Countdown: Belkin in charge, Pitino safe and Erin leaving?
The Count (Belkin?)
Belkin (The Count?)
In the interest of full disclosure, neither The Count nor I have a law degree, although the American Bar Association is considering bestowing an honorary degree on The Count based on his looks and fangs alone that would enable him to practice as a defense attorney.
However, both of us came across something rather startling in the 38-page opinion from the Montgomery County-Maryland Circuit Court regarding the dysfunctional blob that is Atlanta Spirit. And it involves The Count’s long lost twin, Steve Belkin. (Stunning resemblance don’t you think?) We count down . . .
10. Judge to Atlanta Spirit: Feh
Ah, one big happy family. (We're not certain if Harry and Thrash have voting rights.)
Michael Gearon Jr. and lesser Atlanta Spirit owners were celebrating Monday when a judge said, in so many words, that their purchase and sale agreement (PSA), much like their general partnership agreement, makes no sense. The language is too vague. This is how it works at ASG: Sometimes it helps to be backwards. The judge threw out Belkin’s inflated claim of what his 30 percent stake in the Hawks, Thrashers and Philips Arena operating rights was worth. Since I know most of you don’t care about this, I’ll boil it down to four words: Back to square one. But do you have any idea what that could mean?
9. Judge to Belkin: You can run Hawks again
Look. Here’s two uneducated guesses: 1) Belkin and non-Belkins will never be a happy partnership; 2) Belkin ultimately will sell his stake. When that happens, nobody knows. Maybe ASG sells the Thrashers and uses that money to try again to Belkin him out, although I’m not sure if $12.50 will get it done. But until then, get this: Belkin could be put back in the Hawks again. The judge decreed it!
8. This could get interesting
Maybe if Belkin (right) takes over, he'll shake up the roster.
Please note the last page of Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Durke G. Thompson’s opinion. Under, “Declaration of the Rights of the Parties,” bullet point No. 7, Thompson writes: “Because Belkin resigned as NBA Governor as a result of the understanding that his interest would be purchased according to the terms of the PSA (Purchase and Sale Agreement), Belkin is entitled to be restored as NBA Governor, pending the application of any NBA league rules to his standing as NBA Governor, or if there has been any violation of the Operating Agreement that creates a basis for his removal.” (UPDATE: For the record, Belkin’s term of governorship expired in March. But I figure the judge’s comments are just the basis of another lawsuit.) You will recall that the ownership group ultimately split after Belkin attempted to shoot down the Hawks’ trade with Phoenix for Joe Johnson, as was his right as the team’s NBA governor. Ultimately, commissioner David Stern assisted in Belkin being replaced by Gearon as governor. What happens now if he pushes for reinstatement? And here you thought this Atlanta sports nightmare might finally be over. We may only be getting started.
7. Next ASG adviser: Dykstra?
Hey, it could be worse. Lenny Dykstra could be a Hawks owner. The details are out on his bankruptcy filing and he lists $37.1 million in liabilities and $24.6 million in assets. His list of creditors runs 22 pages. Not sure but I think that breaks Michael Vick’s record. (Transition.) And speaking of Vick: Listed among Dykstra’s assets is a German Shepherd. Dykstra lists the value of the dog at $10,000. I’m guessing for that price, he provided Dykstra with stock tips. Actually, at $10,000, maybe the dog wants a stake in the Spirit.
6. Bottom line: Recruits like Pitino
This is Karen Sypher. She scares me. But apparently her affair with Rick Pitino hasn't scared off recruits.
I’ve managed to stay clear of the whole Rick Pitino thing because once you get past the Tuesday night Bravo aspect to this, it’s basically an issue between he, his wife and the Grand Pooh-bah upstairs. Now, I understand the whole, “He’s in charge of young men – he has to go!” arguments. But let me give you two reasons why he’s staying: 1) He wins; 2) Recruits haven’t abandoned him. According to Rivals.com, Michael Chandler, a 6-10 high school recruit from Indianapolis, wrote in a Facebook message: “Yeah my commitment is very strong with Louisville. Nothing will change unless Pitino leaves.” One incoming freshman, Peyton Siva, posted on his Twitter account: “Yo I ain’t leaving. Rick(’s) personal life is his life. He’s here to coach me and is the best teach of hoop to me! So like the fans say, ‘Go Cards.’” And folks, that trumps morals.
