Bettman wants Thrashers’ owners to get their act together

Schultz, you’re a real piece of work … one negative article after another … two words, you suck … and it is ONE owner that disrupted everything and is causing all of this, one owner that the ASG is trying to cut off, one owner that didnt want to pay Joe Johnson or give up a first round pick (which, funny enough, didn’t even affect the team) … this in a time when no bigtime players wanted to come here … now we have a 4-time all-star and playoffs… why don’t you write something positive but i guess that just make you more fake … funny how pretty much all the fans at ther townhall meeting last night called for you’re firing … imagine that … i was and still am one of them … being an Atlanta native, your coverage on sports here is mediocre and one-sided … it’s always a bash party for you and your articles do nothing to make the teams better, only to rile up people that aren’t even attending the games … so more or less, you have these bumbling fools agreeing with you who aren’t even part of the fanbase … guess you can go home and sleep at night b/c that? pathetic …

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523rd? Who cares about hockey in Atlanta?

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matt b and adf, my point has been made in my first post by you two idiots .. you’re probably the same numbnuts who say “atl has a basketball team?” or “atl has a football team?” … you’re probably not atlanta natives as it is, and if so, what a shame … either that or you were people who came to see the Braves in the early 90s but then didn’t come out during the playoff games starting in 2000 b/c you’re train of thought was “they’re just going to lose anyways” … once again, this city shows how stupid people really are

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Paul Hewitt and Dan Waddell will be allowed to stick around forever and destroy their teams but no one will be around to care anymore so it doesn’t matter.

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Much too little Much to late.

They have a GM employed for no reason but the fact that he’s cheap. Why else would you employ a guy who by his own words is responsible to make moves that benifit the team in the short and long term yet hasn’t accomplished the slightest thing in 11 years? It’s not like it’s remarkably difficult to make it into the playoffs with 8 teams in each division making it every single year and yet this man has done it exactly once and he severely damaged the “long term relevance” of the franchise in doing so. If he was a samurai he would have fallen on the sword LONG ago. It was is and always has been Waddell making the decisions…. Think it’s time for a freaking change yet???????

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All these people whining about hockey not being important can go shove it! We are a 4 sport town. If you want to only care about college football terrific. That’s awesome, you can go watch it. Hockey is important because it gives you CHOICES. Opportunities. You want to be myopic… go live in some podunk town in Texas and live for friday nights. Geez.

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The people who say hockey doesn’t matter are the same morons who address residents of Atlanta as either yankees or rebels. They are bumpkins, and ignorant hillbillies. Not shocking, there are still a few good old boys left, they’re just pissed they are becoming the minority in this town/area now.

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thrashville-It may be one owner that disrupted things as a whole, but I wouldn’t imply the remaining owners are the poster children on how to run an NHL franchise in a non-traditional market. What is your personal breaking point as a STH? What would cause you to walk away from spending a lot of money on the Thrashers? Just curious. Would it really be a bad thing if they found a buyer for the team willing/wanting to keep it here that actually loved hockey as much as the fans? At some point new blood in management and ownership is usually a welcome site. In this case, we’re past that point.

Schultz-Did Bettman elude to their being a solution on the horizon in respect to new investors or a buyer for the franchise? Or did he seem to indicate this was going to continue to drag on for the foreseeable future?

Those questions come to mind because Tampa is close to being purchased again for the second time in about three years. It makes me wonder if the Boston guy buying the Lightning had any interest in us or the Phoenix franchise? Maybe this ownership scares away potential partners/buyers at the moment, plus the economy affecting everyone in some way.

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Good column, Jeff. Nice to hear someone ABOVE ownership acknowledge the issues.

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“you have these bumbling fools agreeing with you who aren’t even part of the fanbase”

there’s a lot of us who agree with Schultz that are, in fact, part of the fanbase. In fact, the majority of the fanbase agrees with Schultz, which is precisely why you have seen the arena empty night after night. Waddell has driven most of the fans away, those that are left are the newbie naive fans that buy Waddell and ownership’s dribble (if you believe for one minute that Kovy left over money, you need a reality check, he left to go play where there’s solid ownership and a real GM who can build a winner–he will sign for the same, or less, than what we offered, and he’ll sign with a real team).

Shultz, thanks for interviewing Bettman and confirming what I know to be true. The NHL will not let the owners sell the club to someone who moves the team. They will sell the club to someone that will leave them in Phillips.

So, Sara, nice to see you come out of hiding. Are you ready to wo-man up and admit you were dead wrong about Kovy checking out months ago and just going through motions until he left? He’s been counting the days, Sara, just like I and others told you.

And as I’ve told you many times, nothing will change here until Waddell is gone. I heard Levenson gave Waddell the dreaded vote of confidence last night, let’s pray it works.

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Thrasherville take a chill pill. This was good balanced article and if you don’t believe it I believe you are “on the payroll”. This is not a negative article just a truthful one. He merely asked the most important person in the NHL what his thoughts where and he gave very pointed answers.

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thrashville – Are you the rude dyke that runs the Thrashers fan club for free seats and other party favors or an ASG employee that can’t stand having the truth told?

BTW, most of the people I sat around at the Town Hall meeting are happy that Schultz holds the fire to the feet of these bumbling owners. Yeah, some clapped for the fan who called for Schultz’s head on a platter, but not most.

Maybe, you should have surgery for your cranial-rectal inversion issue.

