“The Balkan” is Detroit venture capitalist JB Smith

GOLD

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This pleases me.

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Second!!

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Holy hell. That’ll teach me to read the story first. LOL.

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If this in fact does happen Atlanta will finally have a hockey team to rival the old Flames teams. For the love of God Almighty I hope Canada gets 2 expansion teams so they can STFU about stealing other cities teams and do what they do best, rip on the Leafs.

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J.B. Smith said he was investing in Steelers, and never got to the negotiating table…hope that isn’t the case here.

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at least now we have a real person to root for in this whole thing.

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This from @EKaneATL9 : Pasi!

Also this #Balkan vs. #WinnipegJets (NHL copyrighted/patented/bought up the name and logo last year!) is killing me.

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Don’t know ANYTHING about this guy. I,too, would urge caution as I can recall the “excitement” when AS, LLC bought the Thrashers and how everyone had high hopes after the Time Warner ownership. I am hoping for good things to come out of this, but am reserving judgement.

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I’ve been following Kincade’s twitter feed ever since he first mentioned the Balkan. He never wavered from his story so I knew there had to be some truth to it. I know so little about JB Smith but at the same time he is my current best friend. Hopefully Kincade has been able to convince him that Atlanta is a real hockey market and we are real close to showing it. It would be a shame to finally get the ship righted and then get shipped off to the frozen tundra. Welcome to Atlanta, Mr. Smith and good luck.

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Not to be too much of a gloomy gus, but knowing who this mystery buyer is now doesn’t change the fact that the ASG still may not want to sell all three entities or allow the Thrashers to be sold and continue to play here.

Not much J.B. Smith can do but offer them a deal. They can still say no way, we would rather deal with the devil.

Hopefully some positive will come out. Maybe the media will contact Smith and others to ask what’s been the hold-up? Obviously the answer will be the ASG morons having zero empathy for the Atlanta fans.

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Ok…we have 2 different reports.

1) ATL group wanting to buy the Thrashers.

2) The Balkin wanting to buy Philips, Hawks, and theThrashers.

Not knowing what the offers or the finances of the purchasers might be leaves me a bit underwhelmed, but if they pass the smell test the NHL needs to tell ASG LLC to stop negotiating with True North.

I’m off the rollercoaster but my stomach is still queasy!

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Not sure this guy has the chops to do the deal. My interpretation of his comments sound like ” we only do the deal if it is really, really cheap.”
And that wont work with TNorth burning holes in their pockets with cash.We know the ASG are mercenaries and will sell to the highest bidder regardless of how close the “stay in Atlanta offers are”.

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It all comes down to the definition of a legitimate offer is, I guess. I can be a multi-billionaire and want to keep the Thrashers here, but I am only going to offer 1 million dollars. In that case, I’m sure the NHL can’t force the owners to take that offer. Where is the line drawn to be considered a legit offer?

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If Jay Clemons’ twitter update is correct, Mr. Clemons has quit his job at Sports Illustrated to handle Mr. Smith’s Atlanta dealings. That sounds kind of serious. In any event, please turn out to Select-A-Seat on Saturday to show support. Here’s his quote:

“Loved that job … but this is more important.”

They are old buddies from Michigan so it not sure how much to read into that.

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if this can be messed, ASG will find a way

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Interesting. If Smith is actually offering anything close to what the franchise is worth, then Bettman will have something to hang his hat on and tell ASG that they won’t approve the sale to TNSE (and he should want them around anyway, just in case Phoenix — way more unstable — falls through!).

If there were truly no offers, then Bettman wouldn’t have a leg to stand on — he can’t prevent the sale outright, and if the _only_ buyer is TNSE, then of course it has to happen. But as long as there are groups making reasonable inquiries, then there’s leverage to be had to make the ASG sell at a fair price. As others have noted, even though Bettman would like the $60M to cover the losses in Phoenix, he also shares no love at all for Brucie and the rest of the Atlanta Diaper Group; if he thinks TNSE will still be able to buy Phoenix (ie Glendale flakes… again), then he might well stick Brucie good one last time.

Have to wait and see.

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@Peter Puck
I do not think that you would be able to do it that quickly.
There would be too many people in line in front of you!!!!

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Since we know that these ASG jerks have one foot out the door, let’s show new owners this town will support the team. I have renewed my season tickets and suggest everyone who wants to keep the Thrashers in the ATL sign up tomorrow.
I don’t see a downside to signing up. If the team leaves, i get my money back. If we sellout the place and the ASG changes their mind, they look like the idiots they are and if they sell to a new owner who has a sold out building – they still look like the idiots they are!

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Just and idea, if you all are serious about season tickets if there is new ownership, you could go to the Thrashers Select a Seat on Saturday in numbers. It may send a message.

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It is so obvious C Viv and Kincade have some kind of problem with each other.

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It is $999.00 for the lower bowl. Come on!!!

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I know I have given friends and family tickets over the years. I am calling them and asking them to make a commitment to keep the Trash here. I hope to double my season ticket order by asking these folks to (a) buy their own season tickets, or (b) commit to pay for atleast 10 games next season.

