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
thrasherdawg
May 26th, 2011
8:55 pm
Bettman says the following:
“So I think people need to take a deep breath and pause. There are probably half a dozen places in North America that are interested in NHL hockey. We try to avoid relocation to the extent we can . . . We only move clubs if we find we have no alternative.”
Mr. Bettman, I ask you how do you know there are no alternatives in Atlanta? Because we can’t find a buyer in 2 weeks means there is no alternative?
You, Mr. Bettman, should come to Atlanta and caledl a press conference and state the following; Atlanta Thrashers ownership and fans are put on notice…you have one season to either show up to the games or find a buyer for the team.
Mr. Bettman does not seem to understand marketing a product. Moving Atlanta makes the NHL look bad, very bad. Owners need to take some responsibility. The NHL should tell ownership you better find a buyer to keep team in Atlanta because the team will not be moved period. Force ownership to find a buyer, no matter the sale price, or file bankruptcy if needbe. Then let the NHL sell the team to the highest bidder. The NHL must protect their product at all cost.
Under the present guidelines ownership has no responsibility to provide a quality product to it’s fans. Otherwise he or she will have to pay the consequences. No free rides from billionaires who want an expensive hobby.
In closing, the season ticket holders could ban together and possibly file a class action suit against the NHL for not exhausting all alternatives. The NHL never came to Atlanta and called a news conference. The NHL has not given time for due process to truly seek out an owner.
Did the NHL contact David McDavid would be the first question I would ask. Did the NHL do anything to encourage David McDavid to consider buying the team. The list goes on.
The NHL is only been invovled for several weeks how can they say there are no more alternatives?
There are 2 other alternatives. Wait one season to see what happens in PHX or offer an expansion team to Winnipeg for the following year and collect 90 million.
Bettman has not looked at any other alternatives whatsoever. He has blinders on.
thrasherdawg
May 26th, 2011
9:06 pm
What about the Chicago businessman who was trying to buy the Coyotes until the Goldwater institute got involved?
Did anyone ask him to buy the Thrashers?
Geddy Lee
May 26th, 2011
9:54 pm
FYI
Darren Elliot is moving. This is fact!
LAC
May 27th, 2011
3:58 am
Gee Whiz Bill… It WAS the truth you know !
Badger Bob
May 27th, 2011
6:47 am
thrasherdawg, your ideas make solid sense, which means there’s no chance the Agonizingly Shoddy Gang or NHL will follow them.
How ’bout this? You publically announce that, between ATL and PHX, the team with the worst attendance for 2011 – 2012 moves to Winnipeg. If we lost that battle I’d say we lost the team fair and square. The only downside is it doesn’t guarantee we get rid of the Accutely Seedy Group – they’d hang on one more year just to reap the $$.
Michael Gearon
May 27th, 2011
7:35 am
Tip for all you budding entrepreneurs out there – don’t file a lawsuit showing inflated losses just before you try to sell an asset. Doooh!
Wpg Guy
May 27th, 2011
9:38 am
While I think the Snyder tragedy was a terrible thing, I don’t think it is up to us in Winnipeg to honor Atlanta traditions. When the team comes here next week it will no longer be your Atlanta Thrashers but will become Winnipeg’s team. We will not be looking to keep the Thrashers memory alive but will be looking to make our own, I highly doubt that a team making a fresh start in a solid hockey community wants to start it off by highlighting a black mark on hockey in Atlanta. Snyder’s memory will live on in the fans that he touched and with his family and friends and that is the way it should be.
Thrasher fan
May 27th, 2011
10:14 am
@ WPG Guy
It’s because of guys like you that the article clearly states that the retiring of Snyder’s jersey needs to be done BEFORE the team moves. What Rawhide is suggesting is a pretty common practice in the NHL (I’m surprised that as a Wpger you didn’t know that), and our owners/GM were too stupid to do it when they should have.
Wpg Guy
May 27th, 2011
10:21 am
@Thrasher fan – Because of guys like me? I wasn’t disrespectful in anyway in fact what I said pretty much agrees with the article and that is that it is up to Atlanta to honor him and not Winnipeg. I was mainly commenting towards the other comments that state Winnipeg should do this and that Winnipeg should honor Atlanta traditions which is simply not true. You don’t need to be an ass and automatically try and warp what I said, I understand that you and the other 6 Thrasher fans are upset you’ve lost yet another team to Canada but seriously buddy grow up.