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Jeff,
My hat is off to you sir. I thank you for being man enough to take up a just cause. The fact that Bettman is saying this and you asked questions geared towards the problems with the team lead me to believe enough attention is now focused here. Now PLEASE, PLEASE continue to dig. Does ownership have an answer to this article? Do they think they can come to terms and move forward as the league wants? While we all know the answers, how about a nice article detailing the failures of the team due to mismanagement and how detrimental this has been to the FANS and the PLAYERS of the Trashers?
AGAIN, I thank you for the reporting, at such a true time for needed change it is good to see the AJC take the lead and ask for some answers. Now if we can continue to get to the bottom so it does not settle back to obscure. If Atlanta finally begins to question this, then other markets will see there is a desire for hockey to stay here and succeed.

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Jeff, agree with your latest column and with the general tone of your Thrasher pieces of late. While we can all rightly castigate ownership, I give no quarter to DW and the management either. Look at Nashville. They’ve had continuing troubles as well with ownership finances and draw flies most nights, but they put a quality product on ice year in and year out. They’ve never had the superstar player but have managed to play disciplined, quality hockey.

It’s funny though, the last two games without Kovy, the team has played some of the most inspired, hardworking hockey I have ever seen out of a Thrasher team. If they keep that type of play up, I just might be lured back to the arena. As much as I enjoyed watching Kovy and his talents over the last eight years, there was many a night when he coasted thru games and he NEVER much cared about defense, so if the guys realize there is no superstar to rely on, they may play a more team-oriented game and that will be a nice change from what we’ve watched during the Kovy era.

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Jeff

Hockey no doubt can make it in Atl.and believe you know it will and can. I understand your frustration. The vibe last night was awesome along with a win. Rick Dudley is the real deal and will no doubt get this thing jump started, if he has not already. Bettman knows if we have a team that is competitive year in and year out that this will be a terrific place for the NHL. I am glad he recognizes that much.

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Jeff – Dittos and thanks for the article. I would take comfort in what Bettman has said repeatedly about the Atlanta market but unfortunately his word is almost as worthy as DWs.

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Good column, Jeff. The issue is not whether Atlanta can or will support hockey. History with the Flames and Thrashers shows that it has. Indeed the NHL teams have more often than not out drawn the Hawks in attendance. Certainly interest in the Thrashers has waned in the last 2 yrs. But Atlanta will not support a poor product resulting from incompetent management/ownership regardless of sport. (See the mid 70s, late 80s Braves, the Falcons at various times during the Rankin Smith era, the Pete Babcock Hawks) The Thrashers truly are the Pittsburgh Pirates of hockey: trying to compete on the cheap with young talent (and/or over-the-hill talent) with mediocre results, and then trading that talent, when developed and up for free agency, for prospects when they can’t afford to sign. Wash, rinse, repeat. Wonder why the Braves attendance has steadily declined in recent yrs? They seem to be implementing this business plan as well. (Well, at least they signed McCann)

Kovalchuk would not negotiate with this team in good faith because he, like Hossa and others before him, rightfully questioned ownership’s committment to competing for the Stanley Cup (Rutherford Seydel’s ridiculous assertion on opening night a couple a years ago notwithstanding). Can’t blame Thrashers for not meeting his demands. So what are you going to do? Fire Waddell? Waddell certainly has been abysmal at signing top tier UFAs, and the Zhitnik-Coburn and Tkacuk trades are right up there in the all time Atl GM Hall of Shame. But even if, say, Rick Dudley was GM (a move I believe should be made), you’d still have the ASG cluster-blob. Something has to be done to get new ownership that has at least a speck of interest in hockey, or at least someone other than Levenson. Maybe Bettman can facilitate that somehow.

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THANK YOU Commissioner Gary Bettman! Atlanta Spirit will not listen to us so maybe they will listen to you.

.

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Arthur Blank is too smart to waste money on the Thrashers.

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Jeff,

I try not to get on you too bad because I actually like your view on issues, but writing 7 Thrasher articles out of your last 10 is too much. I, like most Atlanta sports fans (See attendance for Thrasher games) don’t give a rats behind about hockey. Clearly the issues with the Thrashers are pretty simple: Cheap owners, poor talent evaluating by GM and a very small fan base. Time to write about something different, please. I even enjoy your UGA bashing articles more than this. The Atlanta Spirit is actually giving the Smith family a run for their money on bad sports ownership.

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Excellent article and insights. I wish other league commissioners were more like Bettman, and less like a cross between the chairman of Exxon and Chiang Kai-shek.

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The only constant being Waddell is the major reason the Thrashers will be in another city in three years. Bad decisions across the board. Owners are happy to have an inept GM and limited attendance. So sad. Waddell would not have survived this long in another city and different owners.

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How many kids play hockey in the Atlanta area? How many adults, whether southerners or transplants, grew up playing the game? Why is it a sin to say here what is perhaps the truth – that this is not a hockey town? I don’t get why folks who say so are crucified as being “dumb rednecks”. As someone whose family is originally from Buffalo and Ontario, I grew up exposed to a real hockey culture. Atlanta, sorry to say, is not – nor do I believe ever will be.

On the other hand, consider the changing demographics of the area, and soccer may be the best bet for a fourth sport in town. With all of the growth in the Latin American and West African communities, I think the potential for soccer is huge. And TONS of kids (as well as adults) play soccer.

Maybe the Thrashers need to go to my ancestral city of St. Catherines, or Winnepeg or Regina or Quebec City, And then maybe we should get an MLS franchise. As a fan of both sports, I honestly think that would be a better outcome.

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It’s refreshing to see Jeff point out the real culprits instead of his usual banter of cozying up to the Kovy groupies and the Waddell haters.