Come on season ticketholders. We should all try to double/triple our order.

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Don’t look now but the Spirit Clowns have intentionally placed a road block in front of keeping the Thrashers in Atlanta. I hope these guys become born again virgins in hell for bin Laden.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/spirit-also-pursuing-hawks-949288.html

It’s time for the NBA and NHL to step in together and put the screws to the ASG.

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This “exclusive negotiating rights” bit for the Hawks is crap! Buying all 3 is much more feasible. I wonder if any suitors called asking about a 3 and ASG replied that only the Thrashers were for sale.

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The Hawks cannot be moved from Atlanta. They are tied to Philips arena until the bonds are paid off.

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So the Balkan is balkin’ at providing his financials? And they already have an exclusivity agreement for the Hawks and Philips with someone else? My gut always told me not to put any credence in Kincade . . .

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“I’ve never been a proponent of throwing Waddell under the bus over the last eleven-12 years, but if the Thrashers find new ownership, I think it would be a good time to part ways with Don. Sort of a “Thanks for all you’ve done, (or, not done) but we’re gonna start with a clean slate. Thanks!”

I’ve read some ridiculous things on this blog over the years, but this might take the cake. I read plenty of this type of tripe early on–but apparently Rip Van Winkle does exist and his wool has grown over his sheeplike eyes.

Ya’ think, Einstein?

My faith in humanity takes a toll when reading the likes of GaVasheep and Alanlamb…and now this.

(It would actually be funny if it weren’t so pathetic.)

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Dang spam filter….I still can’t believe what I just read from one of the sheep. It goes:

“…I’ve never been a proponent of throwing Waddell under the bus over the last eleven-12 years, but if the Thrashers find new ownership, I think it would be a good time to part ways with Don. Sort of a “Thanks for all you’ve done, (or, not done) but we’re gonna start with a clean slate. Thanks!…”

This rivals some of GaVasheep and Alanlamb’s best (worst) blustering….and is definitely in the neighborhood of one of Sara’s spweadsheets…

As others have pointed out, anything Kincade is automatically questionable. This idiot actually blames the fans for the current mess….of course, he’s too busy fighting for the scraps from ownership/management’s table to tell the TRUTH….What a joke; I’ve stopped subsidizing his incompetence, as well…

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Now that we know who at least some of the players are, I wonder how long before a deal is finalized, or at least brought before the commissioners and BOGs? Was JB Smith’s group the one that was going to completely redevelop the area around Philips? Greenline + Beltline + revamped MARTA station at GWCC/Philips + new Hawks/Thrashers/Philips ownership = new age for Atlanta.

Don’t screw this up.

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You sheep are blasting C-VIV because you can’t handle the truth. Should C-VIV hug you and tell you all will be fine? Then when the mess moves to Peg you’d blast him for not knowing what was happening. So all you sheep flock down to select your seats……then good luck in getting your money back in a timely manner.

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Why on earth do we keep have to get updated information about this from this papers Thrashers beat reporter via Winnipeg sports talk stations?

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Can we just BAN that idiot Waddell and the ASG.

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Agree Sharon.
Look at Equity11.com. It looks pretty lame.

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Kincade claims this Smith wants all 3? Well, 2 are already confirmed off the table as reported. Do you fail to realize that?

No one is going to purchase the Thrashers to stay in Atlanta without owning the Arena, no revenue, paying rent… give your head a shake… It’s over.

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Sage,

You’ve just proven that you’re just one of those people who like to compain, even if someone agrees with you.

If the team were to win the cup with a roster full of All Star players, on a league minimum budget, you’d still find something to whine about, so go bWow a goat.

…and you’re dismissed. Thanks for comin’ out though.

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If you think it’s BS, you can go tell him yourself. JB Smith will likely be in attendance at the select-a-seat event on Saturday.

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Chris Thorburn and Eric Boulton will be making 2 separate appearances each at Brandsmart USA in May and June per Thrashers website. Interesting. Marketing the players. Select a seat is still Saturday. Yet to be cancelled. Whatever.

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A buyer who refuses to show his credentials over months pretended to be interested in the Steelers but never even negotiated. I love the comments on how Viv should not have commented that there was no interested buyer just based on the buyer not being suitable. Tell you what I will offer $5,000 grand to buy Atlanta- you guys need a reality check. Not saying a white knight can’t happen but it wont be J.B. Smith and it looks less and less likely. This is not Gary’s fault either he can’t force a sale for less than the value of the franchise otherwise I expect a call on my $5,000 offer. The ownership group already got a $20 mill offer- guess what it didn’t happen- you guys should write Gary. This is great publicity for J.B. and Kin who you guys is a respected journalist despite not tweeting about J.B. refusing to show his credentials, can’t say I blame him not nearly as exciting as the Balkan and nobody wants to hear the truth. So sad. The “Balkan” had months why not come forward until an exclusivity contract has already been signed? You need to ask yourself these sort of questions before getting all worked up.