5. Ah, I remember simpler times …
Gather around, children, and let me tell you about times before Facebook and Twitter when we’d get our news from Walter Cronkite and the New York Times.
4. Next bout: Police vs. King (not Don)
And you thought this was a strange. (That's Tonya getting clocked.)
Remember when celebrity boxing was just absurd mindless entertainment, like mutant bowling? Tonya Harding, Jose Canseco, Danny Bonaduce – those were the days. But I think we’ve crossed over from pathetic but slightly funny to just pathetic (not an easy feat, by the way): Next month in Philadelphia: Rodney King vs. a cop. Yes, this is the same Rodney King who won a $3.8 million civil judgment against the LAPD after several officers used him as a punching bag for no apparent reason. King has had a variety of issues in his life since, including alcoholism. But at least that opened the door to appearing on, “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” and another reality show, “Sober House.” You know. I’m almost embarrassed to admit this. I’m from L.A. I may never be going back.
3. Oh nooo — Erin Andrews is leaving us!
Go ahead. Say it. She's a dirty, dirty girl.
ESPN’s rather famous sideline reporter is pictured and featured in GQ magazine, which given recent news stories is probably a better career decision than, say, Maxim. But here’s the big news: Sweet Erin apparently has plans to leave Atlanta and move to New York City. I’m not sure if I’m more upset by that or the fact that she’s taking advice from Jesse Palmer.
Quoth Ms. Andrews: “Jesse Palmer always says to me, ‘What are you waiting for. I have no ties to Atlanta, so ideally, I’ll get there ASAP and start playing.”
2. Falcons-Stafford in 4 mins
Erin gets me in the mood. For football. (Get your mind out of the gutter.) I missed the Falcons vs. Matthew Stafford pre-season opener. You too? Well, fortunately, here’s the entire game in four minutes, seven seconds. That’s about all the average NFL exhibition is worth, and I’m not charging you the same as a regular season ticket, like the NFL.
1. NFL sales update: Where’s MV7?
If you’ll note screen grab from NFLShop.com, you’ll note that the Michael Vick jersey has not been put back up on the front page of the website. The geek with the Ravens’ hat is still there. Gee, a guess we touched a nerve the other day. If you need some catching up, click here.
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72 comments Add your comment
Paddy
August 18th, 2009
12:27 pm
Put Belkin back in as Gov. Lets see what he can do. We know what this last group can accomplish. What would it hurt, nobody except a few really care about NBA basketball in ATL anyway. The NBA has lost millions of fans over the last few years. They eat their own young.
Lifetime Braves Fan
August 18th, 2009
12:29 pm
first.
Lifetime Braves Fan
August 18th, 2009
12:29 pm
crap I can never be first
stoopid
August 18th, 2009
12:33 pm
My god I love Erin Andrews!!!
Steve Belkin
August 18th, 2009
12:37 pm
A few more than “a few” care about NBA basketball in Atlanta. Any idiot, even you, should know that.
Bubba
August 18th, 2009
12:44 pm
I have the solution. Give the Thrashers to Belkin, the rest of ASG stays as is. Me and Schultzie will now talk amongst ourselves while we stand in line for our law degrees.
mitch
August 18th, 2009
12:53 pm
Dear Mr. JS–in #6, “between he, his wife”. Have you lost your mind? Your pal, Mitch
Notty Dred
August 18th, 2009
1:02 pm
Steve Belkin, as much as the media has attempted to villianize him, was right on Joe Johnson. We gave up too much. I don’t know if he can come back into the organzation at that same position because of lack of chemistry. If that weren’t a problem then he could comeback. He has a basketball and a business mind. Funny he got outed because he was doing his job. Problem is the Spirit had to many people in virtually the same position. Billy Knight was GM, but Belkin (governor) could veto what he did. Just like the Hawks (and I love my Hawks, I will be following them this season at http://www.fanhuddle.com) the Spirit need to define roles and stick with them.
