Friday night February 25, 2011 at Philips Arena – Be there Thrasherville
On Friday night February 25th, 2011 the Atlanta Thrashers will host the Florida Panthers in a Southeast Conference showdown. The scheduled start time for the game is the same as it is for all Friday home games in Atlanta and exactly one week from the posting of this blog, 7:30pm.
If you are a fan of the Thrashers…if you’re a fan of NHL hockey and support the league remaining in this city…. if you have been sickened by what the team’s current ownership has allowed this franchise to become…if you are mad as hell about what you’ve learned recently… then you need to be there.
In saying that, I’m looking at all of you out there in the blogosphere…all of you who frequent this online hockey forum as well as the one hosted by AJC Thrashers beat writer Chris Vivlamore. And that’s quite a lot of individuals, so I’m told.
I’m looking at those fans who normally make it to just a handful of games each season. I’m even looking at those who may make it to but one. If that’s the case…make next Friday that one.
Need a good deal on tickets? Well, simply click –>HERE<– and use promo code RAWHIDE.
I’m also looking at those of you who make it to almost each and every home game as well. Those would include season ticket holders, be it full or partial…my good friends up in The Nasty Nest… the fine people of The Smirkin’ Chicken…all those who frequent the Thrashers Message Boards…the boys at the The Blueland Chronicle as well as the many others who host their own independent Thrashers blogs…and last but certainly not least, the well over 800-member strong Atlanta Thrashers Fan Club.
Yes…I’m looking at all of you.
If you have the physical and financial means to do so…next Friday night, be there!
THEY POINTED THE FINGER AT YOU SO GIVE THEM ONE BACK
As you already know by now, just a few days ago Atlanta Spirit co-owner Michael Gearon pointed his finger at you, the fans of Atlanta Thrashers hockey. He pointed the finger at you citing your lack of attendance as one of the main reasons he and his fellow Atlanta Spirit partners may be forced to consider offers from those who may seek to relocate this franchise elsewhere. He did so just after we were given the good news of Dustin Byfuglien re-signing and just before the team went on a 3 game, week and a half long road trip.
Next Friday will be the first game played back at Philips Arena after he and his cohorts kicked us square in the teeth, gut…and other regions just south of there. As such, it will be the first time you can let Mr. Gearon and the rest of this cluster-flop of an ownership group know just what you think of them since this news story broke. In essence, this will be the first chance you get to shake your finger…whichever one you choose to display…right back at them all.
Really, this is the only way to let the Sucknificant Seven hear from you… seeing how none of them seem to possess the testicular fortitude to stand before you in a town hall meeting forum and answer your questions directly. Team President Don Waddell may at some time do so…say what you want about him but he’s at least been willing to show up and take the heat in person. However, don’t hold your collective breaths waiting for Gearon, Levenson or any other of the co-owners to man up and do so any time soon.
No, they won’t be there…but you should be.
FILL UP PHILIPS AND BE IN FULL VOICE
Yes, Philips Arena needs to be packed next Friday night…packed to the rafters. It should be filled with fans who are not only there to root for the hometown ice combatants, but also with fans who are willing to scream, chant and/or otherwise make it clear to the NHL world that it is not they who have cause this mess to proceed to this point. But rather, this is the direct result of what the owners have done to this organization since it purchased it seven years ago.
And I’m telling you folks…thousands of empty seats will not carry that message for you.
Also by packing out and rocking out Philips Arena Friday night, you can send a message to any would-be investor that this is what the place was like before the Great Octocluster ran it into the ground. And it could be like that again.
You not only need to be there for the game, but you need to show up well before the scheduled puck-drop time. You need to be outside of the arena and inside CNN Center with your signs displaying not only your love and support for the team, but also your feelings for this band of knuckleheads who have all but killed off this franchise.
I’m also guessing there will be a few members of the media there, both of the local and out-of-town variety. Given the events of this past week, I’m sure someone will want to gauge the mood of the fans here. So, you need to avail yourself to any reporter and any news cameraman there to express your thoughts to not only the NHL community around the North American continent, but the sports community in general as well. You need to have your faces in their cameras and your voices should set their audio equipment ablaze.