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dz YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT

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IlliniDawg

You are another clueless blogger
BU who won the college natl championship had 2 kids form atl on the squad and there are several more D1 players from the area.
Hockey is staying in atl whether you like it or not
great vibe at the arena last night
GO THRASHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ONE MORE THING..when the thrashers win under dudley’s leadership the arena will be the place to go….best family entertainment in town…
oh kovy’s neg 84 life will not sit well with lou and jaques

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Great posts today. Good job, bloggers. This is what is needed. Keep this topic in the news. I think Schultz was right to contact the NHL Commissioner to get an interview about the state of the Thrashers franchise. I cannot even BELIEVE that Bettman has been SO SILENT.

Bettman should STEP IN and appoint someone to run this team for the Thrashers. Look, when the NHL commissioned a “think tank” to decide where to put NHL expansion teams, I don’t think they were WRONG to pick Atlanta. They were RIGHT to pick Atlanta. And Atlanta would, today, be well run, with someone like David Poile, Jim Rutherford, George McPhee, or Cliff Fletcher running it. Even with this octocluster? Well, yes. The Octocluster doesn’t decide who to draft. The Octocluster doesn’t decide who to trade. And for whom. The Octocluster doesn’t pick Ken Klee, Steve Rucchin, Todd White or Eric Perrin as free agent selections. They have NOTHING to do with the “hockey decisions” regard roster personnel. Basically, as I understand it, the Octocluster sets a budget. And then, they turn things over to Don Waddell for “oversight.” Or, as R. Stroz might say, “undersight.”

Folks, re-read the post by Bob at 11:13AM today. That’s all you need to know. Here’s the link. http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/02/07/bettman-wants-thrashers-owners-to-get-their-act-together/comment-page-1/#comment-127502. What he said was spot on.

As for hockey in the South, well … ask a Yankee if he thought NHL teams in Raleigh, NC and Nashville, TN could work, and you’d likely get a belly=laugh in response. And yet, both clubs have been in the playoffs with pretty good consistency over the past several years/decade. They are, generally-speaking, well-run. Nashville has yet to win a playoff series. But they’ve put together some impressive seasons, most notably in 2007. Carolina went to the Finals in 2002 and 2006, winning a Cup in 2006. Tampa Bay won the Cup in 2004. Washington, technically a southern city, housed within the SE Division, is very close to winning a Stanley Cup. Today, they rallied from down, 4-1, to win, 5-4, in overtime, over the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Thanks Jeff, damn good job! Owners need to sell asp. The joke of the league, The Spirts suck bigtime.

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WE GOT a HOCKEY TEAM? WHO NEW!

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Hockey could work in this town with all the transplants we have here. One caption we could you, “I know it’s not your hometeam but hey you can get tickets here.” The thrashers have not done a good job to create new hockey fans. There are a lot of kids that play hockey here in the burbs of atl. Plus I think there are college teams here. I could be wrong. I think marketing is a big problem. I can go to a gladiators game for 1/2 or a 1/3 than I can pay to go to a thrashers game. The ticket prices could get a lot less. The diehard hockey fan it won’t matter. But, for the person you are trying to convince that this is a really cool game to watch in person you are going to have to get them in the seats. Of course the fans here are not conducive to just showing up to come watch a game (exp braves,falcons,hawks). It can be a playoff game and the teams have to resort to tricks to get the people in the seats. But, if you WIN then they show up. The sea parts and low and behold the fans shall come. Look at what the braves are doing now with the bus promotion. Where you can go and meet the team. Have you ever had the hockey team to go around and introduce themselves. Honestly as a sports fan I hate our ownership group. They are a joke. Bickering and in the court all the time. I wish Mr. Stern and Mr. Bettman should revoke their ownership stating they aren’t good for the league take the teams over and actually get an owner who has enough capital to fund the team and actually likes the sport that they are owning. The teams need stability and the present ownership group has not had any since they purchased the teams. That’s imo in short.

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thrashville,

You are a clown. That is all.

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I’d love to see the ASG sell the Thrashers to an Atlanta-based owner or group that is interested in hockey. I don’t care one way or another about hockey, but it’s good for the city of Atlanta to have a team in all four major sports, and more importantly (to me) the ASG will have more resources (and less excuses) to commit to the Hawks. And clearly, if they drew 17,000 in their first year, 13,000 this year, and have enough people to support a minor league hockey team in Gwinnett County, there are enough hockey fans in the metro area to support an NHL franchise.

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Having been a Whalers fan until the end, I’m glad to at least HAVE a hockey team here.
And the logo and uni colors are nice. But until you get a GM that can draft well and isn’t just a nice guy you’d like to have a beer with (and Don is purported to be a great managing GM, but not a good drafting one), The Trashers will be a team like the Washington Generals – everyone comes to the arena to see the away team.

It’s hard enough to convince folks to cheer for a sport that they don’t grow up watching or playing. I played in junior hockey up in the Boston area, so it was an extension of my interest in the game that led to me watching hockey when it was on NBC in the late 60’s-early 70’s (remember Peter Puck?) That hasn’t happened here. The Trashers are as big a deal as the Georgia Force were.
And that’s a sad commentary on the sport as a whole.

As for the ‘Atlanta isn’t a good sports town’ crap? That one’s usually reserved as a radio talk show argument starter by lazy hosts who want to blow through a shift knowing you’ll get a lot of argument over a subject that is trivial but lights up phones. And I give Jeff credit – he’d never stoop to using that tired old subject to burn through a shift at 790 the Zone. Mike Bell might, especially if it’s Friday & he’s hosting at the Cheetah, but that’s another story…

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Just curious – what are the teams with worse attendance than the Thrashers?

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Sorry that was last year. This year it’s the Islanders and the Coyotes.

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Once again Jeff you try your hardest to bash everything and anything concerning Atlanta sports, I think you are the one that should leave town.

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I’m no longer a virgin. I lost it last night with Tiffany Cobb!

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OK….So she was a little heavy, I still got it!