Thrasher fan
May 27th, 2011
10:35 am
WPG Guy,
You weren’t disrespectful? Coming on to an Atlanta blog to rub our noses in the fact that we are losing the hockey team is the definition of disrespect.
And you never mentioned you agreed with the idea. If you had said that, I wouldn’t have had to make a post. Most of the comments don’t talk about Winnipeg doing anything to honor #37. They are asking the ASG to do it. And then you finish your last blog with some crass comment about 6 Thrasher fans when that has clearly not been the case. That tells me you’re probably the one that needs to mature a bit.
Wpg Guy
May 27th, 2011
10:48 am
I reacted to your post, you were disrespectful to me and I returned the favor. I don’t think it is disrespectful in any way comment on a blog regardless of where it is based. That is what is wonderful about the internet, it gives multiple people with multiple views a chance to interact. You know what I find disrespectful? A city your size not showing support to a local team, which is why you have now twice and for the final time lost an NHL franchise. You so called “fans” complain and state you don’t support the team because of the owners but that is complete disrespect to the players who go out and bust their ass year after year and game after game. Also for you to say that the Thrashers had fan support is quite possibly the most idiotic statement I have seen on the internet, clearly you had no fan support, clearly your attendance was terrible for years and not to mention the fact that in Atlanta a city of over 5 million you average about 6000 viewers for televised games. Yeah that reeks of support, you need to just face the facts buddy and that is you’re just bitter because you as a city have failed yet again when it comes to supporting NHL hockey.
Swede
May 27th, 2011
11:23 am
Lets see how Wienerpeggers will do WITH 1 playoff season on 11 years, with brutally bad owners having lowest payroll in nhl. Add a gm who makes terrible moves….
Wpg Guy
May 27th, 2011
12:08 pm
Well here in Winnipeg we are true fans of hockey so we will support them no matter what, you so called fans in Atlanta should takes notes and watch how a real city supports their team. Also what do you want to bet that Winnipeg’s team makes the playoffs next year.
Jason
May 27th, 2011
1:38 pm
Yes, true Canadian fans like those in Ottawa….oh wait….
Wpg Guy
May 27th, 2011
2:27 pm
Correct Jason in Ottawa even though they have had losing seasons their attendance actually increased. In fact they were 12th in the league this year, so like most stupid Americans your point is completely off the mark. But nice try junior.
EA
May 27th, 2011
3:17 pm
Wpg guy, we have had 11 years with one playoff performance and no wins. Atlanta fans had a right to not pay big bucks for a sub par team. Current and former Thrashers are saying the same thing. I hope that you all have good ownership, a quality GM and the additional players it will take to make this a winning franchise. There is no need to knock the fans in the Atlanta that had enough of the losing and figured out it was never going to get better with this ownership. Wasn’t it Chris Mason that just said the same thing. He was quoted as saying thatthe amount of fans that did come to the games is pretty amazing considering the team has had so little success. I was one of those fans. I went to the games, but believe me, it could be very frustrating.
Wpg Guy
May 27th, 2011
4:42 pm
You don’t show support by boycotting games, seriously it is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. You all claim to support the Thrashers but yet nobody goes to games. You blame the ownership and then take it out by not supporting the players, how is that even logical? This is why you lost another team, there are other ways to take your frustration out on the owners but not supporting the team got you all in this predicament. The owners now end up with money in their pockets and the people of Winnipeg end up with a young quality team, but what does Atlanta end up with? The end up being the joke to hockey fans everywhere, so I guess if that was what you guys were going for by not going to the games then I guess you got what you wanted.
Stan Drulia
May 27th, 2011
4:54 pm
There is this restaurant near my house…. It has alway been really bad, really bad in fact… but I am going to continue to go there because I am a stupid Canadian and I need to support the place simply for being there. Isn’t that logical?
Wpg Guy
May 27th, 2011
5:07 pm
Comparing a restaurant with a sports team shows your stupidity, but hey I am glad that you guys are morons and didn’t support your team again because now a real city with real fans will get the team they deserve. So Stan I am glad you didn’t go to games and support the team, I am glad you really showed those owners and taught them a lesson, but wait what? What did you accomplish Mr.logical?
Cornbread
May 27th, 2011
5:21 pm
Denis Lemieux long ago perfectly described what we have been witnessing from the pegs and most other canadians, same as it ever was: “Against the rules. You know, you’re stupid when you do that. Just some English pig with no brains, you know.”