Now, I’m not saying to be offensive or vulgar in your demeanor…but do be loud, do be clear and do be passionate.
But most of all…do be there!
BOYCOTT THE BOYCOTT
To those of you out there who still hold to the belief that some sort of “boycott” is the best course of action, allow me say two things to you.
1. With all due respect for you opinion, you’re dead wrong.
2. Regardless of No. 1, there is still a way for you to help the cause…assuming, that is, if you are truly a fan of the team and support NHL hockey in Atlanta.
Simply join the rest of us before the game in front of Philips Arena and in CNN Center. Be there to voice your distain for the current ownership group to the media. Then, when the rest of us head in to watch the game, you can head into Taco Mac to watch it while enjoying some wings and an adult beverage or two.
If you simply do that, it will not put one single dollar into the pockets of the Atlanta Spirit, LLC.
Maybe none of this will matter a hill of beans to those who make up the Atlanta Spirit, LLC, (Lies, Lawsuits and Contempt). Certainly if they have shown such distain for you over the course of the last several years, it’s not hard to think they won’t really give a damn now.
But one thing is for sure. If hockey fans across this great land of ours tune into NHL On The Fly next Friday night to watch highlights from around the league, and they see a vast sea of empty blue seats on a night it really, really mattered for fans to be there…then all that will do is feed right into the false stereotypes that the Atlanta market is not suited for the sport at this level.
It will also serve as more ammunition for Gearon, Levenson and the rest of the biggest abomination to ever own a professional sports franchise to use when trying to convince Gary Bettman that they have little choice but to consider selling to someone intent on relocating the franchise away from Atlanta. And you don’t want to help supply them with that ammunition, do you? No…I didn’t think so.
Friday night…February 25, 2011…Philips Arena…be there!
For Thrasherville!
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289 comments Add your comment
Tom
February 19th, 2011
5:15 pm
Sharon, Bettman is sitting with the owner of the Oilers. Judging by his tan he may prefer the warm weather of Atlanta.
Great to see Stuart stand up for Kane. Something we have dearly been lacking. Do ya think Rammer explained the situation to his old D’Man?
Alan R.
February 19th, 2011
5:28 pm
What we need now, is guys to stand up for the goalies. Pavelec and Mason have been run many times this year.
ScooterX42
February 19th, 2011
5:33 pm
3-2 Thrashers…..GOD I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!!
And you damn right ill be there…..for Friday and next Thursday against the Sens!!!
SAVE THE THRASHERS!!
ScooterX42
February 19th, 2011
5:33 pm
Well…..crap….
The Real Thrash
February 19th, 2011
5:34 pm
Is anyone watching the game?
Great goal by Kane!!!!
The Real Thrash
February 19th, 2011
5:34 pm
Do not give up!!!
UGASlobberknocker
February 19th, 2011
5:49 pm
Rawhide, this was your best column ever.
Thrashy Thrashy
February 19th, 2011
5:51 pm
No lead is safe with this crew.
It sure would be nice to see some good hockey here just once before this team skips town. Just once, dammit.
Thrashy Thrashy
February 19th, 2011
5:58 pm
I’d cut Oduya right on the spot after that hat trick goal by Taylor Hall. Bleepdamned awful.
I hate watching this kind of crap. I really do. Antro took such a stupid penalty to set it up after more idiotic penalties earlier in the third. Ugh.
dj
February 19th, 2011
6:00 pm
I was about to buy tickets to Friday’s game until it went from 3-1 to 3-4. F!@# this team. There is no effort. They had no effort. If your going to let Tyler Hall walk in front of your net twice in the same fing periord then I’m not coming to support you.
Thrashy Thrashy
February 19th, 2011
6:01 pm
Seems like the Oilers have been on the power play the whole third period, doesn’t it?
Idiots.
Thrashy Thrashy
February 19th, 2011
6:05 pm
Our ownership may lack for testicular fortitude, but some of our players need to go see the Wizard and get a brain. We lost the game today because we were stupid.
