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
Badger Bob
May 25th, 2011
11:00 am
Gold?
Badger Bob
May 25th, 2011
11:03 am
And heck yes, Rawhide!
Ron Mexico
May 25th, 2011
11:03 am
If they can figure out some way to make money off it or link it to the Hawks, they’ll do it.
Honor The Snyder Family
May 25th, 2011
11:06 am
Stay or leave, we have to RETIRE 37!!!!
heater
May 25th, 2011
11:06 am
Should’ve thrown Heatley in jail for his stupidity.
Tom Lysiak
May 25th, 2011
11:17 am
Well, that would finally be one thing they could truthfully claim as “the right thing to do”. Look at the complete body of work, from the way they artfully dodged David McDavid right through to these negotiations. Rankin Smith’s family will forever be indebted to lose the title of “worse owners in the history of Atlanta sports”. Hands down.
Athrasherfan13
May 25th, 2011
11:18 am
Rawhide…..you are asking the occupants of dysfunction junction to be human beings. The way they have treated the fans and the team since they purchased it, is a disgrace. They care not for anything or anyone but themselves. Do you REALLY think they are going to give a crap about retiring the jersey of a player they did not care about, playing for a team they did not care about?
I’m sorry that the only thing you did in writing this blog post is waste some of your precious time….something that you will never, ever, get back. Oh, and you are also reinforcing what a$$#*!es they really are.
I am so sick of these jerks and our greedy Commissioner (who at one time I held in greet esteem for being a “Fans Commissioner”) I just can no longer stand it. The blew smoke up our rear ends saying they were negotiating with a local group and blew even more smoke about the sale of the Hawks….no one in their right mind would buy a basketball team with a lockout looming….do they think we are all stupid? Oh, yea…I forgot. They do.
sisu
May 25th, 2011
11:18 am
While this would be nice I really do not see thsi happening…will the Peggers do the same? Hard to say but the award has crossed my mind and I have wondered how the family feels about all of this?
Randy Novak
May 25th, 2011
11:19 am
Thanks for the re-post Rawhide. I hope the ASG does the right thing for once.
Brian
May 25th, 2011
11:22 am
The new ownership will not want any links to Thrashers. As a last ditch effort I emailed the Governor Deal since the the Atlanta mayor does not care if the Thrashers leave. I got this response below, so I called him and voiced my opinion. I hope others do as well.
Governor Deal has received your e-mail and appreciates hearing from you. You will receive a direct response from him shortly. With the very high volume of messages and mail, we hope you will understand if there is a delay in responding. If this is an urgent or time-sensitive matter, please call us directly at 404-656-1776. Again, our thanks for your comments and input
Rawhide
May 25th, 2011
11:23 am
Athrashersfan13 – While I understand your frustration, I certainly do not see this as a waste of any of my time. Do I hold my breath that the Spirit Clowns will ever to right by Thrashers fans? No. I may have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night.
However, the only actions I can fully control are my own. And as long as I hold the keys to this blog I will continue to do whatever I can for Thrasherville. Calling for this action is, IMHO, the right thing to do.
What the Great Octocluster do in response…well, they have to answer for that.
Randy Novak – It was but my honor to repost it. Thank you for penning this open letter. You did a great job with it and I thank you for doing so.
Mr. Heat Miser
May 25th, 2011
11:24 am
Nothing right will be done, and it will be a travesty. An eternal shame on the organization.
JK Sockey
May 25th, 2011
11:27 am
Quit digging this up every year adn a half, let the guy RIP.
Mr. Heat Miser
May 25th, 2011
11:29 am
Put a sock in it sockey. Loved burning your banner!
Hockey Mom
May 25th, 2011
11:30 am
As a Winnipegger, I would not have an issue with Snyder’s Thrashers jersey hanging in the MTS Centre should the ASG not do the respectful thing and do it in Atlanta.
ben
May 25th, 2011
11:32 am
well, isn’t it time for something to go right? but they won’t do it. you know why? because if / when the t-birds leave, they’ll be stuck with the reality that basketball just doesn’t sell well traditionally in this town. those slime-ridden no good idiots, how does one MISTAKENLY buy a hockey team, drove what was once valued at several hundred million into the ground. now there’s this thing on facebook saying Anson Carter wanted to buy the team, and he had the money! I plan on piping the lads through on the internet, but still, it could have worked here.
well when they finally offload the HAWKS, maybe someone will relocate a team here. Why / how did the NHL not vet these idiots? this is going to drag the league down. I mean what voting populace full of right-thinking adults will vote for an arena now?
hockeygoon79
May 25th, 2011
11:33 am
Nice job Randy.
