McDavid’s win is painful reminder of Atlanta Spirit’s birth
Here's David McDavid at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2003, when he looked to be the next Hawks and Thrashers owner.
Two years ago, when would-be Hawks and Thrashers owner David McDavid kicked Turner Broadcasting System’’s butt in court, I asked him about the Atlanta Spirit group. It was like lighting a blowtorch.
“Do you know what a camel is? It’s a horse designed by a committee,” McDavid said in that December 2008 interview. “Those franchises are being run by a committee. They’re a camel. If I had taken over, nobody would be fighting, unless I was fighting with myself. … Does that guarantee anything? No. But I will always believe I would have done a better job.”
On Monday night, when Turner confirmed McDavid’s butt-kicking by surrendering out of court, I phoned McDavid again. This time, I only got his phone machine.
“This is Cutter Mac. You know what to do,” the recorded greeting said.
My guess is, he was out celebrating. I just wanted to ask a few questions. Also maybe tell him he was my hero, which is something I never imagined saying to a used car salesman.
This covers most of the Atlanta Spirit executive branch at the start.
Follow this, will you? It’s a combination of Atlanta sports fans’ trail of tears and McDavid’s improbable road to new-found wealth and good fortune, not that he didn’t have that before.
♦ In 2003, McDavid was on the verge of purchasing the Hawks, Thrashers and Philips Arena operating rights, signing a letter of intent. The sale price: $96 million.
♦ While McDavid stood at the front door, he didn’t realize Turner executives had slipped out the back door to negotiate the sale to a group of investors later to be known as the Atlanta Spirit (as well as less printable things). McDavid filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit.
♦ The Hawks and Thrashers floundered. Bruce Levenson, Steve Belkin, Michael Gearon and others came to set new standards for embarrassing ownership, even suing each other in court. They lost millions. Meanwhile, McDavid won his suit and was awarded $281 million. So not only did McDavid win a judgment for nearly triple of his intended purchase price, he didn’t lose the millions the Spirit did as the franchises struggled and the economy tanked.
♦ It is now 2010. Belkin and the non-Belkins still have not resolved their legal issues. The Hawks are better but both teams still are being run on tight budgets — particularly the Thrashers, who reportedly are available for purchase and will have one of the NHL’s lowest payrolls again next season. McDavid? Not only is he out of this mess, but Turner officially dropped its appeal of the $281 million judgment.
The two sides reached a settlement but terms were not disclosed.
“It’s been settled and we’re happy that it’s been resolved,” Mickey Mixson, McDavid’s attorney, said.
Atlanta sports fans can only wonder what might have been.
♦
Have you entered the “Sack Schultz” contest yet? You can win tickets to the Georgia-Georgia Tech game and an HDTV. CLICK HERE for details.
♦
Last 3 episodes on instant re-post . . .
♦ Matt Ryan confident but admits he, offense could be better
♦ Braves may have an opportunity to trade Troy Glaus
♦ McCann’s homer helps Braves overcome Florida and Lowe
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
82 comments Add your comment
wesleywhatwhat
August 30th, 2010
9:12 pm
“cutter mac”? wtf?
blazerdawg
August 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
McDavid may have also moved the Thrashers to Houston.
I think Gearon is great; if they can hang on, the Hawks’ situation may turn out well.
IheartAtlanta
August 30th, 2010
9:26 pm
Look at that looser, i’d rather have the ASG………….. Yea i said it
JK Sockey
August 30th, 2010
9:38 pm
If I weren’t a sock puppet, I’d shoot myself in the face.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 30th, 2010
9:38 pm
Nobody really knows what David McDavid McDavid McDavid McDavid would have been like as an owner, but it’s hard to imagine him being worse than the DASG.
JK Sockey
August 30th, 2010
9:40 pm
Hey JS, if you have McDavid’s phone number, can you loan it to me? I want to ask him for some money.
KLS1
August 30th, 2010
9:44 pm
Not sure there is much debate about who would have run the Thrashers better?
I am about as big of a fan as there is and they lost me. Its been over 10 years and I now have a wife and kids and no extra $ to blow on games.
A strong team will go a long way…but it is already too late for me, hopefully some new fans can keep the team rooted here.
I do like watching in HD when available.