Thrashy Thrashy
February 19th, 2011
6:06 pm
Well, at least we only gave up four goals in the third. That’s something to build on.
Tom
February 19th, 2011
6:06 pm
FAIL!
THE KISS
February 19th, 2011
6:09 pm
I AM THE KISS OF DEATH!
Sharon
February 19th, 2011
6:10 pm
That was awful.
Tom
February 19th, 2011
6:11 pm
How the heck do we let Hall come in on the goal THREE times untouched.
First Mason gives up the post as the d-man is watching from 5 feet away.
Second no one picks him up on a give and go.
Third Oduya is SOOO out of position and then never even tries to recover when Hall is whacking on Mason.
And I am not even going to talk about the first goal Mason gave up in the second. That would get a squirt goalie pulled.
And the penalties we took were the classic “200 feet from the net” variety.
Rammer is a teaching coach but man if he does not go Boudreau he should be fired.
LAC
February 19th, 2011
6:12 pm
After this, I am DONE with The Atlanta Thrashers, Good-Bye, It has NOT been fun. I will never attend another game ever in Atlanta, with a gutless preformance like this, Totally Disgusting !
Kovy's Agent
February 19th, 2011
6:12 pm
We are, once again, the worst team in the league.
Kovy's Agent
February 19th, 2011
6:15 pm
Somebody alert the defense, Oduya especially, that this isn’t an all-star game, putting a body on your man is allowed. Pathetic, absolutely pathetic.
drajax
February 19th, 2011
6:20 pm
from my seat in front of the television I saw a bunch of players just playing out the string. It was sickening. I’m disgusted with the team, the coaching and the ownership.
ScooterX42
February 19th, 2011
6:22 pm
this is what 680 the fan just posted on thier facebook page…The Thrashers lose a tough one in Edmonton. After being up 3-1 in the 3rd, they lose 5-3. The Post Game Show with Mitch Evans and Dan Kamal is up next. Only on the Trashers Radio Network……680 the fan CALLED US THE TRASHERS!!!! GOD I HATE THAT STATION!!!!
Always Hoping
February 19th, 2011
6:26 pm
“Great to see Stuart stand up for Kane. Something we have dearly been lacking. Do ya think Rammer explained the situation to his old D’Man?”
That was nice to see………….then Stuart disappears. Plays all of 10 minutes. I get he’s new and doesn’t know whatever system we have. But geez he couldn’t have played any worse than Oduya.
Kovy's Agent
February 19th, 2011
6:26 pm
And that, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Stuart, is Thrasher hockey, welcome to the club!
Curly
February 19th, 2011
6:36 pm
The Thrashers blow a 2 goal lead in the third period….. AGAIN!
3 power play goals in the third by the Oilers (Hall). No one (Oduya) challenges the teenager Taylor Hall in front of the net. No grit, no toughness.
Let’s face it folks, this team is bad. However, just because a team is bad is no reason to pick up and move it though. No one in the NHL should expect sell outs for this type of play, especially in this economic environment.
Craig Ramsay
February 19th, 2011
6:38 pm
How many coaches could blow a 3-1 lead in the 3rd period vs. the worst team in the league.
You many not like what I am doing, but you have to admit can do things that few coaches are capable of.
Brendan
February 19th, 2011
6:39 pm
I’m glad that Gary Bettman saw this game, in person. I’m sure if we emailed him … and asked him what he thinks it might be like to be an Atlanta Thrashers fan … he’d understand. He’d say, “Clearly, you’re in a playoff hunt, but dropping games to the NY Islanders, Maple Leafs, Oilers, etc. And next up, the playoff-less in a DECADE Florida Panthers. You’re 6-14-5 in your last 25, and two of those wins were ‘miracle comebacks’ versus the NY Rangers and Florida Panthers. As Commissioner, I do understand the situation.”
As Commissioner, his concern should be with the Oilers, and their direction. That’s a market that needs a little bit of propping up. It’s hard to draw players there, unless there’s a contending team in place. He’s got to see this game as ENCOURAGING for the Edmonton market. Hall, Eberle, etc.