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I think Johnny K has some credibility here. Nothing against Chris V. We need this team to stick around. Compare the Thrash to the other pro teams here in the ATL. It’s not like the other 3 have been bringing home hardware on a regular basis. Uh, once! Let’s Stay Thrashers…

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In a few years, J.B. Smith will be sharing a jail cell with Boots Del Biaggio…

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GO SAGE GO, ALWAYS TELLING IT LIKE IT, REALLY IS !!!!!!! I BELIEVE YOU 100% !!!!!!!!!!

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Any fool can see how poorly this team has been run. Anyone with a brain can see that fans who went to games didn’t make a damn bit of difference in what the ownership did. The incompetence wasn’t subsidized. Look at the attendance, for Christ’s sake. It’s been terrible for years. These buffoons, preceded by Time Warner, never did a damn thing to make this organization into anything resembling a competent business.

That being said, this team, no matter how flawed and inept it may be, is our NHL team. This is all we have. I am not from Detroit or Chicago or New York or Boston or Philly or any other city. If the Thrashers leave, I am not going to go slinking back to my “first team” like so many Thrasher fans will. I will have no team. I’ll just have to revert to how I used to watch hockey: playoffs only. I hate that, but having a dog in the hunt makes the game that much more relevant to me.

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Whoever has Glavine on their side wins this fight. If a deal gets done to keep the Icebirds in Atlanta, I’ll get season tix on Saturday, even though I really can’t afford the ones I want…

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So, IF this deal works out for the Atlanta Scumbag Group, this is what we will have. They will have a new majority owner of the Hawks and the arena rights. They can buy in as minority partners, keeping their fantasy team ownership wet dream alive. They sell the Thrashers to the highest bidder, making them even more money. They watch the Thrash leave and get more open dates for the arena, which they also want. The hockey fans are left out in the cold, as we have been the whole time. As stated earlier, it’s too bad they could not have put such effort and planning into the Thrashers all these years.

I’m sure they would protest that this is “just business, not personal”. The failed owners who will continue to live in this town will realize something else. For Thrasher fans, this is nothing but personal.

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They should be renamed the Anal Sabotage Group

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Per this BWA article : http://www.birdwatchersanonymous.com/2011/5/17/2175562/is-this-the-end-of-the-thrashers#storyjump

Steve Stotland is also in the mix (he’s already tried to buy both the Canadiens – outbid – and Coyotes – walked away from the legal), and would seem to be a legit contender if so …

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some one isn’t telling the truth or is being lied too. I honestly feel a lawsuit in Glendale or threat thereof has the whole situation in limbo. I also feel Betman et al will do what’s best for the league’s overall exposure in mass media. If they think it would get more media exposure in Winnipeg, I guess they have that set of data to back that up. if the thrashers leave there will be hockey in Phillips eventually. I wouldn’t be shocked if TNSE and ASG worked out a franchise swap of some sort. Here’s the $64,000 question are the moose for sale?

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Hockey Biltong, yeah we all know the feeling. What’s worse is we didn’t even get dinner bought for us and we damn sure aren’t expecting any flowers the next day.

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Everyone should go listen to this interview with former Atlanta Flame Dan Bouchard.

http://www.tsn.ca/window/podcastcentre.aspx?xmlURL=http://www2.tsn.ca/podcasts/tsnradiopodcast.xml&mp3URL=http://podcast.tsn.ca/tsnradio/bouchard_051611.mp3

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The select a seat is really nothing more than a time slot to come by and see what your seat could be. All I hope is everyone here would just get behind supporting the team but even in times like this there are many opinions…

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@ Stan – Haha to your last comment! Gotta love the discourse on this blog. I honestly don’t know what to think about the future of the franchise, it feels like I am getting hit with different objects (some of it poo, some of it candy) from all sides and I have no idea when to duck and cover or run like the wind. Quite frankly, I am tired of discussing it as I think there is absolutely nothing we can do about it unless one of you has the means to buy the team – but if that were the case you already would have.

Tampa almost made it back last night. Both goalies sh!t the bed in that game. Great game and I love the scoring just as much as I like a goalie duel. Still going with Tampa in this series.

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Are we having fun yet?

The only good thing to come out of this is the removal of the ASG from two sports franchises.

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thrasherdawg – it’s a black thing..you wouldnt understand

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NO!!!

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Tom – was Gorins the place on the corner in the CNN center? I remember some place where I could get a New Castle, like 44 oz, for $6. That sucks if it is true.

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Tom, it is truly a sad day for America…… That was one of my favorite things to do, show up early, have a huge beer and listen to the Anthem. My day is ruined.

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No more white cups!

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Bad news coming again via Twitter from Craig Custance:

Notified that JB Smith (the Balkan) was removed from all positions with Equity 11 and iSekurity. Also has $1.9 million judgment against him.

Also told that JB Smith has not made any payments on judgment and that “several creditors are also seeking payment from JB Smith.”

Ugh…

(From his outstanding work here at the AJC and at the Sporting News, I really trust Craig’s reporting. Even at times like this when I want him to be wrong.)

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litz- greatly appreciated… that makes this second local group seem like it has a shot to make this team stay for a bit longer.

