Another chance for Atlanta Spirit to do the right thing
Last weekend the Atlanta Thrashers held their annual Select A Seat event at Philips Arena. Many fans here and across the NHL world saw this as little more than a farce in light of the news that the team could be stripped from Georgia and jettisoned to Manitoba.
As you’ll recall, I made a request of the current team owners to call off the event if the deal was in fact “done” and it simply is a matter of time before an announcement is made. I opined here that I firmly believed the Atlanta Spirit was simply looking for cover, knowing the turnout would be held down given the circumstances and they could then point to that as reason why they have “no choice” but to sell to TNSE. Thus, asked them to “do the right thing” by canceling it if they knew for a fact what so many here suspect, that the team is indeed gone.
Yeah, I know. Asking the most disingenuous and apathetic ownership cluster in professional sports to do the right thing is much like asking politicians to run a campaign free of mud slinging and personal attacks distorting their opponent’s record… but I figured it was at least worth a shot, eh?
But they have yet another opportunity for the Spirit Boys do right by the hockey fans in Thrasherville, if the end is near for NHL hockey here. And it would be something that wouldn’t even affect the wallets of the AS, LLC to do.
Randy Novak penned this open letter to the Atlanta Spirit, LLC and posted it up at Bird Watchers Anonymous. In it, Novak makes but one simple request here of the owners… he wants to see Dan Snyder’s #37 jersey officially retired.
“My purpose today is to plead with you to do at least one right thing in this transaction for the fans. It’s not something that’s going to cost you much, if any, money, but it is something that will build some goodwill with the Hockey community in Atlanta.
Before you sign on the bottom line and send the team to Winnipeg, I plead with you to retire Dan Snyder’s # 37 jersey and ask that the league and the new owners honor this retirement when the team relocates.”
Novak’s request and his delivery is, in my opinion, spot on. Regarding the Snyder situation and the possible retirement of his number, there is no need to rehash the “whats” and “what ifs” surrounding the current ownership situation. There have been pointing of fingers in blame leading up to this, and there will be more in days to come should the team make it’s way to Winnipeg.
But in the spirit of decency, respect, honor and dignity, this is something the AS, LLC should not just give serious consideration to, it is something they should do and announce immediately. If they do, then I know all of us will stand as one and applaud such a gesture to Snyder and his family.
Even though no one has worn the #37 jersey for the Thrashers since Snyder’s untimely death just prior to the 2003-04 season., the organization has opted to not officially retire it and hang it from the rafters. The only time the subject was even remotely addressed by the team since was when Rich Peverley was picked up off the waver wires in January of 2008. While playing with the Nashville Predators he wore #37 but chose to use #47 when informed of his former number’s significance here.
So once again, Atlanta Spirit, you have been shown how to do the right thing here in regards to the team and it’s fans. We anxiously await your response.
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136 comments Add your comment
ZAvalanche
May 25th, 2011
3:20 pm
@ glove – I honestly didn’t know that about the beloved Burgundy and Blue, thanks for that tidbit. I have a blue ‘Diques Sakic and Forsberg jersey but didn’t know that was the reason for the blue in the Avs jersey.
Badger Bob
May 25th, 2011
3:22 pm
(The Thrashers have never won a game in Calgary) + (The only team the Winnipeg franchise has ever been able to beat in a playoff series is Calgary) = Future playoff futility?
I don’t envy the Thrashmoosejets travel schedule next year if they remain in the SE Div.
Red Light
May 25th, 2011
3:27 pm
From Custance…Restricted free agent compensation.
Is tied to the average league salary, which is $2.3 million.
2011 restricted free agent compensation
An offer with a $1,034,249 annual cap hit or less: No compensation (Anthony Stewart?)
$1,034,249 — $1,567,043: Third-round pick
$1,567,043 — $3,134,088: Second-round pick (Zach Bogosian, Blake Wheeler?)
$3,134,088 — $4,701,131: First and third-round pick (Andrew Ladd?)
$4,701,131 — $6,268,175: First, second and third-round pick (Shea Weber, Zach Parise?)