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I have to THANK-YOU To Mr.Jeff Schultz for doing something that was LONG overdue, contacting the NHL and Mr.Gary Bettman to get his thoughts on the Thashers and their many issues.

I have to say, it takes a seasoned veteran like Jeff to get it done for the FANS, not this little Wimp tool of asg vilimore, or whatever his name is… GREAT JOB JEFF !!!!

I reallly believe this is a shot across the bow of asg. It may not be from a big gun, but it says… The NHL Is Watching YOU ! And they
have a lot bigger guns if needed, if asg does not straighten up it’s act.

If you read between the lines, The NHL is growing tired of the mess asg is. They want the Thrashers to be a sucess and I feel it asg does not improve things, The NHL will. All the excuses and ramblings of asg
have run their course, and it appears the NHL, like most of us FANS,
is wising up and in this suttle interview is telling them GET IT RIGHT
OR WE WILL !

asg has, in my view, long ignored the fans, the NHL sees the attendence figures every game and cannot be happy. I feel it asg does not straighten thier mess out the NHL finally will.

I now believe hockey safe in Atlanta, based on this interview. The
Commissioner is committed to having NHL hockey here and HE will fight to keep it here, I now believe that. I also believe in his mind there is
a timetable, in which asg either makes THE committment or the NHL will be the new owner. So asg, you can ignore what the fans say, like you
always do, but you cannot ignore the NHL !

While they would run the team for the short term, any change in ownership is better than the mess we have now.

It is now time asg, to stop running this team into the ground, no more
constant rebuilding etc… either put a winner on the ice or get out of the hockey business once and for all.

I have been a strong critic of asg and don waddell for a long time and gotten a bit strong towards my feelings, but Monday morning dawns a new day, because now, Thanks To Jeff Schultz, the asg is now on notice PUBLICLY by the NHL to shape up or GET OUT ! It is now time to commit
to winning or let the NHL take over, I feel the timetable starts Monday and time may very well finally be running out on asg & don waddell once
and for all, Like I said asg does not care what we the fans say, but they sure will when the NHL takes over.

Thanks again Jeff for an OUTSTANDING job and giving us fans some hope that help may be on the way sooner… rather than later !!!!!

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Agree w/ LA; thanks JS, great article. Glad Bettman knows we are down here.

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Fire Wadds. Keep preasure on the owners. Scream it during the games, especially those against Canadian and NYC teams. Never stop until we expose them all for the frauds the are.

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This just in, The state of New York sucks! It’s ugly as hayul up there with ugly people, and full of nasty liberals…yuck…

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[...] Bettman wants Thrashers’ owners to get their act together NHL commissioner Gary Bettman still believes in Atlanta as a hockey market, but the Thrashers have been hurt by ownership squabbles. [...]

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[...] Bettman wants Thrashers' owners to get their act together | Jeff … Share and [...]

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Hey brown Who did I insult ? Objective response to an excellent interview that is long overdue.

So brown, little wannabe tough guy, name a place and a time and I will gladly oblige you and I will even change your diaper too !

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For those who think that no one in the Atlanta area plays hockey. Think again. Ice leagues are full and roller hockey is bigger than ever. Why don’t you come see some of our fine travel teams or junior teams? We have some of the best teams in the nation. Thousands play this great game and want a quality product to be proud of. We need a good house cleaning from top to bottom. ASG has to go and take Waddell with you. Atlanta will support a good product. ASG is tight fisted and trys to sell a big ticket with a “minor league” team. On the other hand we do have great young players and I see better times ahead. Last night was a prime example. The Thrash came from behind to win the game behind a very vocal crowd. Hockey can be a big time ticket here if we as fans voice our concerns and show some support.

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Maybe, if God is a hockey fan, Bettman will turn his attention to the ATL and take out the clusterf*ck that is the Atlanta Spirirt Clown Posse. Let them keep the Hawks, it is hard to f*ck up an NBA franchise wih all the TV money the league has (but if Joe Johnson leaves bets are off there too!), but sell the Trashers and the Arena operation rights to someone (not group) with a clue, someone who can run a business and be willing to unass the sorry team management we have in Atlanta. For all of his faults, and they are legion, Bettman has a clue about the US market and he will not allow the team to be moved. If a fellow from Boston will put in approx $170 million to take over the mess that was the Lightning ownership, he can find someone for Atlanta because the clown posse is not going to do sh*t about it. And, yes, I am that over these fools. Damn!

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Owner end dispute= Waddell out of Atlanta + -John Anderson (for stinking)

Bring in Hartely as Coach and Make the old Chicago (NHL) assistant GM and Washington, Boston, or Pittsburgh’s best scouter director or assistant GM

If Hartely denies over offer him, bring Kovalchuck back.

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loosers

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Wow BG33Brown, can’t you see the mess pal ? LAC/SAGE/STENDEC/NASCAR are
all right, I wonder what roses smell like to you.

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Man, we just need to change the name from the Thrashers to The Knights, that will invigorate the fan base with great memories from our championship minor league hockey team of yesteryear, playing in a sold out Omni. And get new owners

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JJ is an idiot

goof ball….go racst

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I keep hearing remarks such as “Bettmen would not let them move the team from Atlanta”, but what can he do? Al Davis successfully sued the NFL to be able to move his Raiders from Oakland to LA (of course he ended up moving them back to Oakland). So, does anyone know what would be the difference here?

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The bw Breed? opps. understood what you r last post said Brendan and agree, thank you. Timings are key

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It all starts at the top and the fact that Waddell has been calling the shots for so long is because no one up stairs knows a lick about Hockey. Hopefully the Kovalchuk trade won’t end up like the Hossa one and get no one in return for him (no knock on Colby but, Christensen, Esposito, and Leveille were/are busts for the franchise). So far I love the pick up with Oduya especially and it is great to see the Thrash play with some passion. The last game was the best game/atmosphere since the playoffs. I am not writing this season off just yet………..although history tells me otherwise.