Cornbread
May 27th, 2011
5:26 pm
Or just like when they had the Jets even in their very best year they had no better attendance than the Thrashers did in their worst. “Stupid English pigs with no brains”.
Cornbread
May 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
Go Bolts Go! Bring the Cup back where it belongs, The Southern US of A!
Wpg Guy
May 27th, 2011
5:30 pm
Speaking of pigs with no brains, you might want to compare the average NHL attendance in the 80-90’s compared to the average now. Back then there was lower attendance league wide, but you being a typical brain dead American you wouldn’t understand that.
Red Light
May 27th, 2011
5:39 pm
How about some Thrashers milestones to keep you intrigued over the weekend?
http://sportssoutheast.com/index.php/red-light-report/59-nhl/253-thrashers-milestones-1999-2011
Just saying
May 27th, 2011
7:00 pm
Wpg guy- are you so thick that you haven’t read what has been written for days? We have a business here that is run by an inept group of owners. Last year was the first year of our latest “good young team”. They are young. If they stayed here, they wouldl figure out what the previous young players have (Kovalchuk, Hossa, Savard, et.al), We have owners that are not commited to a winning hockey franchise. There is no way these guys would continue working for a cheap group of owners that don’t care about hockey. Atlanta fans got a bad deal. Quit blaming them. If you can’t resist, go on your own blog.
I am starting to feel more and more sorry for the players that have to live in the same city with people who are so ill informed.
Red Light
May 27th, 2011
11:28 pm
Recchi and Pevs get a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. Since the Bruins last appearance in 1990, according to our own Alan R., the only Eastern Conference teams not to appear in the Finals are the Isles, Leafs and whatever Winnipeg’s team is going to call itself.
Out West, the Blues, Jackets, Wild, Sharks, Preds and the former Winnipeg team are the only teams since 1990 not to appear in the Finals.
Nice picks Rawhide!
Acer
May 28th, 2011
2:06 am
Wpg-guy, Canadians are viewing hockey as part of their culture. IMO, Hockey for most Americans hockey is just an entertainment event. Let’s also bring the Europeans into the fray. Football (soccer) for them is a HUGE part of their culture. Can you image a Thrasher like situation in the EPL, SerieA, L1, BL, La Liga? The owners would require police and security escorts out on the street, if they had handled clubs like the AS handled the Thrashers.
The means of protest are questionable but at least fans are extremely committed to their teams.
Wpg Guy's Mother
May 28th, 2011
3:45 am
I knew I should have told his idiot father no. But what else did we have do to with all of our spare time?
Tony C
May 28th, 2011
7:19 am
Wow. The more this onion gets peeled the more and more it stinks. You can see that the Carter group’s snub is definitely news to a lot of folks, and add the testimonials from numerous former Thrashers-including Heatley! (I know a lot of yall like to bash the guy for a horrible mistake he made as a very young man, but read his recent quotes in regards to the fans of Atlanta, might just surprise you)-Bettman’s gotten pinged repeatedly on his show and media from other markets…but you look at the way this has been a “done deal” ever since the all-star game this year, WPG police have already called in reserves for the expected party after official announcement…Only the ASG could screw things up this bad. I really believe there is enough stuff here to be actionable, and not just some sort of Quixotic gesture either.
I refuse to bet against the house on this one, but there is that outside possibility that things can be settled in way that makes the fans in both ATL and WPG happy:
There is pressure from the league’s broadcast partners to keep this (ATL) market, add another MAJOR U.S. market (some people suggest Houston-IDK about that, it is the 4th biggest city, but smart money says MLS does better there than NHL will) and that the league can “throw a bone” (by adding another Canadian market) to Canada-which let’s all be honest, is where the most hockey fanatics in the continent live. WPG has a ready-to-go arena, clearly a passionate fanbase, and an ownership group with very very very deep pockets. I cannot believe that there is not one owner/ownership group that wouldn’t be interested in keeping the thrashers here. Carter’s group allegedly offered $350M-maybe not the best offer, but certainly that would seem to be a reasonable offer ($100M+ for each leg of the ASG’s holdings). The reports that Medeyev(spl?) wanted in on an NHL franchise-and I’m sure there are at least a half-dozen other parties that can, and would be intereseted in what the ASG is so desperately trying to sell.