Go Mike Vick. I forgive u 4 not giving me your all. I am disappointed, but your still the best football player I ever seen and u were half-assin’! Wow the skies are the limit with this guy.
checkout my video blog at http://www.2livestews.com under Lady Simone’s blog (we do it together). You can check me out on facebook just search for Enrique James. Peace and blessings.
BBrown
August 18th, 2009
1:03 pm
Which has more fighting the Real Housewives of ATL on Bravo or the Atlanta Spirit? Wow, that is a close call.
Brendan
August 18th, 2009
1:07 pm
I’m in favor of whatever benefits the Thrashers the most. Sometimes, I do think that’s selling the team to a local interest, who’ll keep it here, and most importantly, CARE for it. Don Waddell, God love ‘im, isn’t exactly sitting in the “most coveted GM chair in the NHL.” Throughout all this Octocluster non-sense, I’ve actually managed to feel sympathy for him. Who’d want to be the GM of the Thrashers? Now, or ever in its history? Oh, put those hands down. It’s more fun to part of CBSSportsline’s fantasy league than it would be to actually run a team that has NO FAIR CHANCE in the real world to succeed. It starts with committed ownership. And you ALL know that. Moving right along.
DW, at least, to his credit, hasn’t up and quit. Like he probably should. And give the Spirit, LLC a piece of his mind along the way. If Don Waddell is “so respected in NHL circles,” he’d certainly land another job, right? Waddell stays. Waddell puts up with it. Waddell lives on self-imposed budgets, far less than what the NHL accountants say is “okay.” By my calculations, it’s somewhere between $8-$10 million under the cap. Just like every NHL GM fantasizes about, right?
The uhh, counter-argument, is that we’ve seen the results of what a Waddell, MAXED CAP, team looks like. In fairness, I think he’s learned the difference between the “new” NHL and the one he grew up watching. But I digress. I hope Mr. Belkin will do what’s right. He has an opportunity to end all of this mess. He needs to grab a pen, a piece of paper, and write down a number. Then sun himself, to his very heart’s content, in Seychelles, or some other FAR AWAY Island, without extradition to the United States. Actually, that sounds like a pretty good idea for ANYONE! I hear it’s nice, out there in the Indian Ocean.
Ed Amos
August 18th, 2009
1:07 pm
Pitino commits rape a woman, and that is just between him and his wife? Really? Maybe you should cover sports in Afghanistan. There it is sanctioned by the Taliban. YOU should be standing against rape as a public voice of integrity.
YE Yank
August 18th, 2009
1:08 pm
College kids think what Pitino did is outstanding. Just an expensive desert!
DHD
August 18th, 2009
1:09 pm
Had to mention Vick one more time. Somebody, please call the folks at Guinness Book of Records and tell them about the AJC and their love affair with a former football player. The AJC has to hold the record for most articles about one player. I swear, there are 3 each day.
YE Yank
August 18th, 2009
1:10 pm
Mr Ed – there was NO rape. Do your homework.
Pitino is Innocent
August 18th, 2009
1:13 pm
Ed Amos probably shouldn’t alledge things he doesn’t have any factual information about. Kind of like me saying this: Ed Amos committed mail fraud!
Rick Pitino | All Days Long
August 18th, 2009
1:13 pm
[...] Countdown: Belkin in charge, Pitino safe and Erin leaving? Atlanta Journal Constitution I've managed to stay clear of the whole Rick Pitino thing because once you get past the Tuesday night Bravo aspect to this, it's basically an issue between … See all stories on this topic [...]
George C
August 18th, 2009
1:13 pm
I think it moved.
Brendan
August 18th, 2009
1:14 pm
I think Belkin was right about the JJ trade, too. But, today, I fear losing Joe Johnson. It’s funny how this has all played out. I figured JJ would be gone before Belkin ever got his hands back on the Hawks.
George C
August 18th, 2009
1:14 pm
You can eat chips the way you want to eat them, and I’ll eat them the way I want to eat them.