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Darren Eliot was on XM Home Ice yesterday to discuss the Atlanta market, ownership, and other topics. The interview can be heard from the link below.

http://www.xmhomeice.com/onair_audio/11-05-19%20Darren%20Eliot%20-%20Pred%20TV%20Analyst.mp3

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Unfortunately a local owner(s) option isn’t even a real possibility, if it ever was. That was all hype from the very beginning from the “film producers” to ex-baseball players. And now non-local options are coming out from under rocks but this is more unreal options. This bird (thrasher) has flown though no one seems to believe the reality of the empty nest. Yet.

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The Balkan…
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/18/idUS183845+18-May-2011+MW20110518

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no way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this guy, no way!!!!!!!!!!!

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PLAPS – Yeah, that is a GREAT place!

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Hi Milty! Guess what?

An motion to dismiss the $1.9M judgment against Smith was filed yesterday

Another thing interesting to note, is there is a “typo” in the index number provided. It might be valid in other jurisdictions, but not in Michigan.

The things that make you say HMMM, eh?

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I mean Alan =P

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MEMO to those planning a “rally” at the Gulch this weekend. I can’t think of worse planning for a rally than on a Spring weekend in the middle of the day at The Gulch. I know there’s a select a seat going on… but really? The Gulch? Really? I know we’re desparate… but it’s going to look really bad when less than 100 people show up for the huge “rally”. Please think of something better than this…

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Really? Then why is he listed as the managing partner on their own website?

http://www.equity11.com/team.htm

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Not wanting to chime in so much these days, but all of this is big time posturing: the Amazingly S&^%^y Group is leveraging to get more out whatever local buyers have expressed interest. True North/ie Thompson ie: the guy that owns Reuters ie the company that released this story. Conflicting reports all over the place. Unfortunately the only people who really know what’s going on right now are the parties actually negotiating (and we don’t even know who all of them are – ASG came out of no where to snap up the teams when David Mc David had a DONE deal – so done Turner had to pay him a boat load of cash because of bad faith negotiating).

Too much information makes it really hard to pick out the truth. You have really passionate advocates on either side that are going to try to paint this into corners to make their consituents happy campers. Custance and C-Viv being decent legitimate reporters can only comment on actual facts they know: fact: #The Balkan is JB Smith fact: ASG is negotiating with True North and Mooreto sell the Hawks and the Arena separately from the Thrashers. After that its anyone else’s guess. Easy to panic, but nothing is done and signed yet, and even then, it may not be done and signed yet. I still can’t fathom, that regardless of the #60mil Bettman is going to want to let go of the #8 media market in the world. Darren Elliott hit it on the head when he talked about how the ASG was just completely stupid when it came to running corporate partnerships, which Time Warner had in the bag when they sold the team. These idiots never knew what they were doing, and that’s on Bettman for not vetting ownership groups, and not wanting another bankrupt NHL owned team on his hands.

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Great find Glovesave! I just tweeted Craig Custance to see if he knows anything more about it.

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glovesave, guys. Come on, take another look around that web site, it looks like it was cobbled together in 20 minutes, it still has a (broken) link to the Steelers story, a story that wasn’t true, he didn’t buy into them and was discredited by it, yet it’s still on their web site? The thing looks and smells like amateur hour, if not a scam. The web site makes that “Hollywood Producer” we had last year look like a captain of industry. And the SI reporter quit his job to rep this guy? Yeah, ok.

This is becoming more and more of a farce with each passing day . . . now we’re going to show up Select a Seat? Who in their right mind would go down there and pick out a seat or put down a deposit given the current circus show going on?

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Glovesave – here is my reply from Craig Custance –

@TomRoyce Doubt it. Spoke with one of the people involved and they were surprised to hear of his interest in the franchises.

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JF – I agree the website is rather spartan. But look at what time Kincade tweeted the name yesterday, then look at the time I made the posting on the previous blog…it was a matter of moments. I had already been to the website by that time.

If in fact he had been removed from the partnership as reported by Reuters, and there were outstanding claims against him, he would have certainly been removed from the website. Not saying he is our “saving grace”, but there are things that do not add up here.

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Automated response from Bettman:

Dear Steve:

Thank you for your e-mail. Commissioner Bettman sends his appreciation for your interest in the NHL and your passion for the Thrashers.

As a League, we take all franchise matters very seriously because we understand the emotional and financial investments you make in the game and in our franchises. We make all reasonable and best efforts to maintain franchises in their current locations, and we have approached the Thrashers’ situation no differently from that of any other franchise. We have been working with the Thrashers’ ownership for some time in quest of a solution to their issues, and we continue to work with them because of its importance to us and to you.

Again, we value your support of the Thrashers and the NHL. Thank you so much for taking the time to write.

Sincerely,

National Hockey League Public Relations

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Anyone have a Jets jersey that can be torched at the gulch?