While I too do not think the Spirit bast#ards will do the right thing for us EVER, I agree in calling them out on this. I’d love to hear what they would say in response to this request, but I know they do not have the C.O. Jones to do so.
I know it. You know it. And the Thrasherville people know it.
Oh and JK Sockey, you are complete and total moron. You deserve to go to Winnipeg and freeze with the team.
please dont send us JKsockey!!!!
May 25th, 2011
11:40 am
I agree w/hockey mom…I am sure any TRUE wpg hockey fan would respect the jersey if it didn’t hang in ATL…but rightly it should hang in ATL…..
But please don’t send us ANY JK SOCKEYS…we have our fair share!
KLS1
May 25th, 2011
11:43 am
Considering the state of the situation, think we have jumped the shark on this one.
Unfortunately we have no relevance anymore to make demands, requests, or proposals. Everything just comes across as whining at this point.
ZAvalanche
May 25th, 2011
11:51 am
I think that would be a very nice gesture indeed, but I don’t see it happening. I am skeptical that Carter has the $$, by himself, to pony up for the team.
hockeymom92
May 25th, 2011
11:53 am
Excellent suggestion – Dan Snyder needs to always be remembered and honored. It is truly the least that “they” could do.
Thanks so much Rawhide as always for taking the time and putting forth maximum effort on behalf of Thrasher fans. And for making us think…..
2mins
May 25th, 2011
11:56 am
If #37 is to be retired, it should be and must be done in Atlanta. One of the things that po’ed Winnipegers off to no end, was when the Coyotes started to honor Winnipeg Jets players that had NEVER even been to Phoenix. Some say its an honor, well its not, its a slap in the face.
Side note: When the Coyotes honored Thomas Steen ( played his whole career in Winnipeg ) they put up a picture of Anders Steen ( some slug who stopped for a cup of coffee ).
Dan Snyder was part of the Thrasher’s family and should be honored as such. Phone ASG and tell them what you want. If ASG refuses, then it just shows thier true colors.
JB
May 25th, 2011
11:57 am
I think it’s time to lock’er down Judy….
We miss #37
May 25th, 2011
11:58 am
I’ve wanted the Thrashers to officially retire the number 37..though no player wore it afterward. Dan Snyder is what a “Thrasher” should be, not the biggest, but willing to do what it took, he is sorely missed..especially by those of us who saw him in the IHL and weren’t surprised at all that he made it to the NHL. I saw Snyder go after Barry Dregar once..it was like an ant attacking an elephant, Dregar was obvioulsy a heavyweight and made short work of “bird legs” but Snydy had more guts than most, the Thrashers needed more players like him throughout the organization.
This kid would have at least wore the A for Atlanta had tragedy not struck, I’ll never forget him beating up Sean Avery before Avery was so well known, and then Avery was at his funeral, they respected each other. It’s sad that so much is literally lost with this franchise moving, even the Dan Snyder Award, the charity work this team does, all of the people behind the scenes. Hockey here has been tainted by the powers that be, we see greed and lust for a team from up north, people indifferent to the hearts of fans here and it’s a shame, the NHL, the ASG, TNSE…all indifferent with nothing but dollar signs in their eyes, the exact opposite of Dan Snyder and how he played and what he stood for. He was a Thrasher and he is still missed.