MiltonDawg
August 18th, 2009
1:15 pm
JS- always good times on Tuesday’s countdown!! So all of this Spirit..does this actually translate to now we’re going to have an organization that does something right now? Is this considered more of an Arthur Blank approach or Liberty Media approach? I’m not even going anywhere near the Pitino story, Erin Andrews say it aint so!!! Can we get a fight with Reginald Denny against Rodney King instead?
charliedawg
August 18th, 2009
1:16 pm
EA, there is more papparazi in NYC than Dunwoody…..enjoy.
Khao$
August 18th, 2009
1:28 pm
Heaven forbid Belkin is reinstated. Rick Sund has been doing a good job thus far as the GM. If he has to answer to Belkin, there is no telling what will happen. Belkin is demonized because Belkin has never (visibly) seemed to support the Atlanta sports scene. He wanted power and he wanted to flex his muscles. Nevermind there are two other groups that own stakes in both teams. He should do the write thing. Don’t try to have Gearon removed as the govenor. Either support the rest of the group and draw up a buyout agreement. Hawks/Thrashers fans have had enough.
gdawginkalamazoo
August 18th, 2009
1:31 pm
He will forever be known now as Coach Rick Porcini to me. That is one sick and twisted situation in Louisville. Maybe he feels better now that most everything is out there on the table, so to speak. Funny how he got the trainer to marry his mistress. Obviously she has been satisfied this past few years or all of this would have happened sooner.
You forgot to add the Rodney King will be fighting 7 cops again. I bet he didn’t notice THAT in his contract.
I did see the Lions game. It seemed to me that he was trying to get that Colston kid fired. He hit him in the hands on the first drop, thought he might be able to catch if he hit him in the numbers and that didn’t work either. Stafford at least reconized Tony Gilbert and threw that dawg a bone.
AGTFan
August 18th, 2009
1:32 pm
On the JJ trade: If that trade hadn’t happened, we’d still be waiting for a playoff trip.
On Dykstra’s German Sheppard: I love my two Border Collies, but if anyone out there wants to give me $10K, I’ll bring one right over.
Brendan
August 18th, 2009
1:33 pm
There’ll be LESS paparazzi in New York City?? Erin, stay here.
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
August 18th, 2009
1:33 pm
Jeff….on TNT’s coverage of the PGA Championship Saturday morning they showed Rory McIlroy walking to the clubhouse with his girlfriend….can you get this video or a picture..?? The girl is gorgeous…!!
BugKiller
August 18th, 2009
1:36 pm
I really don’t get Erin Andrews.
She worships Jesus Tebow in an unnaturally unhealthy kind of a way.
She’s cute, but not gorgeous. She’s no Lisa Guerrero, or whatever her name was.
She asks the same stupidly pointless questions that all sideline reporters not named Suzie Kolber asks.
She’s in all sense of the word, meh.
I said it when the whole tape thing broke, I just don’t get why all these basement-dwelling bloggers and sports nuts love her so much.
Suzie Kolber comes off as far more intelligent and for more knowledgeable about football than Andrews ever has.
WTF
August 18th, 2009
1:53 pm
Just check out the area between her shoulders and waist…
BugKiller
August 18th, 2009
1:54 pm
Some of us prefer something in the area between her eyes and the back of her head, as well as the rest.
The Lemmer
August 18th, 2009
1:54 pm
The heck with Erin Andrews. She’s made it to where she’s at because she’s decent to look at on tv. Besides that, she went to Florida…I say “Good riddance.”
Dave H.
August 18th, 2009
1:57 pm
JESSE PALMER IS A TOOL. He makes Tebow look straight.
Notty Dred
August 18th, 2009
2:07 pm
DHD- its football season. Were in ATL. The best offensive player to play for the Falcons was a controversial QB names Mike Vick. He will be mentioned everyday in the AJC. You don’t have to like it but u must understand it. Go to http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports and you will really see some Vick! They have a Vick section where its all Vick all the time. So if u can deal with it cool blog on. If not find another media outlet to voice your opinion.
http://www.2livestews.com
Joey
August 18th, 2009
2:14 pm
Come on Ed, if there was a rape, why’d she wait 6 years to report it?