Sage of Bluesland
August 30th, 2010
10:11 pm
Why anyone subsidizes this epitome of incompetence, I’ll never understand.
The Thrashers are pitiful, consistently re-arranging the chairs on the Titanic.
The Hawks are back to overall irrelevance; back to the early 90s, when the team was ‘good’ enough to make the playoffs, but not enough to seriously challenge the big boys…May as well sell the assets and rebuild again, praying for luck on who is available and that the correct picks are made this time around.
The Thrashers? They have the bumbling, lisping buffoon at the helm of the organization ever since their inception (Don Waddell). They’ve been doomed from day-one–yet this idiot gets “promoted”!
These teams are mere schedule-fodder for the real teams in their leagues. How sad. The people of this city deserve better….but that’s where the real fans must step up and vote with their wallet.
Whoever subsidizes this shameful incompetence is enabling this pitiful excuse for ownership.
ASG = bunch of clowns
August 30th, 2010
10:16 pm
If the ASG sells the Thrashers to someone who moves them out of town, I’ll stop supporting the Hawks. Not only that but I’ll key Rutherford Seydel’s car multiple times.
the ownership situation just plain sucks
August 30th, 2010
10:25 pm
Don Waddell getting promoted reminds me of the time on Seinfeld when Elaine keeps promoting Eddie Sherman (the guy who wore army fatigues) when she was in charge at J. Peterman.
“Sleep tight mates, in your quilted Chambray nightshirts.”
Jeff Schultz
August 30th, 2010
10:32 pm
Wesleywhatwhat — I think it comes from the fact he and his wife own “cutter” horses.
Jeff Schultz
August 30th, 2010
10:33 pm
Blazerdawg — He wouldn’t have moved Thrashers. Might’ve sold them to somebody who’d want to move, but no way league would’ve allowed that back in 03 or 04.
Jeff Schultz
August 30th, 2010
10:34 pm
JK Sockey — That almost certainly would leave a mark. Or a hole.
cattle dawg
August 30th, 2010
10:38 pm
Karl ravich is really talkin smack about the braves tarp being rolled up on the side of the field..
ryan
August 30th, 2010
10:45 pm
Are you people kidding me ASG is worst thing to ever happen what are guys smoking McDavid would have drafted CP3 .
cattle dawg
August 30th, 2010
10:50 pm
Wrong board, sorry.
Now you see em, now they burnt off!
August 30th, 2010
10:54 pm
Do you think he will buy Mike Woodson’s missing eyebrows now with all his money?
The Ayatollah
August 30th, 2010
11:01 pm
Ask yourself this question.
Would you rather have one possible idiot, or EIGHT of them?
From this, all answers will spring….
newkid
August 30th, 2010
11:04 pm
Spirit clowns have set the bar so low it would be almost impossible for McDavid to have done worse. With this non-taxable windfall maybe Cutter Mac is game for another pursuit. Please, just get rid of these Spirit jackals and their chump GM.
5150 P.O.A.D
August 31st, 2010
12:19 am
I wish Eric Vale would punch all the owners in the mouth while Tom Lysiak pulled their sweaters over their heads. Don’t worry owners that light you see ain’t a train coming down the tracks. It is the Zamboni beothces.
Time Warner’s TBS Settles McDavid Suit Over Atlanta Team Sales – BusinessWeek | Free NBA Videos
August 31st, 2010
12:26 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Hawks & Thrashers Season Ticket Holder
August 31st, 2010
12:55 am
In terms of ineptitude, the Atlanta Spirit Group is the “Clayton County School System” and the “Obama Administration” of professional sports ownership and management.
These are, by far, the most incompetent, uninformed and out-of-touch people with whom I have ever had the misfortune of doing business.
Hawks & Thrashers Season Ticket Holder
August 31st, 2010
1:10 am
Oops-meant the “Bush Administration.” Please accept my apologies.
Hawks & Thrashers Season Ticket Holder
August 31st, 2010
1:54 am
No, FAKE “Hawks & Thrashers Season Ticket Holder” @ 1:10am, I definitely meant the worthless, inept, corrupt and clueless “Obama Administration.”
Any given member of Atlanta Spirit could easily challenge Obama for the undisputed title of “Biggest Liar on Earth” or “World’s Dumbest Person.”