$6,268,175 — $7,835,219: Two first-round picks, a second and third (Stephen Stamkos)
$7,835,219 and higher: Four first-round picks
rusty
May 25th, 2011
3:35 pm
Just an FYI, the Charlotte Hornets retired Bobby Phills’ jersey number after he was killed in a car wreck. It is also still retired in New Orleans. George Shinn (the owner of the Hornets at the time) is a miserable human being so if he could do something like that, maybe, just maybe, the ASG could too.
over and done
May 25th, 2011
3:39 pm
Hey Rawhide: ASK ASSG TO DO THE RIGHT THING and refund Season Ticket monies collected IMMEDIATELY, without fans having to dive through hoops or file lawsuits!
dandylions
May 25th, 2011
3:39 pm
I miss John Belushi
Red Light
May 25th, 2011
3:41 pm
As usual, Badger Bob is correct. The only two playoff series the Jets ever won were against the Flames, and only one of those was a seven-game series. Overall playoff series record…2-11.
Someone will appear to provide their WHA record soon, I am certain of this.
ThrasherFan
May 25th, 2011
4:06 pm
I posted this over at the NJ Devils on what sums up what happened here. Your thoughts appreciated.
Being in Atlanta, I will give you my best take on what happened here.
First year attendance, I think, set records. Hockey is and has NOT been covered in the local sports radio station market. Not even the flagship station for the product, 680 The Fan, hypes the team. The radio signal for the actual games cuts out at 6 pm everywhere outside of the city limmits, ie: where all paying hockey fans are. Thrasher games aren’t even televised for the entire season.
Dany Heatley. He killed his own teammate in a car crash in 03-04. The NHL lockout in 04-05 stopped any momentum the young team was gaining. Savard was shipped to Boston, we get Hossa and ship Heatley to Ottowa… Heatley goes bonkers.
During our existence, Carolina and Tampa Bay BOTH win Stanley Cups – Atlanta can’t make the playoffs, partly because of the tough competition within the division. Tampa Bay could yet again make another Finals this year.
We finally make the playoffs, get swept away by the Rangers – who in all honesty the Thrashers had owned for many years in the regular season. Building was packed, energy was high – we fall flat on our face and again, all momentum killed.
Coaching – of the 5 coaches we had, only 1 had previous coaching experience at the highest level of the NHL. Bob Hartley was fired 6 games into the 07-08 season and replaced by DON WADDELL for the entire season. A coach he was not and we finish 14th place after making the playoffs the year before. Next year we hire an AHL coach in John Anderson and miss the playoffs for two more years.
Hossa leaves and goes to 3 Stanley Cups finals in a row with 3 different teams. Kovy leaves to the Devils the next year. We are back at square one.
Throughout this entire process, our owners spend less money each year or near league minimum. We still don’t have good radio or TV coverage or media coverage in general. Fans are apathetic at this point. Season ticket holders are told to “shut up” and “Deal with it” when asking questions of owners to their FACE. Discount tickets abound and STH feel duped.
The long and short of it is that our owners have run this team into the ground. Don Waddell is 7 years past his expiration date. We had Chris Chellios on our team last year at age 87! There is only so much a fan can take year in and year out…
Ex-season ticket holder
May 25th, 2011
4:20 pm
Even though such a gesture seems decent, it’s a little bit too late in the game as we are approaching the final countdown. Something like this should have happened years ago but now it seems to be an empty gesture and appears desperate in form and reason. I could even understand if someone had taken this question as disrespect, somehow. Maybe it’s time to bring this blog to a close because seriously what is there left to say anymore ? It seems you wrote this blog five days ago but only changed the words and reason around. Enough is enough, the game is over folks. How about we call this one a shutout ? [Or just fill up server space with a history of numbers, figures, charts, graphs, useless facts and endless statistics
]
Chris LiPuma
May 25th, 2011
4:21 pm
It’s too bad they couldn’t hang JK SUCKEY from the fence and set him on fire last Saturday.
Rawhide
May 25th, 2011
4:32 pm
Ex-ex-STH – I wrote this blog this morning when I read what Randy penned over at BWA. I simply thought it would be worth sharing with you all.
And as for shutting down this blog now…as I have instructed my sons to do many, many times over…I will finish the job, complete the mission and run through the finish line.
R. Stroz
May 25th, 2011
4:38 pm
EA – Would you please provide a link to the “Moose” interview.