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You guys can bash me all you want and say what you want (it’s a free blog and a free country) but this is how i see it (and keep in mind my first game wasn’t until the start of the 0506 season so i’ve yet to become a bitter 10 year fan) …

New ownership comes in 0405 – Hockey lock-out, fire sale of almost evey player on the Hawks, restarting from the ground up, should have been the year the Thrash first make the playoffs (looking at how far they’ve come since 1999, they WERE right on the cusp), Hawks worst record in franchise history due to rebuilding – fans are pissed, call for Billy KNightmare & Woody to be fired

Previous years (starting in 1999) – no playoffs for Hawks/Thrashers

0506 – best Thrash team, albeit Pasi blew his knee out and the saga starts w/ Kari and his groin, Heatley traded for Hossa (obvious reasons, he can’t stand what he did here), Bondra brought in w/ Hollik (Thrash have a reputation for bringing in older vets, something that i never could understand) … we basically use AHL goalies the entire season and miss playoffs by 3 points (tie would have gone to Tampa) … so this probably would have been our 2nd straight year in the playoffs for Thrash … Hawks bring in Joe Johnson, ownership dispute starts, basically 7 or 8 to 1 on Joe trade – no other rising star wanted to come here

0607 – Thrash make the playoffs under new ownership, Hawks still up and coming – people still asking for Billy and Woody’s head, basically got a rental out of Tkachuk (sp) to help us into playoffs

0708 – Thrash still in playoff race mid-season, Hossa decides to leave and everything goes downhill (this should have been the start for rebuilding), Hawks make the playoffs finally, Knightmare is gone and people are still calling for Woodys head but much less

0809 – Coach fired, Bogo picked up from draft, Anderson comes in, basically the start of rebuilding and new system, Hawks make playoffs again, rarely a cry is heard now for Woody’s head/Knightmares drafting actually worked out

0910 – Kane drafted, Kovy given the C and management lets him assist in building a team (as they want to resign him), Bibby & Jamal Crawford both take discounts to keep chemistry of the team together, Kovy demands too much money to keep chemistry (or lack of) together, Kovy traded, Hawks best start since 1998 season

Today – rebuilding of Thrash still taking place but improvement

Honestly, there wasn’t any playoffs before 0405 when ownership took over and now we’ve seen playoff hockey for the Thrash and for the Hawks. I’m optimistic in thinking that we’ll see both for this year. You can’t rebuild and have playoffs right away, as seen with the Hawks and also now being seen with the Braves. It takes time and too many people want what is now.

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Instead of getting into pissing matches, how about we see what happens this year and next … if no playoffs, then i’ve reached my limit

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The Bew Breed, you’re right. You’re completely right, there have been GOOD THINGS done by this GM. In a separte post, I’m going to make a laundry list of the positive, good things that Waddell has done, with regards to personnel decisions. Some may agree with me, or not, but I will try to present THE GOOD. But just don’t expect there to be an equal balance, because there isn’t. When posters come here to bash, bash, bash … it’s always the negative. I don’t say things like, “Waddell’s the worst GM in history.” Because he’s not. Mike Milbury is. Doug MacLean is second. You can make a strong case for Waddell being third, or somewhere in the Top 5. I won’t argue. But you won’t hear me say things like, “Every move Waddell makes is garbage.” It’s just not true. He’s made good moves. But in the “big picture,” there has been a dearth of success in the “only season that matters.” Of course, I’m referring the playoffs.

Thrashville, how ’bout we toss next year off the list, and just focus on this year to examine, “playoffs vs. no playoffs?” Deal? I mean. Hear me out, okay? He’s not the “newly named” GM of the team. The time for, “He just needs one more year” arguments ended in 2007. That “play for time” element of the Waddell Administration is over. It’s over. As in … “period, the end.” The “just give him one more year” philosophy is how you lose a DECADE, if you saw the movie, “Jerry McGuire.” Specifically, when Renee Zellweger says to Tom Cruise (McGuire), “We could lose TEN YEARS being ‘polite’ to each other.” And just as in any bad marriage, you can’t get those years of your life back. When I hear women talk about their ex-husbands, like this, “That man took my youth, my zest for life, my credit score, and generally-speaking, faith in mankind” … I sit back and smirk, with this reply, “Yes ma’am. And you watched it happen, didn’t you? Passively. Without corrective action. Your actions, or more specifically INACTION, have consequences. If ONLY you’d done it sooner, you’d be 28, thin and gorgeous, and would quickly land a new and BETTER MAN in your life. Now have a great day to ponder my words.”

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Sports is a business and Spirit LLC are TERRIBLE businessmen. Discord in your group and being cheap are formulas for disaster in almost any business. Problem becomes bigger when the NHL commish competes for idiocy with them. This guy couldn’t make money with the NFL as his product. This is the blind leading the blind- I hope they stumble on something good.

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How on Earth are the taxpayers involved in this ? What a stupid comment !

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Ususally I find Mr. Schultz’s articles far too negative. That’s easy pickings, especially with this origanization. But, this was extemely spot on – and the responses from the commissioner are somewhat re-assurring. I hoping that he’s working behind the scenes to bring in new ownership who will bring in new management.

And everyone – please use Brendan as your example. He can disagree with anyone with class. Acknowledging differences, pointing out his opinion and generating discussion. No name calling, threats, etc.

I’ve been guilty of it also, but, now try to think that I’m talking with someone rather than just typing. It’s easy to be rude behind a keyboard.