Bush is an idiot, too, but even he is smarter (albeit marginally) than the ASG owners or BarryO.
Get your own blog handle, Loser.
Reggie
August 31st, 2010
4:26 am
No i think your dad is the “Worlds Dumbest Person” for sleeping with his cousin and making you.
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
August 31st, 2010
5:53 am
I thought it was cutting horses, there cowboy. Maybe he’s Cutter like the Capt. Spaulding character in Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects.
Grumpy
August 31st, 2010
6:30 am
Would he have had the cash to survive the huge losses of the last 5-6 years?
Legal eagle
August 31st, 2010
6:34 am
The settlement was 48 percent of the judgment … $135 million.
Coolest in the Clutch
August 31st, 2010
6:41 am
.
—————————
Nesbitt foe Heisman
————————–
.
. . . . .Tech to unveil Nesbitt Heisman campaign TODAY !
Nesbitt for Heisman
August 31st, 2010
6:42 am
FOR
KevinM
August 31st, 2010
7:26 am
Take the 48 percent winnings and don’t ever consider getting involved with the Hawks again. Let them bumble around with E#2 taking 25% of the payroll while the rest of the team fights form the scraps.
The ASG has so much knowledge that even the fan base can’t understand their brilliance.
Old stogie
August 31st, 2010
7:32 am
Dear Mr Schultz,
You have crossed the line. Your personal feelings towards the ASG has caused you to break every fair journalistic rule and some human ones well. I hope those in charge at the AJC finally fire you for the mean spirited, unfair, unprofessional, hack that you are. I hope the ASG now has all they need to sue you and the AJC. I have a legal background and I will forward my thoughts for free to the ASG.
Sports is a business for some and entertainment for others. An escape from life for many. Your hate and grudge for the ASG is sad. With that said, your column does not give you the right to just use it as a bully pulpit!
These people, fellow humans have lives and families and your attacks has to hurt nice people.
AJC – grow a set and finally fire this writer!
Atticus
August 31st, 2010
7:40 am
Old Stogie, are you kidding me? Who cares if they are nice people??? They are a pathetic excuse for an organization and it is the worst kept secret in sports. Personal feelings? What planet have you been living on? They subject fans to year after year of ineptitude…the Thrashers have been so poorly run it is inexcuable, there is no accountability. They have NO playoff wins in a decade. The Hawks, while being competitive have NO chance to win a title because they can’t attarct free agents…why? Because their ownership is a joke. They kept a bad GM too long and kept a mediocre coach too long. The fans deserve more.
Old stogie
August 31st, 2010
8:06 am
Atticus, you are why a hack like JS still has a job. You are who he writes to, to get people fired up instead of informed. So many sports teams struggle for much longer figuring out how to win. The prior owners did much worse, and had totally given up on these teams. The Hawk team given to these owners won 13 games, and in a very short time have built a young fun team. I bet many other fan bases would welcome that kind of grow and leadership.
I have been following the Thrashers moves this year and I am very excited about this season. I understand the business of sports and how hard it is to win. I am a fan, support my teams and never turn my unhappiness to personal attacks! I may disagree with moves and choices, and verbalize my opinion, but I never make it personal and also give credit when it is due.
I enjoy reading the opinions of many educated fans.
Dukester
August 31st, 2010
8:14 am
@Old Stogie I am not sure what article you read but sure wasn’t this article. LOL You said “You have crossed the line” How did he cross a line. I could care less what a writer says as long as it is true. Now on to lying writers please Jeff can you write an article stating that Denver wants to trade Carmelo for Crawford and Marvin and a 1st round pick. And that Carmelo would love to play in the city of Atlanta with Joe Johnson thanks. It will do a lot to get the ball rolling and it will help ASG out in the fans eyes since OLD STOGIE thinks you hate them. LOL
ATL Sports Fan
August 31st, 2010
8:16 am
Old Stogie: He’s a columnist…he writes his opinions. No “journalistic” rules are broken, nor any legal ones. Don’t like it? Don’t read his stuff any more…it’s a free country. Besides, Terrance Moore was far worse!
1990 J-school alum
August 31st, 2010
8:26 am
I like JS and I also know the difference between an opinion column and a sports story.