Cathy
May 25th, 2011
12:05 pm
Not only YES, but HELL, YES! And it would be nice if Winnipeg could see fit to continue the tradition of honoring Dan Snyder by handing out an “unsung hero” award each year. We shall see…
ZAvalanche
May 25th, 2011
12:06 pm
@J-Man for your post on the previous blog saying that “hockey is ruining my life” – I would argue quite the opposite. It saves me from the absolute drivel that exists on most TV channels, including the bore of regular season MLB, preseason NFL (don’t have to worry about avoiding that this year), the gamut of reality shows and the same old depressing News (definitely will watch Seinfeld re-runs though, but don’t go out of my way to). In addition to being quality TV it is an excellent sport to play and keeps you in fantastic shape. I average about 1.75 games a week, am 34 and am in way better shape than pretty much everybody I associate with and can still go full bore and play a whole game with no subs on playoff night (2 games, an hour rest) when our team is short on people. Yeah, it sucks and have even yacked once after we won the final, but I can do it. I don’t know if you have ever played, but those who have know that that is akin to sprinting for 3 hours. Try and lace’em up sometime and work off those cheeseburgers.
So the long-and-short of it – I don’t think it has destroyed anybody’s lives here, just pained our hearts, and that was done by A$$G = non-hockey fans.
Don Waddell
May 25th, 2011
12:09 pm
Sounds like a terrific idea to me. I’m doing all I can Atlanta.
JPVJ
May 25th, 2011
12:12 pm
Mr. Rawhide, this is an important question to bring forth since it is near to the heart of every supporter of this ex-city franchise. I do hope many voices will be heard in solidarity for this immortal cause. If you permit, with your grace and understanding to include my query since I fear it may have been lost in transition to your new blog. But I feel in need to share amongst one and all.
Why doesn’t the “tin-foil cup guy” say anything about the current situation ? Why is he silent ? Where is thee ? Where is the tin-foil cup ? Why are these questions not being asked ? Why are we not seeking the answers to these questions ? Do any one of my brothers or sisters in the cyber sphere know the truth ? Was the tin-foil cup but a replica of an olden quest toward the revival of a modern holy grail ? Or was the tin-foil cup but a reflection of mere amateur enthusiasm from a mere amateur fan base skating away on the thin ice of a new day ? Vive la feuille d’étain !!! Vive la feuille d’étain !!! Vive la feuille d’étain !!!
DWTOO
May 25th, 2011
12:13 pm
This is the right thing to do. RIP Dan Snyder. You’ll always be an ATLANTA THRASHER.
Warthawg
May 25th, 2011
12:20 pm
The Thrashers ownership “do the right thing”????????
HAHAHAHA… that’s a good one. Thanks for the laugh, but Atlanta Spirit, LLC hasn’t done
one single right thing during their entire existence. Had they… we might not be losing our
second NHL franchise (both due to poor ownership)
wpgJetsfan
May 25th, 2011
12:24 pm
Don’t worry. As a good gesture to the Atlanta Fans and their Franchise History, we will retire that jersey at the MTS Centre if the Atlanta owners will not.
Stan Drulia
May 25th, 2011
12:32 pm
I bet the “Atlanta Spirit” group thinks Dan Snyder is a rookie goalie in Moose Jaw… they don’t care about anything concerning this team – first and foremost – our history.
ZAvalanche
May 25th, 2011
12:36 pm
Oh those Shark’s fans are steamed! Hard to tell if that was icing or not, but to me it looked like the faceoff shouldn’t have been in the zone. Crazy good game to watch though.
EA
May 25th, 2011
12:38 pm
Good idea. And another thing … stop charging fans for tickets on their credit cards without sending a letter to them telling them what is going on!
Sage of Bluesland
May 25th, 2011
12:42 pm
I think the ASG has “more important” things to do than these types of things….such as dot some “i’s” and cross some “t’s”….and start the tagging of inventory in preparation of a move….
SportsFan
May 25th, 2011
12:50 pm
Agreed about the retiring of the number. As for the sale, it is a done deal. Bank on it. Anson Carter isn’t even in the picture.
EA
May 25th, 2011
12:56 pm
ADD JOHAN “MOOSE” HEDBERG to the growing list of personnel citing the ownership as the problem in Atlanta. ARE YOU LISTENING BETTMAN? On the NJ Devils Fire and Ice blog, he said the fans never had a chance with this group. He goes on to defend Atlanta as a good hockey city. He calls the situation SAD.