Khao$
August 18th, 2009
2:22 pm
Jeff,
With the news that Belkin is “entitled” to be reinstated as govenor, should we be worried about the pending Joe Smith signing and/or possible Joe Johnson extension? To me, Belkin has never cared about the city of Atlanta. Gearon and company may be idiots. However, I’ll take the idiots that care over the idiot that could care less any day.
Mark
August 18th, 2009
2:29 pm
Erin Andrews has nothing to offer the sports world other than a pretty face to look at on the sidelines. There is nothing of substance to her reporting and I can’t count how many times she’s stumbled through stats, quotes, said the wrong team, etc. She’s hot, that’s all there is to her, well she may be good at a few things but unfortunately I will never get to find out about those!!!
Paddy
August 18th, 2009
2:29 pm
Steve Belkin…Shame on you for calling me an idiot. You went to” no-class” so soon. I will give you your point. There are a few more than a few who care about NBA in ATL. A few plus a few = about a half full arena. I just can’t take the NBA any longer. And there are more than a few of us that agree on that point.
gdawginkalamazoo
August 18th, 2009
2:36 pm
Why won’t Erin Andrews interview Joe Namath on the sidelines?
Tom
August 18th, 2009
2:44 pm
I didn’t even know Erin Andrews was here in the first place, so it makes no difference whatsoever to me.
Jeff, you’re 100% dead right about Pitino, as long as the recruits are coming in and the program is winning they aren’t going to dump him, plain and simple. He’s a complete and utter scumbag, but he keeps the high-profile multimillions job with perks because, well, he’s good at it. And that’s really all that matters.
ksleezy
August 18th, 2009
2:45 pm
Go home Steve Belkin!! I can’t believe you were included to begin with. The Joe Johnson trade has obviously been a very positive trade for the Hawks. Boris who?
Jer
August 18th, 2009
2:48 pm
Well, I moved to Manhattan from Atlanta over 5 years ago and I’m totally stoked. Good move Erin!
NeNe's Greg's boss
August 18th, 2009
3:05 pm
Go away Erin Andrews. We have seen enough of you. Actually a little to much.
JSSS
August 18th, 2009
3:13 pm
Karen Syphers is magnificently beautiful. Glad she’s back on the market. Yummy.
CatsFly
August 18th, 2009
3:22 pm
UL recruits r probably bouyed (sp) by Pitino’s actions. “Hey, get us some, too”!
The Dogfighter Returns
August 18th, 2009
3:23 pm
OMG Ricky what were you thinking of? say ten Hail Marys and one Our Father and you should be fine.
How can someone that old get pregnant?
Doesn’t the ajc conceal identities of rape victims?
I thought you folks were journalists? WTF?
Tech75
August 18th, 2009
3:30 pm
JSSS – You’re sick… LOL
Bob
August 18th, 2009
3:31 pm
She was 43 when she allegedly got preggers, the flower of her womanhood. She’s still quite hot. Rowr!
Tech75
August 18th, 2009
3:33 pm
JSSS – either: Syphers never looked good to begin with, in which case I have other questions for Pitino, or she looked a whole lot better 7 years ago.
If the latter, then my conclusion is that she’s going to look like the dude in the “bitter beer” commercial in another 7 years.
Or, Pitino was blind drunk at the time.
GeorgiaDuck
August 18th, 2009
3:35 pm
Besides Boris Diaw, who did the Hawks give up for JJ? Is Diaw still in the league? Suzy Kolber is the best sideline reporter in football. Enjoy Manhattan Erin!
Khao$
August 18th, 2009
3:41 pm
^^Georgia Duck, one of the picks in that trade turned out to be Rajon Rondo. The Suns traded it to Boston and got their starting poing guard. The other pick turned out to be the Lopez kid in Pheonix. He plays off their bench.
Davan S. Mani
August 18th, 2009
3:48 pm
Erin Andrews is the Terri Garr of sports journalism. Neurotic and intelligent which is the essential American woman appeal.