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More reponses from ‘The Commish”:

Dear Andy, Thank you for your e-mail. Commissioner Bettman sends his appreciation foryour interest in the NHL and your passion for the Thrashers. As a League, we take all franchise matters very seriously because weunderstand the emotional and financial investments you make in the game andin our franchises. We make all reasonable and best efforts to maintainfranchises in their current locations, and we have approached theThrashers’ situation no differently from that of any other franchise. Wehave been working with the Thrashers’ ownership for some time in quest of asolution to their issues, and we continue to work with them because of itsimportance to us and to you. Again, we value your support of the Thrashers and the NHL. Thank you somuch for taking the time to write. Sincerely, National Hockey League Public Relations

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what self-important JACKA$$ kincaide is… yeah, let’s see i’m a rich guy w. a legit interest in buying a substantial business – do i have my bankers call ASG’s bankers? no. how about my bankers call the NHL? no. how about I call the NHL? no. maybe i’ll have my attorneys do it? no. how about I call ASG’s CEO?
oh no, everyone knows that if you’re going to get a deal done, kincaide is the man
honestly, the whole thing is idiotic.

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My league response was slightly different. See below.

Dear Nate, Thank you for your e-mail. Commissioner Bettman sends his appreciation foryour interest in the NHL and your passion for the Thrashers. It was deeplytouching to read that you would buy season tickets to Thrashers games thisseason. We fully understand the commitment you are expressing with thatstatement. As a League, we take all franchise matters very seriously because weunderstand the emotional and financial investments you make in the game andin our franchises. We make all reasonable and best efforts to maintainfranchises in their current locations, and we have approached theThrashers’ situation no differently from that of any other franchise. Thedifference between the matter in Atlanta and the matter in Phoenix is thatthe Coyotes were thrown into an improper bankruptcy proceeding that turnedour “behind the scenes” efforts into very public ones. Please don’t mistake our having worked behind the scenes in this case tomean that we didn’t work as much or as hard on the Thrashers’ behalf. Wehave been working with the Thrashers’ ownership for some time in quest of asolution to their issues, and we continue to work with them because of itsimportance to us and to you. Again, we value your support of the Thrashers and the NHL. Thank you somuch for taking the time to write. Sincerely, National Hockey League Public Relations

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Tom – yeah, it was canned tuna.

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Here’s my reply back from the NHL a full 5 days after sending my email to the Commissioner:

Thank you for your e-mail. Commissioner Bettman sends his appreciation for
your interest in the NHL and your passion for the Thrashers.

As a League, we take all franchise matters very seriously because we
understand the emotional and financial investments you make in the game and
in our franchises. We make all reasonable and best efforts to maintain
franchises in their current locations, and we have approached the
Thrashers’ situation no differently from that of any other franchise. The
difference between the matter in Atlanta and the matter in Phoenix is that
the Coyotes were thrown into an improper bankruptcy proceeding that turned
our “behind the scenes” efforts into very public ones.

Please don’t mistake our having worked behind the scenes in this case to
mean that we didn’t work as much or as hard on the Thrashers’ behalf. We
have been working with the Thrashers’ ownership for some time in quest of a
solution to their issues, and we continue to work with them because of its
importance to us and to you.

Again, we value your support of the Thrashers and the NHL. Thank you so
much for taking the time to write.

Sincerely,

National Hockey League Public Relations

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Cornbread…
Yes
No

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Want to feel better about yourselves and your city Atlanta Thrasher fans? The Hockey News dated May 30, 2011 in a story by Adam Proteau titled ” Would you want to go to Winnipeg”? An agent told Adam Proteau this: “Players are talking about Winnipeg,” said the agent “No one – and I mean no one – wants to play there. You think Edmonton has a PR problem? Watch this one.” How many Thrasher players do you think are sweating bullets and can’t sleep about being possibly exiled to Winnipeg? I’ll bet the whole team. NHL better fix the Atlanta ownership problem because members of the NHLPA aren’t going to be too thrilled with members being dragged out of Atlanta only to be dumped in Winnipeg.

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Sherman treated Atlanta better than ASG has.

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I am part of the club! My form letter response from Bettman arrived in my e-mail today. So much for the heart felt letter that I sent.

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I have finally joined the club. Just got my response from the Bettman email sent on Friday. They don’t try to hide it though, the email address is auto-responder@nhl.com.

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What did you expect, “marry my daughter sonny?”

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Get Waddell to come to the party and we will turn it into a roast.

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Eager showed his true colors tonight and the reason why the Thrash got rid of him. He probably cost his team 2-3 goals tonight. Totally undisciplined.

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Eager pulled his “bring it on!” stance. Look, the guy’s a multiple-time offender, clearly on the NHL’s radar. Though he did score tonight, that hardly makes up for his undisciplined play. I think we’ll see his ice time significantly curtailed.

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Are we out of local owner options after yesterday?

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They certainlly have the money!! One the Amos’ owns our local minor league hockey club.

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So, hey guys, What is all this?

http://www.prweb.com/releases/atlanta-hawks-thrashers/phillips-arena-jim-ellis/prweb8454743.htm

Jim Ellis Audi announced today the launch of a multi-year partnership with the Atlanta Hawks, the Atlanta Thrashers and Phillips Arena that includes entitlement of the Jim Ellis Audi Lounge. Located on the court, ice and stage level among the arena’s courtside seats, the lounge offers guests access to a private bar, multiple television screens and direct entrance to the most premium of seating options in one of the top dual-sport, concert and events venues in the world. The relationship also includes sponsorship of the Atlanta Hawks Foundation annual fundraiser, Full Court Fest, sponsorship of the Atlanta Thrashers Foundation annual fundraiser, Casino Night, and vehicle displays outside of Philips Arena.