Tom Lysiak
May 25th, 2011
4:40 pm
Is “server space” now on the protected species list????
Joe Friday
May 25th, 2011
4:45 pm
This blog needs to remain open for months, if not years, so we can properly and thoroughly expose the truth of what happened here and properly plan the action we’ll take to exact economic justice from the owners of the Spirit, for what they have done.
Acer
May 25th, 2011
4:45 pm
Knowing how AS operates, they retire #15 instead.
hockeymom92
May 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
I echo Joe’s thoughts – please keep the blog open for as long as possible, though not sure we will ever know the real truth. Thanks again for all you do and for your COMMITMENT to Thrasher fans – it is greatly appreciate. COMMITMENT is a word obviously not in certain folks’ vocabulary.
@ThrasherFan – I enjoyed your insights – thanks for putting that together.
Snoman
May 25th, 2011
5:44 pm
Rawhide, you rock! You have always been insightful and respectful for the people that visit this blogsite. Hopefully, they will let you continue it for the Gwinnett Gladiators or whatever version of hockey we still have in the ATL provided this tragic deal is consummated. Please keep us informed and interacting. Thanks!
EA
May 25th, 2011
5:50 pm
Stroz-the article is on Brid Watchers Anon. Bettman finally spoke today–He ended his statement in Tampa with “the deal may not happen”. Jeff Shultz just retweeted it. It is also on the front page of the Winnipeg papers. Stalling?????
Chris16
May 25th, 2011
5:55 pm
Bettman saying deal not done read http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/05/25/sp-nhl-bettman-thrashers.html
EA
May 25th, 2011
5:59 pm
Chris16-thanks for the link. My computer is having issues so I can’t copy a link.
Cornbread
May 25th, 2011
6:01 pm
I think most on this blog know how I feel about Tampa as a team, they have been very lucky – all season. I hate their 1-3-1/0-4-1 that I feel is bad for the game but have been impressed that they have not gone to it particularly in this series. I thought the Bruins were the best team in the neutral zone and the transition game that I had seen all year. I am not surprised the Bolts swept the Caps because the Caps don’t play the game that it takes to beat Tampa – chip it in, play in their end, and beat ‘em in the neutral zone. Boston does play that way and have shown signs of pure dominance in the Bolts zone.
That said, I hope Tampa gets lucky again and goes on a 6 game win streak. Please Tampa Bay Lightning, beat an Original 6 and a Canadian team. Win the Stanley Cup! Do it for Atlanta, the South East, the Sun Belt, and the rest of the World that “does not deserve hockey.” There are millions of us pulling for you!
Acer
May 25th, 2011
6:03 pm
Pfff….lawyers talk.
Puck Like A Porn Star
May 25th, 2011
6:12 pm
“Had it not been for Atlanta’s strong corporate and philanthropic and civic partners, we would not be here to make this announcement today,” Mayor Kasim Reed said.
Too bad he wasn’t talking about the Atlanta Thrashers.
http://www.ajc.com/news/sponsors-come-forward-to-957354.html
A Carter Story Confirmed - ASG Looked Other Way
May 25th, 2011
6:38 pm
The media now agrees with with our hypothesis related to Anson Carter’s group. According to 11 Ailve:
Last year, the Atlanta Spirit Group was approached by a group of investors led by former NHL player Anson Carter (@AnsonCarterLA), the source told 11Alive’s Matt Pearl (@MattPearlWXIA11) on the condition of anonymity. The group led by Carter made a preliminary, non-binding offered to buy the Atlanta Thrashers, The Atlanta Hawks and the rights to Philips Arena from Atlanta Spirit. The group intended to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta and had serious financial backing, Pearl’s source said. That offer was never put through due diligence by the Atlanta Spirit Group, the source told Pearl.
Our post before 11 Alive’s story:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=152322681503800&id=188894621145432
ben
May 25th, 2011
7:00 pm
this stinks. they didn’t have clear title to the team a year ago and they were going to ship it off. these people smell badly. we’re losing our passion not because there are no buyers to keep it local, but because they never wanted it.
Well, then, why did they buy it? Why were they allowed to buy it in the first place? Does the NHL just defer to the NBA? And another point, remember how quick this group came together? Whose to say Ted isn’t behind the whole thing?