I’m getting ready to make a statement that might catch on, Rawhide. Ready for it? “Atlanta was READY for the NHL. The NHL wasn’t READY for Atlanta.” Perhaps that requires some explanation. Though, I think most get it. The NHL cannot simply place a team just anywhere. It’s got to assess the market they attempt to infiltrate. When the NHL identified Atlanta as “fertile” ground to reestablish NHL roots, it was CORRECT. Point of fact, the Atlanta Thrashers soldout 38 of 41 home games in 1999-2000. In short, Atlanta was READY to receive this product. Interest level was high. Fans were energized. All it needed … was the part to be delivered by the NHL. Namely, it was the responsibility of the NHL to PROPERLY VET an ownership to oversee this new franchise in Atlanta. The NHL had to REALIZE that it was a notch in the Football belt, with some pretty strong baseball ties. Plainly, the NHL had to know … that the “start up” process in Atlanta required a CONTENDING product within 4-5 years. It HAD to know that.
I repeat, the NHL HAD TO KNOW THAT. The weather’s good here. We have a zoo. We had a major attraction in the Aquarium in the works. We have Stone Mountain. World of Coca-Cola. Mountains are a 3-hour drive. Savannah’s 4.5 hours away. Disney World is a one-day trip. Lakes Lanier and Allatoona, and Callaway Gardens, are but a short get-a-way for Atlanta residents. The NHL knew this. The NHL dropped the ball on their research on the ownership for the Atlanta market. You can lose in Boston. You can lose in New York City. You can even lose … in HockeyTown and Chicago. It’ll be okay. But you cannot lose in Atlanta. You cannot lose in Phoenix. You cannot lose in Raleigh. You cannot lose in Nashville. You cannot lose … in Columbus, OH. Pretend there were a team in New Orleans, Louisiana. You can’t lose there, either. The ownerships of those franchises have to undergo ADDITIONAL scrutiny. The NHL never GOT READY for the Atlanta market. That’s on them. That’s on the NHL. The interest level here … was run off, by antagonistic ownership and incompetent management.
Red Light, just out of curiosity, when was the LAST TIME the Atlanta Thrashers soldout a home game? It’d be fun to sellout Philips Arena, just for “old time’s sake.” Let’s call it, “Turn back the Clock Night –Pretend it’s October of 1999.”
Diehard
February 19th, 2011
6:39 pm
I can’t believe the Thrasher FANS lost another away game.
Brendan
February 19th, 2011
6:49 pm
Rawhide, (pause,) at what point … do we “officially” call a ‘time of death’ on a season? At first glance, when the team is ‘mathematically eliminated.’ Right? Well, I think it’ll take 17-6 the rest of the way to make it in, right? This is a team that’s won only six of the past twenty-five (6/25), for a .340 clip.
Are we really going to cling to the ol’ mathematically eliminated approach? Or, can we correctly assess that this trade deadline should be about addressing the future. Just b/c there are 23 games left doesn’t mean we should ignore the trending of the previous 25. After all, 25 games ago, we were ALSO STILL sizing up the playoff possibility. We now have a very telling ’sampling’ from which to draw conclusions. Every player knew what was at stake. Every player is accountable for performance. The Coaching knew what these past few games meant. Since the All-Star break, this team is 1-6-1. Let’s just brush it under the carpet, maybe nobody will notice???
The truth is … we aren’t winning games. The truth is … we’re losing to the teams beneath us. The truth is … our ownership set up a budget for this team to finish 29th or 30th. Look at our goal against … compared to the rest of the league. Any second now, Sage of Bluesland will show to proclaim, perhaps CORRECTLY, that every win from this point forward … screws up our draft pick this summer.
Thoughts, please? If you agree it’s time to sell, we don’t have a Savard, a Hossa, a Kaberle, or a Kovalchuk to move. So, what can we sell, and what can we get?
Fan
February 19th, 2011
6:50 pm
Edmonton has 30 sellouts in a row despite having a lousy record.
Thrashy Thrashy
February 19th, 2011
6:57 pm
I don’t think the draft pick matters that much.
