years, that finally PROMPTED ACTION and intervention from league offices. But I submit to you … that Gary Bettman should have stepped in to say, “Look, we’re not allowing 15 year deals, with respect to DiPietro. It’s a dangerous business concept. We just had a Lockout, for the love of Pete, to curb ridiculous contracts made by GM’s.” The Atlanta Thrashers … are the Rick DiPietro contract. Gary Bettman will sit back … and do nothing … stating something a kin to, “It’s up to ownership to run their teams. Some are good at it. Some, not so much.” I think that’s a bit of chutzpah. How can it ever be “okay” for annnny of the league’s teams to operate with incompetent ownership? For decades at a time? But, it happens that way. No one is coming to our rescue. We must hope for a sale. That’s the ‘meaningful change’ that Joe Friday has talked about, for years, on this message board.
Brendan
February 16th, 2011
1:47 am
Trixie, can you free my reply to Sage of Bluesland?
Brendan
February 16th, 2011
2:29 am
Rawhide, with your permission, given the title of your blog, I’d like to revisit something from ONN. We go LIVE to the studios of the Onion News Network (ONN), for some BREAKING NEWS on your Atlanta Thrashers.
Brooke Alvarez: “Put your hands in the air and spread your legs wide, you’re entering the ‘Factzone,’ where security checks are always mandatory. We have some BREAKING NEWS for you puckheads out here. Bruce Levenson stunned the world today by ‘coming out’ as a terrible owner. Our field reporter, Jane Carmichael, has more. Take it away, Jane.”
Jane Carmichael: “Thanks Brooke. I’m standing here in front of the league offices of the National Hockey League, which was all a BUZZ this morning amid a shocking revelation by Atlanta Thrashers part-owner Bruce Levenson … that he’s a really terrible owner.”
Brooke: “I see. Can you shed anymore light on the causes behind this ’bizare confession?’”
Jane: “Yes Brooke. I took some time out to interview Bruce. Let’s go to the video footage. So Bruce, why have you ‘come out?’ Why now? And what’s it like to be an OPENLY TERRIBLE sports owner?”
Bruce Levenson: “Well Jane. There’s never really a wrong time to start telling the truth. I haven’t been forthright about things, for many YEARS, really. One day I woke up, painfully aware of my many deceptions. My claims that ‘I gave at the office.’ The times I charged all my drinks to a different room, while frequenting the hotel bar. Half the time, I bill my room service to Ed Pescowitz. My scorecard on Golf outings is an utter work of fiction. And the times that I get dragged out to Church services, I just put a coupon for $0.35 off Shake-N-Bake in the collection plate. And don’t get me started on my tax return.”
Jane Carmichael: “I see. Uhh, tell us how you arrived at this personal epiphany?”
Bruce Levenson: “Well, ya see Jane. I’m uhhh … not good. Not good, at all, at what I do. When people say, “We have a pool and a pond. But a pond would be good for you, I take the hint.”
Jane Carmichael: “So, how do you go on, every day? What drives Bruce Levenson to put one foot in front of the other, and march on to the daily drudgery of life? And what’s your strategy for coping with failure?”
Bruce Levenson: “Well, to cover up for my many failings, I sue everyone around me in an attempt to make it appear as if it’s THEIR fault, instead of mine.”
Jane Carmichael: “And how’s that working out for you?”
Bruce: “Well, I don’t like to comment on pending litigation.”
Jane Carmichael: “That’s probably smart of you. By the way, how’s that suit going against K-Mart, for those insufficient in quality and duration … vibrating plastic pony rides they sometimes have in their storefront areas?”
Bruce Levenson: “Asked and answered Jane. I have no comment on pending litigation.”
Jane Carmichael: “Alrighty then. Uhh, so … what’s next for Bruce Levenson?”
Bruce Levenson: “Attorney fees. And more attorney fees, if I lose. Whenever something doesn’t go my way, I sue or counter-sue to recover my losses.”
Jane Carmichael: “Including suing your own counsel??”
Bruce Levenson: “Missteps were made, Jane. By THEM. They must pay, like PizzaHut (TM) just did, when I recovered damages from them over what was ‘a pathetic attempt’ on their part at making a double-cheese pizza.”
Jane Carmichael: “I’m just glad you could reach an out of court settlement.”
Bruce Levenson: “Me too, Jane. Me, too.”
Jane Carmichael: “Well, that wraps it up from here, Brooke. ‘Outed’ bad sports owner Bruce Levenson, a man finally coming to terms with himself. Back to you, Brooke.”
Brooke: “Well, it’s nice to see him finally taking some responsibility for his many misdeeds. Any word on an increased budget for his fast plummeting hockey team?”
Jane Carmichael: “Brooke, Bruce said, and I quote, ‘I wouldn’t be ‘a terrible sports owner,’ if I went around FIXING things, or making them better.”
Brooke Alvarez: “Very good, then. That’s a point well taken. Great job, as always. And remember, Jane, smiling too much brings out your crows feet on HD television.”
Jane Carmichael: Jaw agaped, looks disgustedly at the camera, outraged.