(Continued)

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Ha! Think Ben Eager is a bit sore? Check this:

“We’ve seen that before with Kevin,” said Ben Eager. “It’s sad that someone’s gonna sign him for big money when he’s a phony. He goes after our top players. He’s been asked many times, by lots of players throughout the League (to fight), and he’s declined.”

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Eager did get a nice flash last night from a Canadian stripper… it’s on PuckDaddy. Still a d-bag – but a d-bag who got flashed.

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Stan – that is awesome! Not really sure what she was going for, but nice rack. Actually, the vast majority of men get a bit distracted and “off their game” with an exhibition such as that. LOL!

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I guess the Spirit are drumming up sponsorships if either deal falls through. Is there any possible way that C-Viv and Kinkade might both be right? It just seems odd to have conflicting reports like this. Too, why does this not appear in hardly any mainline media outlets? A move to the ‘peg seems so odd and outta left field that even HNIC has lately thrown cold water on it.

After Spirit’s suit against the Lawyers, I’ll grant that these are some fellas who seem to be a wee bit ::sarcasm:: out of their depth, but a move to winnipegg makes zero sense from a league standpoint. Edmonton was about to move before it got recently saved, Calgary seems troubled, and the other thing I keep going back to is, God love ‘em, but the Thrashers were bad last year, and I just don’t see them being any better this year. And let’s say that this Chipman could over spend and turn his team into something great, how long could he sustain that model? And if he did that it wouldn’t be cash in / cash out. Winnipeg is just not that big.

My point is, there’s a play someone hasn’t made. If it goes to Winnipeg, either there’ll be this much bigger revenue stream or it won’t stay there very long. I mean he’d have to turn the player personnel over within two years otherwise people just won’t come. Canucks can yammer in chat rooms all they want but in a while it’ll be back to reality. And, they’ll pay double what we pay.

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JB Smith buying out the ASG = Trump running for prez

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WHO WOULD THE SPIRIT CHOOSE?!If this works out with a reputable offer from Smith We will really see where The Atlanta Spirit’s heart lies in keeping the team here. I understand the True North deal in Winnipeg is pretty large(170 Million) more money than another US buyer would probably offer and the league would make 60 million in the relocation fee.( I have a feeling 60 million dollars is the reason we are seeing no fight from Bettman and the league to find an Atlanta buyer or show support for the city.) So if both deals are out there will Spirit take less money to keep the team here ! I would love to say Yes but this group has put out so many lies I don’t have the faith they would do the right thing. But I am still hopeful LETS GO THRASHERS !!!!

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Hoof – Difference is that Jim Ball-silly and teh previous owners of the Yotes tried to pull a fast one on the NHL and Bettman had to step in to save face. A$G on the other hand has probably made it as hard as possible to keep the team in Atlanta so it is a win-win for the league and Canada. The NHL has more time to save a franchise that tried underhanded tactics to be sold and Canada gets another team. The only real losers in this are us Thrashers fans as we will have been screwed twice by uncaring ownership and a country that relentlessly mocks us.
See you all on Saturday!

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SomaAtl95, thanks.

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Are they talking about building yet another arena in Winnipeg??? Interesting stat with current arena is that if they sell out EVERY game that will put Winnipeg at 23rd in attendance in the league based on last year’s attendance figures and if you use figures from 2007-2008 (before US economy struggled) they would be no better than 27th…..

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Posted on C-Vivs blog about the tailgate, thanking a decent WPG fan – posting it here as well:
Thank you EXJet – Thank you for your candor. What us Thrashers fans don’t understand is that you guys lost the Jets and wouldn’t want to face losing NHL again when they come back to you (and we all hope they do by expansion), we have already lost 1 team due to crappy ownership, if crappy ownership strips us on NHL for a second time it will kill the sport here, again. Hockey is too great a game to go without!
Why on earth are so many of your countrymen wishing the pain you guys felt once onto us for a second time? With the impending demise of the KHL there will be quite a few more Russians available in the talent pool, the NHL could support 32 teams without issue and properly align conferences into 4 divisions of 4 teams each.
We in Atlanta would love Winnipeg and QC to both get teams back, just not by taking another team away from us. Don’t blame the fans when the owners cry hardship – The A$G was 7 out of 32 in Basketball payroll. They were 28 out of 30 on Hockey Payroll. Basketball doesn’t sell out here.
Our owners are screwing us and it makes it worse to be relentlessly mocked. Thanks again for being so cool about not mocking us.

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Sorry Glovesave but I’ll take poor NHL over good AHL every time. I get your point but just a different level of hockey…..but…..if AHL is my only choice, then I guess I could go watch, but I’ll care alot less.

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“I’ll take poor NHL over good AHL every time. I get your point but just a different level of hockey…..but…..if AHL is my only choice, then I guess I could go watch, but I’ll care alot less.”