And actually most of us are in this together. We all like hockey, we want the best for the Trashers. Some just have more tolerance for the way this club is run.

My opinion – the whole ASG and Mr. Waddell need to be replaced with a single owner. Anyone out there? The Thrash would actually be a bargain.

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Kloucek, I forgot to mention, played 38 games for Atlanta. In the 2001 draft, Waddell found a nice surprise in goaltender Pasi Nurminen, with pick # 189 overall. That same year, he landed Colin Stuart with pick #135. Now, I hear ya. Outside of Thrasher fans, who knows who either of these guys really are? Fair enough. But I do give Waddell credit for these picks. If Nurminen had not blown out his knee, 2006 would have been a playoff year for Atlanta, not withstanding the Kari Lehtonen groin injury. For Dunham and Nurminen could have carried the load. And if not, the 2001 draft also produced a young goaltender named Michael Garnett. Remember him??? You should. He wound up playing pretty well after being pressed into service.

In 2002, Waddell found Nathan Oystrick with pick #198. I think we’ll begin to see the fruits of that pick next season. At #198, nobody should expect ANYTHING. But it could, theoretically, turn into something decent. I wished we’d kept Colin Stuart, too. The 2002 draft also netted the organization Jim Slater, as inducement, for passing on Nash/Bouwmeester to allow the consummation of a deal between Columbus and Florida for the 1st overall pick.

In 2003, Waddell found a “steal” in Brett Sterling, a Hobey Baker finalist from Colorado College. Unfortunately, Sterling, a pending RFA, has not made the leap to the NHL. I credit Waddell, however, for recognizing that this player was a guy who should have been a 2nd round pick, at #145 overall. See? See how I’m “fair.” Is this “bashing?” Does it sound like bashing??? It shouldn’t. Because it isn’t. While we’re still in the 2003 draft, Toby Enstrom, now a mainstay on our blueline, was plucked from pick #239 overall. Not too shabby, there. At pick #269 is Rylan Kaip. He “could” become a Thrasher one day. He’s still in our system. Fighter Guillaume Desbiens was selected at #116 in 2003. He’s gone now, I believe. And yes, I know you all want to talk about Coburn. But this is the “GOOD THINGS done by WADDELL” post, by me.

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[...] -Considering you can probably walk into the NHL's offices with a garbage bag full of Monopoly money and own a team, it's pretty bad when Gary Bettman calls out an ownership group. That's what he did with the Thrashers owners. [...]

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Jeff, I can’t for the life of me understand these comments about “another negative Thrashers piece by Jeff Schultz.” This is the exact opposite end of the spectrum and should be great news for hockey fans in Atlanta. Commissioner Bettman is incredibly devoted to non traditional markets and I trust him when he calls out our ownership like that.

For those that blame solely Waddell and give A$ a free pass, think again. It starts at the top. Ownership must be really ignorant to what’s going on with the team and they’re the ones responsible for paying a GM to put a winning team on the ice/court. If basketball is their priority, they’re not going to care of Waddell or Mr. Magoo is GM. They’re responsible for firing Waddell or giving him a job, and obviously they’ve failed to do the former because they simply have bigger concerns not involving hockey (be it basketball, court settlements, etc.).

Ownership is a mess, our GM is incapable of bringing real talent to the team or conducting reasonable trades, our coach runs an AHL system which at the NHL level allows too many goals than our offense can make up for. Everything about the franchise is a mess and I wish Bettman would go beyond his words and just step in now instead of giving A$ the chance. They’ve had their chance and blew it.

I would like Kovalchuk to come back to a Thrashers team with a secure future. In other words, as long as Atlanta $pirit is in charge, Don Waddell is general manager, the team is not signifying change for the better.

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Brendan,

I’ll give you that … i’m not blaming the owners for what they inherited in Waddell … i do believe the owners want competitive teams on both sides (why buy the teams if that’s not the case). Maybe Dudley will just step in and take over (can only hope). I’m still going to support the teams though. Even though i want the playoffs, i’d much rather them keep and develop our younger players this time around. We’ve given away too many in the past. Last thing i want is no more hockey in Atlanta …

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ajc sports editor, Sports Fanatic, 7thWoman, ice_hockey, Lauren Robb and others. Lauren Robb said: Bettman wants Thrashers’ owners to get their act together (AJC) – http://tinyurl.com/y984g6t [...]

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I am from the North, so natuarally I’m a huge Hockey Fan. I’m too young to remember the ATL Flames, but when ATL was awarded a hockey franchise in ‘97, I was excited. My parents bought season tickets for 10 years, but the Thrashers front office and ownership ruined that. I still root for the Thrashers but my family and I refuse to spend money on such a weak product. Now I sit from afar and root for them on TV and wonder when the last game will be played in ATL.

An easy step for Hockey to survive in Atlanta? Fire Waddell and sale the team ASG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Wow, glad my buddy forwarded this blog. The fact Bettman is now publicly acknowledging this is a huge statement on the future of hockey in Atlanta. Here is thing…if this spirit group did want to sell the team who would buy it and keep it in Atlanta? The only way the team can survive is by actually owning the arena. Would someone buy the team and then pay rent? I highly doubt it. This whole thing is a mess! Wow,wow,wow……

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I always get a kick out of late arriving folks from “up north” who declare the demise of the Thrashers and impart their wisdom on the rest of us about how Atlanta is not a hockey town, and how Atlanta sucks, and yada, yada, yada. (Yeah, I watched Seinfeld too.)

I’ve lived in Atlanta since the early ’80’s. I arrived from “up north” too, NY/NJ to be exact. Born in Philly, big Flyers fan. Interested in hockey from about the time I was 10 years old, or so.