Until we add more guys in that 27-34 range who can get the job done consistently at the NHL level, we’re going to struggle. The problem with talented guys who are 27 to 34 years of age is that they require a team to spend some money on them. Since we do not spend much money (I appreciate the Buff deal, but that was crapped on immediately), we are stuck with a team that is too young and has very little talented veteran leadership. Today, our most talented veteran offensive player (Antropov) took one of the dumbest penalties we will see this season. The mere fact that Nik Antropov is our most talented veteran offensive player says a lot about what we are lacking.
AtlFlamesFan
February 19th, 2011
7:04 pm
Un-friken-believable. 3 3rd period PP goals to the WORST PP unit in the league. But if you let thier guy come from the corner to the net without touching him, then what can you expect.
Big Daddy (formerly waffleboy)
February 19th, 2011
7:11 pm
Soft and gutless 3rd period. Make the entire team walk home.
Russian
February 19th, 2011
7:22 pm
Please sold a TEAM and move them somewhere, I will sleep quitly and peasefull. I could not take it anymore.
Smoothie
February 19th, 2011
7:26 pm
Therein lies the problem: our 27-34 y/o guys stink. Thorburn with the dumbest penalty ever, Antropov not producing (at least he was fighting for position on his penalty), Oduya playing like a statue, Mason always too deep in the crease and Hainsey having to drag Bogosian’s butt all over the ice. And what has Boulton done in 2 months other than beat up Prust? He was on the ice for a goal scored for the first time in about 19 games. And don’t get me started on Ramsay! Where was Stuart in the 3rd period??
Curly
February 19th, 2011
7:28 pm
Brendan – This season is over. We aught to be a seller at the deadline… starting with Oduya. Hainsey, Antropov, Stewart and Bergfors would be the others. Picks and prospects would be the price. Whatever Dudley can get. We need to start moving salary to have room to resign Ladd, Wheeler, Kane, etc. on the CHEAP ASG budget.
Bob Marley
February 19th, 2011
7:29 pm
After this game, i’d rather go to the movies. At least I don’t drive home depressed the Garbage (Thrash)
blow another game.
Owners don’t play on the ice, players do…
Buck up or ship out Thrashers
Puckhead
February 19th, 2011
7:37 pm
We just traded a 28 year old @ 1.3 mil a year that can play. Think any owners will be at casino night?
Brendan
February 19th, 2011
7:37 pm
Kovalchuk and Tallinder, I believe, have put the Devils up, 2-0, vs. Carolina. And we cannot be happy that Carolina is losing, or loses this game. We don’t look at the teams around to FALTER to help us make the playoffs. We have to take care of our OWN business.
And now, it’s 3-0, New Jersey. Brian Rolston with the goal.
Mike
February 19th, 2011
7:41 pm
A new start here in hockey mad Winnipeg, a sold out arena every night, and the team being front and centre in the limelight, should give them a bit of a moral boost and a jump in their step.
Lookin’ forward to this fall boys!
Acer
February 19th, 2011
7:42 pm
NJD has been unreal after firing MacLean. A win in Carolina will put them SIX points behind the Thrashers. Don’t worry about the Canes, worry about the Devils.
Bob Marley
February 19th, 2011
7:43 pm
Forget about the playoffs; think more about what we can get for the future:
Oduya, Modin, Mason to Anaheim for a bag of pucks and (hopefully) at least a 5th round pick.
Stapleton and Stewart to Canadiens for a 2nd and 3rd round pick.
Bogosian (AKA NHL BUST) to the Senators for 2 1st round draft picks (2012 & 2013 nhl draft)
People this team can build around:
Kane,
Enstrom,
Buff,
Burmy,
Pavelec
Sharon
February 19th, 2011
7:47 pm
The 3rd period made my eyes bleed, but remember… this is NOT the roster that we’ll be rooting for once we get good, solid ownership. We already know that the Atlanta Spirit is selling the team, and quickly if they can. Now we MUST show up and prove that we’re a good fanbase to keep the franchise here. Are we going to let another city get the benefit of the competitive team that’s coming?