Dwayne
May 25th, 2011
7:31 pm
Atlanta Spirit Ass Clowns bio will read: Most influential person: John Gacy
Thrashers27
May 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
So, my question is: Even though someone reports that a “deal” is reached to sell and move The Thrashers; does that mean that Bettman and The NHL Board of Govs has approved, or does it still have to clear with them?
Anyone?…
ben
May 25th, 2011
7:54 pm
this really stinks. argh, it makes me so flipping mad! I think the BoG has to approve the sale and relocation. I just can’t help thinking that this all the NHL’s fault. I mean if they’d looked into the group properly. I mean they’re making a laughing stock of a lot of people and processes to sell something they never wanted to buy. i mean i’ll bet these last 7 years were just a bonus.
sisu
May 25th, 2011
10:47 pm
the one theory is to when to make the announcement depending on playoffs…to take away the focus or not?
litz
May 26th, 2011
2:15 am
Thrashers27 – that is the million dollar question … and faced with the mounting criticism (from some VERY prominent NHL connected folks) over the lack of due diligence over the Anton Carter offer, and the extreme (and growing larger by the day) black eye the League may take over this action …
If it HASN’T been approved, the chances are growing (let’s hope!) every day that a deal may be consummated, and subsequently shot down by the BoG.
It’s growing every clearer that two key items in the NHL Constitution may well get violated if this deal goes through :
1) extreme negative impact on the public face of the League
2) lack of local offer due diligence
Go here : http://www.bizofhockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=236&Itemid=75 and start reading …
Pay particular attention to page 4 in the constitution PDF, section 3.5, for info on selling the team, and section 4.2 concerning relocation.
Go here : http://bit.ly/jiQa4X for Bylaw 35, covering the transfer of ownership
And here : http://bit.ly/l7lu1k for Bylaw 36, covering relocation
There doesn’t seem to be ANY possible way a purchase bid could be summarily rejected without due diligence being performed … how would you justify a rejecting under sections a and b of bylaw 35 if challenged?
Bylaw 36, for relocation, is incredibly explicit about the steps required … 36.5, in particular, contains the criteria that must be considered prior to the vote. Sections d and e would seem to be directly violated by the Anson Carter rejection. Sections n, o, and p would seem to be of interest for the PR image and damage the League would undertake. Section t could possibly apply to the NBC TV deal. Heck, section v might even apply, if you can apply “poor corporate behavior” or “ran the team into the ground” to it.
Oh, and btw … any League member who is found to have willfully violated any of the bylaws is subject to a $1mil fine. Per violation. It’s right there in the bylaws.
(Thank you Phoenix, if it wasn’t for your bankruptcy, these would NEVER have seen the light of day)
litz
May 26th, 2011
3:34 am
Even better, here is the ENTIRE filing from the Phoenix court : http://www.theglobeandmail.com/v5/content/pdf/CoyotesDaly.pdf from which the above documents were extracted …
(83 pages of dry legalese)
Rhythmpenguin
May 26th, 2011
8:21 am
Thanks for the info litz
Red Light
May 26th, 2011
10:00 am
Great game last night, which sets up my Boston in 7 pick nicely. Home teams are 4-1 in Game 7 this year, but it’s wise to note that Tampa won Game 7 in Pittsburgh in the first round.
My nomination for Game 7 hero is Michael Ryder.
Badger Bob
May 26th, 2011
10:57 am
RL, for Game 7 hero I’d go with Bergenheim if I knew he’d be playing. Can’t chance it – it will be an ugly Ryan Malone goal that seals the deal.
Still amazed that I can cheer for the Bolts, one of my most hated teams only a week ago. But a week ago, I didn’t feel quite the need to defend southern hockey. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Badger Bob
May 26th, 2011
11:01 am
And good on ya, litz, for the all-night legal cram session! Oh that lawyers for the Astoundingly Slack Goofballs would put in that effort.
Cornbread
May 26th, 2011
11:18 am
I’m with you Badger Bob. Go Bolts Go!
Jason
May 26th, 2011
11:31 am
After reading this post on Dan Snyder, I thought I’d go to the Thrashers website to look at the night of the tribute again. Here’s there page about it:
http://thrashers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=13972
Oh wait, that link doesn’t work anymore……………………………………………….