Let’s hope everyone can walk away happy.
oh and Wpg Guy-That team you talk about going to the playoffs in the Peg? I’m thinking you’re talking about the one with Kane, Pavelec, Bogosian, Burmistrov & Byfuglien on it? Don’t get too excited patting yourself on the back over that-those’re my boys right there, and just because a group of ninnys has no idea of the hows and whys of pro sports ownership, don’t think nobody here cared.
Sage of Bluesland
May 28th, 2011
10:02 am
It’s funny, but I’d venture a nonstatistical guess that the good people of Atlanta are actually ’smarter’ than the average fan in an NHL city, such as Columbus.
Subsidize incompetence just for the sake of being in the club? I don’t think so. Let others do that.
It is what it is…and it’s another beautiful day in Atlanta…with so many things to do…
(You know, I should actually ‘thank’ one Don Waddell–as, if it weren’t for him, my bank account would be much, much lighter than it is. The drafting of the glass-groined Euroteen Lehtonen was the clear indicator to me that the vaunted “Five-Year Plan” was a pipe-dream…)
Rawhide
May 28th, 2011
10:04 am
Greetings from the Sunshine State everyone. I’m sitting here lakeside on a beautiful Saturday morning and enjoying a few days “off”.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Please remember to take some time to somehow honor all of those who have given the full measure in defense of our fine country and freedom around the world in between whatever activities you have planned. We are all blessed to have the freedoms that come from their sacrifice…and I include our friends from Canada too, as they have offered up many of theirs on the battlefields over the years.
And be safe if in your travells and activities.
Red Light – Interesting…the Leafs, Isles amd Thrashers/Jets are the only teams in the East to not make the SCF in the last two decades. Of course, only the Leafs and Isles are the only 2 of those 3 that have been around all that time.
Nice picks on your part too. So, you are 13-1 and I am 12-2 so far in our picks. For the record, I’m going with Boston in the SCF.
You?
ZAvalanche
May 28th, 2011
10:24 am
Dang Lightning – I now have 3 losses on picks. Great game though. Thomas was huge last night and if they are going to beat the ‘Nucks he is going to have to keep doing that. I am picking Vancouver for the Cup though, they have the fire power, but I said the same about Tampa…..
Rawhide
May 28th, 2011
10:43 am
In the mean time, here is THIS from C-Viv?
Another suiter for the Thrashers???
ZAvalanche
May 28th, 2011
1:15 pm
The charter airlines that the Bruins and Nucks use are in heaven right now – especially if this series goes the length. I was hoping for Tampa and Vancouver just so I could see each team flex it’s muscles on scoring from 4 of the best O-lines in hockey this year. Alas – looks like we will be seeing David and Goliath scenario for the SCF. You can determine who is who
Whilst watching the game and enjoying a pint in an establishment in beautiful Estes Park, CO, I entered into a discussion regarding the “toughness” of different pro athletes. Just as he was telling me that Soccer players (he was from Great Brittan, but really? Soccer?) were tougher, Stamkos took a rocket to the face. The gentleman said “that guy won’t return, and I have seen football (soccer) players take a kick to the face”. My reply was “Sir, this is game 7, if he lost an arm he would find a way to come back in.” Sure enough, Stamkos returned with a full cage. I pointed to the screen and said “exhibit A”, he smiled, bought me a pint and said “well bugger me! Cheers.” He had never watched an NHL game before visiting his sister in the states and said he has been riveted to the TV for every game he can find. Point is, our sport kicks a$$ no matter where you are from. It has just been marketed badly and the lockout absolutely crippled us.
I’ve always said to non-hockey fans, sit down and watch a game 7 with me and you will be hooked for life.
Anyhow, sorry for the little story there. Stamkos is a brute and Tampa should feel no shame in losing that game. None at all. Good season Lighting fans, you are well set for next year. I wish Thrashy could say the same……
Fan from Carolina
May 29th, 2011
9:53 am
I will miss the Lightning offense in the SCF but they represented the Southeast very well. A one goal loss in game 7 of the CF is a pretty good indication of just what they accomplished this year. Looking forward to them against a healthy Penguins club next year. I think the Caps are on the way ‘down’ and I don’t expect the Bruins to repeat another great year. Thomas was very vulnerable against the Lightning and other clubs sure saw it. That was a LOT of goals they pumped in against him until running out of gas and players at the end.
Rawhide, have a safe trip home and I hope you can still write about hockey in the future even if the Thrashers are gone.
Rawhide
May 29th, 2011
11:24 am
Good morning everyone…I thought you might enjoy a Stanley Cup Finals prediction blog.