I disagree, and I’ve been a hockey fan for 45 years and Original 6 club season ticket holder. I never once had anywhere near the fun or passion I had with the Knights here. The IHL (and the AHL is the same) is a lot of fun to root for, and they guys that are playing aren’t pansy ass Euros and prissy prima donnas like Kovy and the Sedins and their ilk, they’re lunch pail guys riding busses and busting their tails out there. And you can the up and coming guys being groomed for The Show.

I’m sorry, but I’m done with the NHL. Their Mickey Mouse run league is going to circle de toilet slowly but surely. It’s not a sustainable model, and the ludicrous contracts they hand out assures their demise.

The AHL will be $20 bucks a seat for great lower bowl tix, beers will still be $8 but that’s why God made Jameson and flasks. And it’s good hockey. Bettman can take his circus back up north and we’ll do just fine with the AHL club. The Winnipeg Thrashers need a new AHL affiliate and what better way than to place the farm club here. I’ve thought this was the plan for quite some time, get rid of the unsustainable NHL model here, and fill the dates with the same 10000 fans buying the same beer and hotdogs, voila.

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JB Smith news.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Hollywood-Stake-Appoints-JB-iw-1820010269.html?x=0

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JF – I have my Bouchard #30 jersey with the 1976 bicentennial patch in the closet and ready to wear at the next Flames game. See ya there.

One thing you NEVER got at a Knights game was anything less than 110% effort. Those guys wanted to move up and gave everything every night. I respected that. That effort + 10K in the crowd = a good time.

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Nice JB Smith “news”. Google “Hollywood Stake, LLC” and see what you find. You get a link to one thing, that bogus PR release in the link above, they invented this company today, probably done online for $100 for some Vegas registered fake company. This circus is getting beyond ridiculous. What are the odds that Kincade and this SI guy just whipped up this whole thing as a hail mary to try to save the club? If they did, kudos to them, at least they tried to shake someone out of the trees to compete with “The Balkan”.

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JF – have you EVER heard a louder crowd at ANY Atlanta hockey game than the Cup clinching game against Ft. Wayne? That was a fun night. The players also made their way over to the local watering hole with the trophy. Party went long into the Knight.

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A teammate of mine was the mascot that night!

You remember Claude the Trumpeter breaking the glass and landing on his keester?

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“You remember Claude the Trumpeter breaking the glass and landing on his keester?”

Oh yea, he broke his freakin’ neck, they take him off on a stretcher, he goes to Grady, yet he make it back in the 2nd half of the third to blow the darn thing in a neck brace!

If we ever meet I need to tell you my story about that Game 3 Turner Cup playoff melee that they had to call the riot police in (during Freaknik!) to end that wound up with Toporowski being banned from the league, and some folks (ahem) winding up in the pokey

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Still have my Knights sweater. Great times with the Knights.

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Sadly, Badger Bob, the only cheats in this scenario are the ones who posed as being upper management capable here in Atlanta. I simply don’t know why everyone expects the NHL to bail out this situation when they know that several other teams will be going down the same road as the one is here. I still believe we are only seeing the beginning of failed franchises until they re-write the CBA. If you are a potential buyer, and know the Cap floor is going up again, the new TV deal may soften that blow, but does nothing for your locally generated revenues. I don’t know why anyone expects it to work in Winnipeg, if it didn’t work here. It’s delusional and downright irresponsible.

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Its Tom Cousins in negotiations to keep the team here. The meeting was set up by one Mr. Gary Bettman!!

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Everybody else is denying it, but Globe and Mail say the deal is done and will be announced Tuesday:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/atlanta-thrashers-moving-to-winnipeg/article2029179/

Personally, I think the deal has been done for months, and all they’ve been doing since then are dotting i,’scrossing t’s, and waiting the appropriate amount of time to do it.

And the story line is going to be that the NHL has been working behind the scenes for years trying to sell our club, but that’s bullcrap. Nothing could be bought with the Belkin lawsuit going on.

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Alan – the sad part is all it takes from the league is to give Winnipeg and Quebec expansion teams in 2013-2014.

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Joe – I’m not saying you’re wrong in that. A deal very well could already be done, and this whole thing is a sham. However, I’m waiting to see what happens.

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Just saw the word on Versus intermission report–which came first, the Toronto report or the league denial? I feel like a sucker.

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I am so pissed – I cannot believe the f@$%ing sh!t i just heard on Versus.

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Joe, to answer question #1, I’m done with the NHL. If I don’t have a dog in the hunt, no use in watching it anymore. No one to pull for. We will never get another NHL team now, so there is no reason to follow the sport anymore. We all knew that even when the Flames left, that at some point, we might get another team, so I still followed the sport on TV and went to Knight’s games all the time. Now, Hockey is relegated to the likes of LPGA golf, or bobsled racing in my book. The NHL let incompetence and/or crooks steal two franchises from us. I’m done.

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Joe F, I bought a few Thrashers paraphernalia at half price at the last game with a terrible feeling that they would soon just turn into reminders of past times.