Atlanta is as good a hockey town as anywhere else. Perhaps more so if the Thrashers were any good. Why? Because since I’ve been here, the ATL population has gone from 1.5M to approx 5m people, with nearly all that growth from folks from “up north.” Folks who grew up with hockey. Blackhawks fans, Red Wing fans, Ranger fans, Penguin fans, Flyer fans, and particularly our adopted pre-Thrasher home town team, the Boston Bruins.

These fans all came together in the beginning of the Thrashers, and they backed this team for a very long stretch of “not particularly very good.” And they still do, for the most part, or would should one very prominent GM pack his bags and leave. So, to all you self-annointed “experts” declaring ATL a non-hockey town, I say you are dead wrong.

At the beginning, Philips Arena was packed with excited hockey fans, and remained that way for many years. We all came with one of two jerseys — Thrasher jersey’s, and our original hometown jerseys. We wear our original hometown jerseys for one or two games a year, but we wear our Thrashers jerseys, with pride, for all the rest of the time. We love hockey, and want to see it do well in the ATL.

And on the TWO occasions we got to see playoff hockey in Philips, we absolutely blew out our lungs rooting FOR THE THRASHERS, and we will absolutely do it again given the chance.

And if you don’t like living here, or you think ATL is not a hockey town, or you think we don’t deserve a team, nothing is keeping you from leaving. Because at the end of the day, I’m with the GA natives, and say we don’t care about how you did it “up north.”

Regards, JM

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I gave up my thrashers season tickets when they stopped putting a competitive product on the ice. Maybe one day, they’ll get new owners and decide to focus on quality. The current ownership group is totally clueless about running a hockey franchise.

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WOW…Same $heet, different day. You get a 15-yd penalty Schultz for piling on. While there’s an appropriate time to open the Thrashers’ collective throat and pour Drano down it, the time is not after the most difficult week of the year (perhaps in the franchise’s history) and while the team is still in the playoff hunt. This is the kind of stuff that’s only appropriate AFTER the team has been mathematically or otherwise eliminated.

It’s also just an obvious piece to appease the bloggers here that have given up on the team and want everyone else to do the same. Funny, but an announced crowd of nearly 17,000 didn’t get the memo Sat night and I dare say that was the most electrified crowd since opening night in Oct!

We WON, the new guys both got stars and one of them scored the game winner…..ISN’T THAT NEWS ANYMORE AT THE AJC? Apparently not if your name is Jeff Schultz. This town’s sports reporters need to get their act together….Perhaps that’s one of the direct causes of declining attendance and struggling franchises? For example:

1) Kovalchuk GOES INSANE and turns down $101 MILLION to play ice hockey…..Everywhere else it was headlines. Here it was “another franchise failure” and “the GM’s fault” and “the owners can’t get their act together”….Not a SINGLE WORD directed at Kovalchuk, like “Are you freakin out of your mind, dude?” Really now, $101 Million —- THAT’S $102,642 PER GAME for the next 12 years that he turned down —– But it’s management’s fault or the owners’ fault according to the AJC. In fact, everyone’s fault EXCEPT Kovalchuk’s?!?! Go figure…

2) I watched the Sunday night Ch 2 and Ch 11 Sports Extra shows (on DirecTV double-play) last night…NEITHER of these shows even MENTIONED the Kovalchuk departure! The most popular player to ever wear a Thrashers jersey is traded and it doesn’t even make these “week in review” sports shows. Truly and unbelievably PATHETIC! In fact, someone at Ch 2 should be fired….Their “Play of the Week” was none other than Ovechkin, and I kid you not!

Yes Brendan, you’re right that Kovy will sign for less $$$ than Atlanta offered….But your reason is wrong. The real reason is because no other franchise is loco enough to mortgage its collective future on one player. There’s not a single franchise that will come close to offering Kovy $101 Million or $10 Million/yr…And it’s impossible to sign somewhere else for more money when nobody’s OFFERING more money!

Kovy was a Superstar in ATL, but he’s no Ovechkin. On the Devils, he’s not even a superstar anymore. I will truly be surprised if he is offered > Ovechkin $$$ by anyone (other than Atlanta, that is). And you’d think Schultz and the AJC would actually give Waddell and the ASG some credit for offering an INSANE amount of money to try and keep Kovy, since they’ve been beaten over the head before for NOT paying up to keep players around.

Anyone who turns down $101 Million to play hockey is just a lunatic. But you have to be able to figure these things out for yourself because Schultz and the AJC only present one side of the story. Never was there the question, “Mr Kovalchuk, isn’t $101 Million literally more than you and your agent can spend in a lifetime? And if so, why did you demand $136 Million to stay?” or “Mr Kovalchuk, do you feel like kind of a moron for turning down $10 Million/yr to play ice hockey when nearly 20% of Americans are out of work?” or “Mr Kovalchuk, what do you have to say to the Atlanta Thrashers Fans now that you’ve decided $101 Million is not enough for you to remain a Thrasher for life, which is what you repeatedly said you wanted to do?” Nope…Just another “it’s the owners fault” column (yawn).

And I’m quite sure the owners are immediately going to “get their act together” since Bettman (via Jeff Schultz) is hot on their trail…..On the other hand, I think I heard their collective roar of laughter when they heard about this story. Along with, “Who the hell is Jeff Schultz anyway?”

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ATLANTA IS MOVING NORTH!!! WINNIPEG OR HAMILTON!!! VOTE NOW!!!

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LD

The Thrashers — as a TEAM — were supported by FANS Sat night in their first post-Kovy home game, despite ZERO support from the sports media in this town. They played hard, the new guys immediately contributed and the fans showed up when they could’ve easily “boycotted”. People were still chanting, “Let’s go Thrashers!” in the parking deck 20 min after the game…But they don’t show THAT on TV, huh?