In the meanwhile, suck it up and consider your ticket money as an investment in OUR future.
Listen, people, there is still a light at the end of this tunnel.
Bob Marley
February 19th, 2011
7:51 pm
Just watch the Winnipeg jets win the Cup next season guys then we will all realize these
fat a$$ l#rds we call owners ruined this team.
Bob Marley
February 19th, 2011
7:53 pm
Thanks Moose we owe you one for saving our a$$es literally… (3-0 devs) sigh of relief
Too bad the cheap a$$ ASG didn’t resign you.
I LOVE MOOSEEEEEE!
Brendan
February 19th, 2011
7:56 pm
Ya know, we should also talk about Chris Mason’s performance. A lot of times, when a player is in that low, there’s just not much net at which to shoot. So, the only viable option is the five hole, to see if the goalie will open the wickets. Mason, to me, was at fault for four of those goals, starting to the MPS goal. Mason must make that save. Two of the Taylor Hall goes were on Mason, period the end.
Remember something about Nik Antropov, he’s played the whole year hurt. Another organization probably would have longterm IR’d him for the season, bringing in a player at $4 million salary, to take his place. Antropov might be just fine next season, when healthy.
Lost in this game, is an utterly beautiful goal by Evander Kane, short-handed, that put us up, 3-1. That should have been the GWG.
Fan, re: Edmonton. True or false, you couldn’t remove hockey from the fabric of the Edmononton lifestyle, if you dropped an atomic bomb on it? You can lose in Edmonton. What ELSE are people going to spend money on? Those five Cups were unquestionably … the single most important thing that ever, ever happened to the community of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Is there any chance … kids would ever stop going to pee-wee hockey in Edmonton? Is there shortage of sheets of ice in Edmonton? There are probably more rinks in Edmonton, than in the entire State of Georgia. In this market, the product has to have the BELIEF of the townspeople to be successful. This week, the hockey fans of the region learned that its ownership have been trying to sell this teams within five minutes of acquiring it. Not exactly ‘confidence-inspiring’ in the “committed ownership” department. Which begs the question, “If the owners don’t care, why should the fans?” Fan, can you imagine … the Edmonton market going a DECADE without a playoff win, with the SAME General Manager in place? Think the Edmonton media would gloss that one over, burying hockey on the back page of the newspaper? C’mon. You can lose in Edmonton and sellout for 300 straight games. Going to Hockey, for Edmonton, is like breathing for the rest of us.
Bob Marley
February 19th, 2011
7:59 pm
A BRUTALLY BAD TIME….
The Winnipeg jets will probably come up with some slogan like this:
“WIN OR GO HOME”
joedaiceman
February 19th, 2011
7:59 pm
Yep- Rawhide is a flat out genius. Show how upset we are by filling the joint. The owners are laughing in their sleep. Remind me never to invest in anything this crackerjack recommendsWhat a joke. Bet he is on their payroll.
Joe Johnson
February 19th, 2011
8:15 pm
Hi my name’s JJ and I play for the Hawks
Were pretty good.
I think i’m worth more than the thrashers
I make 120 million
The thrashers are worth 70 million
If I wasn’t a selfish jerk I’d buy this team.
Rawhide
February 19th, 2011
8:29 pm
Rawhide, (pause,) at what point … do we “officially” call a ‘time of death’ on a season? At first glance, when the team is ‘mathematically eliminated.’ Right? Well, I think it’ll take 17-6 the rest of the way to make it in, right? This is a team that’s won only six of the past twenty-five (6/25), for a .340 clip.
Brendan – That would be when they are mathematically eliminated, of course. But you may look back at today’s devastating loss as when they went into hospice care.
Uncle Milty – 60 days you say? OK…that’s what, sometime in mid April? Tell ya what, my friend…I’ll give you a few extra days, say right until the end of April.
So, please do come on back then when you still don’t have our Thrashers and enlighten us all as to why the big announcement wasn’t made. Then, I’ll give you another invite back next fall…then next winter…then next spring…
You get the picture.