Viking
May 25th, 2011
1:01 pm
2mins, Thomas Steen played for Grums, Leksand and Färjestad in Sweden before ending up in Winnipeg.
Anders Steen, (who I know), is while not Thomas, no “slug” and was actually a good player.
Tom Lysiak
May 25th, 2011
1:11 pm
In keeping with the shady dealings of this whole sale, doesn’t anyone else think it is weird that an “exclusive negotiating period” was never announced with TNSE and the losers? It was made public on that John Moores “deal” for the building rights and the Hawks. Was this to allow them freedom to negotiate with any local buyers? Or was it because the deal was long done and they think people are too stupid to notice? Seems like another question the league and ASG should answer.
Mike
May 25th, 2011
1:25 pm
@Tom Lysiak, I see that too, in spades. While most people on here is saying that the deal is done, I am starting to have my doubts about that.
**Neki’s Tin-Hat Time**
(This is my own personal opinion about this)
I was thinking that deal was going to be done around Yesterday or Today during to the Banks being closed in Canda for their holiday. But something happen on last Friday, that may change the whole picture, if we can read it.
When ASG pull out of the exclusive negotiating period with John Moores for the Hawks and Phillips, it was very strange because if a company wants to keep the team and building rights away from other local buyers, would they would have extend that period until after the Thrashers deal was finalize.
To me, I am thinking there is another party out there that wants all three (Hawks, Thrashers, and Phillps) and probably have better money then True North. Then you have that issue between Betterman and ASG about extra money outside of relocation fees.
At the end, Thrashers days in Atlanta is almost done because not of the fans (Jets fans needs to remember this), it was the ownership and NHL that did this.
For that orginial question, it should be a YES, but it determine what TNSE wants.
stephen
May 25th, 2011
1:27 pm
Since ASG is batting 0 for infinity on right things, I think it is safe to say that they will not do the honorable thing. I am beginning to really hope that we do not have a lame duck season to deal with next year.
farleybear
May 25th, 2011
1:34 pm
It would be nice gesture, but I think that would have made more sense if it were done in Atlanta.
Brendan
May 25th, 2011
1:35 pm
Wiped from existence. I feel like Dr. Brown, from “Back to the Future.” It’d be a nice gesture, but it should have been done years ago, where Thrasher fans could see it, rather than fans in Winnipeg, who don’t know who Dan Snyder was.
Is ASG Bargaining in Good Faith?
May 25th, 2011
1:39 pm
See Anson Carter’s recent Twitter post:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=212688875420625&id=188894621145432
Tom Lysiak
May 25th, 2011
2:05 pm
If the leak hadn’t happened on Thursday, wonder if the announcement would have happened yesterday, as was leaked? Could the delay just be some “shucking and jiving” to cover some you-know-whats???? Trying to discredit the leak and illustrate that the deal was not final yet??? Bet somebody wasn’t happy……
Badger Bob
May 25th, 2011
2:53 pm
Excerpt from an e-mail response from Dan Corso of the Metro Atlanta Chamber dismissing requests for them to get involved:
“It’s a much bigger issue than a sports council alone can influence.”
My e-mail didn’t ask them to do it “alone”. More duck and cover and shifting of blame…
glovesave29
May 25th, 2011
3:07 pm
Retire 37 AND name the MVP award after TR Benning. Not unheard of for a team to honor it’s past – even in another city or even league. The original Colorado Avalanche logo was not supposed to have blue in it – but it was added to honor the Quebec Nordiques. The New Jersey Devils were named in honor of the team from the old EHL. The Flames assistant captains wear the A in the style of the Atlanta Flames. TNSE has really followed the rules here – seem like a group of honorable people. Lets hope they see the positives here and make the move. We will still always have the upper hand over Winnipeg – they don’t have a Widespread Panic consecutive sellout banner in THEIR building!
ZAvalanche
May 25th, 2011
3:11 pm
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell NO!
Some of you may get that.
Red Light
May 25th, 2011
3:16 pm
Atlanta and Winnipeg do have a shared history of playoff futility.
stephen
May 25th, 2011
3:18 pm
playoff? playoff? 4 games does not a playoff history make
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)
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.