Quebec lost their team to Colorado. Winnipeg lost their team to Phoenix. Hartford lost their team to Carolina. Is that what REAL HOCKEY MARKETS do?

The empties you see on TV are the most expensive seats in the Arena, and we’re going through a recession in ATL led by a serious housing market collapse. While that’s not an excuse per se, it is a fact. The 300 and 400 levels were practically FULL Sat night, but they don’t show that on TV either.

And if you know where I can get FREE Thrashers tickets for a family of 5, please let me know. I PAY for all of our tickets and there is no free beer, Cokes or food either. In fact, it can cost nearly $400 for a family of 5 to attend ONE Thrashers game and sit in the 300s…I KNOW.

It’s nice to know that with all of the Thrasher-bashing going on in the AJC and its blogs with the departure of Kovy, Bettman “warning” the owners and STH who vow they’ll never return, there’s still Thrashers-ENVY up north! And if you’re keeping score, that makes Atlanta MORE of an NHL Hockey City than every city whose residents can only watch NHL Hockey on TV.

As much anger as there is right now, going to a Thrashers game at Philips is still SUPERIOR to being forced to watch games on TV because you live in an NHL-less city…(sob, sob, sniff)

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Schultz,
Just saw the answer to my post. Don’t want to get into an arguing match here. I obviously don’t have Levenson or anyone else on speed dial LOL. All I am wondering is if we can expect any sort of follow up on an issue which effects not only hockey fans, but the city as a whole. In a time when any money coming into the city is a boon, and when any negative light cast on the city at such a time only hurts it. But if you feel this article is enough, hey, I still thank you for writing it and at least starting an issue that needed attention.

All the negative bashing on here is sickening. If you don’t go to the games, decided not to because you felt you were wasting your money. Fine, that is your choice. You gave up your voice on the matter by doing that. The FANS on here and at the areana are the only ones that can HELP change things for the better. ANYONE else go to the game Saturday with a FIRE WADDELL shirt? Not that I saw ( I did hear some signs were taken away, how about asking a reporter why PAYING fans couldn’t voice an opinion if the signs were not obscene? ). I had A LOT of compliments on the shirt and only 1 negative, so obviously it isn’t just a paranoid few who think we need change sooner than later. Stroz actually asked a question to DW, and hats off to him. I LOVE THIS GAME AND AM NOT GOING TO STOP, gonna support the team, but not the owners/gm/coach because I feel they are all the wrong for this team/league. That is my choice, and as such I have a stake in it. I hope that those who have been wronged previously by the ASG group can come to the conclusion that by not coming to the game, you are making it possible for others to make the case for the team one day leaving Atlanta? Is that what you truly want???? If so then you are no better than the ownership who is ruining the team. Let’s get TOGETHER, as a FAN of the team, and make things better here. BETTMAN is watching, so how would a FIRE WADDELL night go over? Blogging alone won’t change a thing. Schultz has given us an in, and to let it go by would be a real shame.

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TEST…So is there a technical problem with the blog or my comment I’m trying to post…TEST.

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For the people accusing Schultz of negative reporting, and Thrasher bashing, your thoughts are misguided. The Atlanta Spirit, LLC and the culture of losing that they have allowed, are going down the path of destruction.
Having access to Gary Bettman has assured us that the Commissioner is aware of the ownership mess in Atlanta, and it goes much deeper than Steve Belkin. And for that confirmation, I thank Jeff Schultz.
With it being common knowledge among players, agents, and probably the NHL office that the ownership in Atlanta is a circus, it has been very difficult to get UFA talent to sign here. Expect that trend to continue.
Hopefully with the Spirit seeking investors, and the indirect insinuation that Bettman, by not confirming or denying that the team is for sale, will lead to new owners. And sooner rather than later.
The notion that Atlanta isn’t a hockey town is also incorrect. There were many near sell-outs in the spring the year of our only playoffs.
When your business model’s ultimate goal calls for achieving revenue sharing rather than winning hockey games the current average attendence is what you get.
A plea the AS,LLC:
Please, stop looking for investors and start looking for a local buyer that will keep the team at Phillips. Your apathy is deafening!!

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wantmyfloorseats?,
you r hired. start today lol please post this info on viv and rawhides blogs and let’s fill ‘er up!!!

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Hmmm Wonder what part about the economy this guy does not get. I think no matter who owned the team Hockey is dead last in Atlanta to Baseball, and Basket Ball. this is the second go around in that market and it just does not seem to fly. You may have in line leagues and so forth . Paying customers are what fills the seats and pay the bills. Move them. I do not have much doubt the Fla Panthers will relocate an well as Tampa. People need jobs to pay for recreation. So until that turns around no matter how much the owners disagree you wont fill the seats!!!!

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[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/02/07/bettman-wants-thrashers-owners-to-get-their-act-to... [...]

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Thrashville…..You hit it right on Head. Shultz is MR NEGATIVE….also down on the T4eams of Atlanta, Especially The Falcons. If we Win, He finds Any Negative Comment to Feature, Even the Headline of article is Negative…Guess Cant stand Atl to have any Winning Team !!! Also Shultzey, Should Lay off a Wonderful Guy like McKay…Has developed the Falcons into a Wonderful Team, Back To Back Winning Seasons. McKay, The Legal Brains of the Falcons is Awarded his Position by Blank Extending McKays Contract. HOORAY BLANK AND GO FALCONS !!!!!

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New Owner is good???

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It is certainly interesting for me to read the article. Thanx for it. I like such themes and anything connected to them. I would like to read a bit more soon.

Best wishes

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