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http://www.sportsradio1290.com/

the reporter is on the air right now, confirming the story

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it sounds like the deal is done in terms of the agreement on terms is reached, and that the reason for the denials is that they wanted to keep it under wraps and are pissed the Brundt had a source that leaked him the news, and now they still have to dot i’s and cross t’s on the contract and they expect to have that done over the weekend.

So, now does the Spirit at least have the class to announce it tomorrow morning and call off the Select a Seat and save folks the embarrassment of going down to the Gulch Saturday in a futile effort to save something that’s been gone for months?

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Joe, you used Atlanta Spirit and class in the same sentence. Come on now.

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If Tuesday comes, and there’s an announcement, that’s fine, really. I can handle it.

If Tuesday comes, and there’s no announcement, then I’m going to laugh. Just like I laughed at all the “announcements” that came with regards to Phoenix.

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http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Thrashers-sale-report-not-accurate-122268064.html

Sounds like the Tues. press conference will be to announced that TSNE is going to start ticket sales and if they get 10000 or more, then the NHL will sign off on it.

If tickets go on sale there at 9am Tuesday, I expect them to hit the 10k number by noon on Weds.

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“If the announcement occurs on Tuesday, I’ll help everyone find the Spirit Clowns and Waddell.”

I heard Home Depot just placed an emergency rush order on two truckloads of pitchforks and torches . . . Levenson, Gearon, Seydel, Waddell, Kincade, who am I missing?

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Never more shall I return….. ESCAPE THESE CAVES OF ICE!!!

BIG MONEY GOT NO SOUL!!!!!

I don’t care if Led Zeppelin, The Who, Rush, Pink Floyd, and Triumph were all playing one big show at Phillips.(Zebra and April Wine opening) I wouldn’t give those fu%%s one penny!!!!

Screw the Hawks!!! Screw the ASG!!!

See you guys at the Gladiator games.

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Atlanta fans, grab the real story here. We know the Spirit Squad blows. We know Waddell was incompetent. But now we know something new. The NHL approved this months ago and threw Atlanta under the bus after they fought for Pittsburgh, Nashville, Tampa, Phoenix. Bettman and the NHL lied to us, this deal was done months ago, that’s a fact. All they’ve been doing is negotiating the contract, which takes months in and of itself, especially when dealing with jokers like Levenson and Co.

So, now knowing what the NHL did here, are you ever going to support this Mickey Mouse league again? That answer is pretty clear to me, fool me once, shame on you . . .

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NYR fan here:

Really pulling for you guys to beat the odds and stay put. It really is hard to believe that it was just four years ago when we had our playoff series. I’d like nothing more than for our teams to go at it again at some point in the years to come. The atmosphere in both arenas during those four games was absolutely electric and it’d be an absolute shame for the NHL to vacate a top ten media market that was methodically poisoned by massive failure, stupidity and incompetence from your ownership and management the levels of which couldn’t possibly be duplicated in any sport. Hoping you guys can weather this storm and see brighter days ahead. Good luck.

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Why did Atlanta EVER have a hockey team ? Hillbillys + hockey don’t mix ya’ll. Take the ice way, way back up north princess. Dawgs always rule!!

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“The team was pretty much sold earlier on and the rest of this mess is a sham to cover their tracks.”

Yep, this is exactly what happened. Which means the NHL is just as culpable as the Spirit and Waddell. If we all have any sense we’ll never support the NHL again, never. Mickey. Mouse. League.

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“Although I find JF a little too negative sometimes”

Gee, I wonder why I was negative . . . rose colored glasses are off everyone and can you now also see the incompetence of Waddell and the hopeless situation we’ve been in for years? Reality sucks, doesn’t it?

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“Knights were FAR MORE entertaining than the Thrashers and more competetive also.”

Now that we’re at the end, it’s ridiculous to think of my memories of both clubs. The only good memories I’ll carry from the Thrashers are the friends I made from people I met at the games. And lots of negative memories of the team, incompetent defense, incompetent goaltending, incompetent coaches, incompetent GM, incompetent owners, disinterested players.

But tons of great memories from the Knights. Every time I heard Golden Earrrings “Twilight Zone” played I smile and think of the boys skating around and picking up LiPuma and/or Jason Ruff’s gloves . . . every time I hear “Hard to Handle” I smile and think of the boys skating over to Greenlay and congratulating him on another win. And all done at a fraction of the cost, twice the fun, and half the travel times to the games.

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No JF – not rose colored glasses and I agree with you whole heartedly regarding DW and the whole ASG management – not a bigger pack of spincters in sports. Was at TJ’s when Tim E. gave us all his take a couple years ago and really wasn’t surprised and Danny B’s interview confirmed it. Actually, it’s amazing how we lasted so long. However, I’m just going to wait and see how it plays out and hope for the best.

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We used to love when the Knights came onto the ice to “Twilight Zone”. Between the music and the crowd, it was deafening.

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Love seeing Levenson on Fox-5 just now, in a recent interview saying “My job is to try to find a buyer that will buy the team and keep it here in Atlanta. And, that’s what I have been working on.” to Ken Rodriguez. Now the reports are saying this deal was done months ago. If proven, I hope the news media exposes every detail and throws these sound bytes in all their faces. Bettman too.

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