Brooke Alvarez: “In a related story, the Florida Panthers said the Atlanta Thrashers are nothing more than ‘copycat wannabees,’ when it comes to being a lousy-run franchise. We’ll be sure to stay on top of that story, as it develops. Stay here, with the Onion News Network. We’re always with you–even when you ‘think’ you’re alone.”
ZAvalanche
February 16th, 2011
2:37 am
Can’t believe what I just read. Seriously? They ponied up for Buffy? Fantastic news. Now secure the Capt. What surprises me more (and I am sure somebody has mentioned this already but I am being lazy) is that Buffy didn’t even test the market and jumped right in. That is the attitude we need more of. Yes, the season is approaching the literal point-of-no return, but with Buffy on the train we are one step closer to “puttin on the foil” for next season. Maybe we can pick up Oglethorpe for a bruiser…………
Sharon
February 16th, 2011
3:50 am
I’m thrilled about the Buff signing! I appreciate his willingness to play here and his comments. We really needed this little ray of hope.
World Be Free
February 16th, 2011
4:55 am
Tom Lysiak-I actually think the Kelley deal may bring Kaberle closer to the Broones. Look for Kaberle for Wheeler straight up-Tronna needs bodies not draft picks and Blake just became expendable. Do you agree Tom? I like Kelley, but he’s not what we need. We need a finisher and Kelly is a plumber.
Red Light-I always gave the Brunes credit for taking Kluzak over Brian Bellows, who was the number pick for most of the 1982 summer leading up to the draft/ Too bad about his knee issues. You wonder what Boston would have done with both Kluzak and Bourque in the same stable?
Buff signing is a good one, now the speculation begins about Bogosian. And let me say for the record, trading Bogosian will be a BAD DEAL unless the return nets us a young top 6 forward. You do not trade 20 year old defenseman unless the return value is overwhelming. This has Zhitnik-Coburn II written all over it unless it’s done right.
LAC-Canadian hockey fans are like a fire, constanty being whipped by the wind of the Canadian media. Look at all the uncreditable rumors out of Canada the last 2 years that the Thrashers were moving to Winnipeg “any minute now”. What else do Canadian sportswriters have to write about, the CFL? And yes there are plenty of empty seats throughout the NHL, just like all sports. The stat is over focused, in my opinion. The world needs to stop looking at Winnipeg and Quebec City as prime NHL cities with major upsides.
Sage-you posted some good dialogue and insightful comments a few days ago. I think we all welcome those comments again, maybe establish good conversation with some fellow bloggers. Just saying.
World Be Free
February 16th, 2011
5:18 am
Zherdev will be available via waivers in the next 24-48 hours. Any takers here? You just wonder what professional situation will be right for this kid to finally break out? There’s no doubt he has skills, so why hasn’t this happened yet?
World Be Free
February 16th, 2011
5:21 am
Flames-I think Penner is the next focus of everyone’s attention. Just don’t know about Hemsky, since he is more of a setup man than a scorer. Sunday’s Carolina game proves the points that we need finishers more than anything.
Looks like Kari is struggling in Dallas.
Tom Lysiak
February 16th, 2011
7:35 am
WBF – I definitely agree with you. When I was thinking Campoli instead of Kelly I thought, well they went for a young-ish defenseman instead. Not comparing Campoli to Kaberle in any way. I just thought they were going a different way.
Also agree that Kelly wasn’t what WE need either.
Flames
February 16th, 2011
7:44 am
WBF- I agree with you. I would rather have a big forward than a winger that is always injuried. I know that Bogosian doesn’t want to be traded. He likes Atlanta and thinks the franchise is headed in the right direction. I believe that the Penner trade will happen soon. The oilers know that a Thrasher first round pick usually is a high one. I’m wonder if the thrashers are trying to package Bergfors in that trade and get Hemsky as well. I DON’T NOT want to trade Bogosian! If the team signs the Captain to a five year deal it will be a good sign.
glovesave29
February 16th, 2011
7:52 am
I would like to see JF’s ratings chart cross referenced against a weather report for each city. Besides the fact that by the time the Finals roll around the Thrashers have been on vacation for 2 months, if it’s 80 and sunny here and 35 and miserable in Detroit or Pittsburgh – you know that the TV ratings will be affected.
Look y’all…Sage = Milton Waddams from Office Space. Just give him his stapler back, so he can go back to his Mom’s basement, and cut and paste all his responses here.
Buzzeng
February 16th, 2011
8:18 am
*sigh* makes me wonder how different the Thrasher history would be if David McDavid was “awarded” the Thrashers franchise instead of the ASG. At a minimum, there would probably be a hundred fewer employed attorneys in Atlanta…and only one throat to choke (not 8).
jimbo
February 16th, 2011
8:25 am
The way that ASG has managed this business would be a classic Case Study for any marketing/management school. If they’ve had an Exit Strategy for six years that called for selling the business, Strategy 101 is to build it up and increase its worth so that you can “Sell high” not at its lowest value. It looks like a classic case of inherited wealth with no intelligent attachements.