Badger Bob
May 26th, 2011
12:06 pm
TSN and other Canadian media are speculating what effect an NHL team might have on Winnipeg’s CFL team. It is a testimony to the Atlanta sports fans that the PGA never worried about holding the PGA Chamionship in a market that already has two of golf’s biggest events, or that Georgia State started a football team in a market that already had three teams that draw significantly more than the Blue Bombers.
Dawgmaniac970
May 26th, 2011
12:34 pm
My good ole boys never knew that Atl. even had a hockey team ! Hicks and hockey sticks don’t mix ya’ll ! Its over, so stop all those tears cause like the ice has melted. Go DAWGS !!
Brendan
May 26th, 2011
12:50 pm
Red Light, I’m going with Simon Gagne, in overtime, to win it for the Bolts. If not Gagne, then Marty St. Louis. Boston may be the better team, but the TBL will not be denied.
Badger Bob
May 26th, 2011
12:51 pm
That which we call a Canatroll by any other name would smell as putrid. “Dawgmaniac”, are you neighbors with Uncle Milty? Or the same person?
Rawhide
May 26th, 2011
1:16 pm
OK…so Im enjoying my youngest son’s graduation and I get notified by someone downtown that someone on on my blog is spewing racial crap. So I have to take time out and deal with it.
Last warning folks…keep that off here. I dont care how much I like you and enjoy reading your comments…keep this site free of that garbage or your gone.
And now if I may return to my son’s graduation lunch…..
ZAvalanche
May 26th, 2011
1:35 pm
Congrats to your son, Blog Master!
Tom Lysiak
May 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
So now TSN is saying there will be no announcement before Tuesday, at the earliest. This is past ridiculous.
SomaAtl95
May 26th, 2011
1:53 pm
Within the last couple of months Bill (and other posters) this has gone from a daily distraction where we talk about hockey and our team to a place where we are constantly under attack and/or are starting to self destruct. Its not fun anymore. Between the Winnipeg trolls, our usual trolls and the continuing antics of the A$G this has turned into some poor facsimile of a bad sports based soap opera. I am friends with most of you regulars either on facebook or twitter and I am enjoying seeing your thoughts and ideas about the mess we are in, please always keep that coming.
Until this unfortunate mess is cleared up I have a bad feeling that our little discussion corner will continually worsen.
Sorry that the discussion has pulled you away from what is supposed to be a wonderful day for a parent. Congrats on the Graduation, hope all is well and hope that the Tiller clan has an awesome rest of the day!
For you posters whom I don’t follow on facebook (or you don’t follow me) my name is the same as it is here – if we are truly faced with losing the sport that brought us all together I hope that we still all continue the discussion.
SomaAtl95
May 26th, 2011
1:54 pm
**edit** twitter, not facebook…
Chaz
May 26th, 2011
6:20 pm
Pearl harbor was attacked by the Japanese not the Germans.
braveslose
May 26th, 2011
6:24 pm
I love the purity of ice hockey as much as any fan possibly can. The beauty of a well executed goal. The breathlessness of a stunning save. The joy of success. The sportsmanship following a hard fought series. I admire players for going full speed ahead despite injuries, dislodged teeth plus a few cracked or broken bones. No other professional athletes are anywhere near as dedicated. I use as an example the oft sore toe of one Matthew Ryan. But I digress. Hockey is an honorable sport. The sport itself. A pity scumballs and lying backstabbers have taken over at management levels. Will I miss the Thrashers? No more than I would miss cancer. Years of utter uncaring ineptitude with nothing but more of the same had they remained. Better to lose the quitters now than later. Will root for Flames plus any team which faces the Thrashers or whatever their new nickname will be. Do I forgive? Maybe with time. Lots of it! Do I forget? Hell no!
Alan R.
May 26th, 2011
6:44 pm
Pearl harbor was attacked by the Japanese not the Germans
Apparently, you don’t get the reference. Oh, well. One would have thought that, with this thing we call THE INTERNET, people could look up stuff like… oh, I don’t know… movie quotes?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077975/quotes
Measure twice, cut once. The internet is forever.
BobM52
May 26th, 2011
6:45 pm
“Pearl harbor was attacked by the Japanese not the Germans.”
Are you sure??? (sounds like somebody hasn’t seen Animal House)