If we’re not going to criticize those in the public arena because “these people, fellow humans have lives and families and your attacks has to hurt nice people” then we should just turn off our computers right now and reflect. No more political discussions, movie reviews, restaurant reviews.
Every story will be the same – “they tried hard.”
Puh-lease. Keep up the good work JS.
swatguy
August 31st, 2010
8:34 am
So the ASG cheated to get the hawks and have paid dearly. Who would have thunk it. I say ASG and ill-gotten gain(the franchises). Well you reap what you sow. Best case scenario, sell 51% to McDavid and allow him to make decisions. Or sell him more of the team. ASG does not have the money to win big, McDavid does.
J
August 31st, 2010
8:36 am
wow… another article on the Atlanta Spirit … this gets old … very fast. As i recall, the Thrashers didn’t even make the playoffs until the ASG took over. Yeah, tough times have them thinking smarter and saving money while other teams just blow out the cash. It’s an easy economic prinicple … you sell tickets, you have more money to invest back in the team … you sell sponsorhsips, more money to invest back in the team. You “fans” are retarded …
J
August 31st, 2010
8:43 am
whhhhhhaaaaaa … that’s basically what i hear … sounds like a diaper needing to be changed
Bored
August 31st, 2010
8:46 am
Why did I read this? More coffee, please!
J
August 31st, 2010
8:47 am
oh, forgot the Hawks making the playoffs for the first time in ten years … this city is by far the worst … similar support for the Braves b/c making the playoffs just wasn’t good enough … fielding a competitive team just wasn’t good enough … always the same excuse, always the same bloggers bashing the teams … i have enough knowledge to know that it is the same bloggers bashing the team(s) time and time again … you say the same exact things time and time again … even with the offseason moves of the Thrashers & the success of the Hawks, it’s the same old crap. Seriously, the Thrashers could win the Stanley Cup and you f*&^%ing idiots would find some excuse to bash them. WORST fans hands down!!! Actually, i wouldn’t call yourselves fans … and Sage, you are no sage, you’re just a bumbling idiot who likes to listen to his own rants. Go screw yourself and piss off!
J
August 31st, 2010
8:50 am
uh, schultz has a personal vendetta against them … duh … it’s biased reporting. Now, i’m going to go over on the Braves blog and see what idiots are bashing the Braves there … 9-3 win, and i bet somebody complained about something …
Andrew
August 31st, 2010
9:09 am
Hawks suck…always will with this ownership. Cutter Mac is sitting on millions..Who’s laughing now.
Move the Hawks and Thrashers out of this town. We all know UGA Footbal rules to sports world here.
KevinM
August 31st, 2010
9:10 am
J, I am sure after last year’s historical making loss in the playoffs that the Hawks are beating people down trying to get all the tickets. Are you kidding me?
You give one player 25% of the money you are going to spend as a team. Really? That makes financial sense? All it takes is for no-sho Joe to start off slow and watch the home crowd get on him good. For a guy who is supposed to be a leader, he is anything but a leader.
The ASG has been spitting bull to the fans of Atlanta for years; now they have to sell tickets like Delta and AirTran….good luck with that. Memo to the ASG: the fans aren’t coming to see your team…they are coming to see the Heat, Kobe and the Celtics.
You deserve what you get with the moves that you have made.
Jeff, writing about the ASG gives you a job for life….easy topic because of their intelligence above all others. I am still waiting for any hire the ASG makes that impresses the fan base…those who waste their money on a team that simply quit….refunds? Are you kidding me? Giving the leader of this bunch a raise after the last 2 seasons? Are you kidding me? My future earnings will be spent more wisely after the summer of dull.
The Real JC
August 31st, 2010
9:21 am
Wow, Gearon Sr. doesn’t look like a ghost in that picture. Also, why is Levenson’s arm around him instead of his own son’s?
The Real JC
August 31st, 2010
9:24 am
Old Stogie = Levenson? Atticus = Bernie Mullin?
Jim Friendly
August 31st, 2010
9:31 am
uga footbal, as you uga grads spell it, simply SUCKS like Hell.
A bunch of young THUGS, a coach who is an IDIOT and cannot even clean himself and a complete waste of time for everyone. Watching my grass grow is far more interesting than anything uga, YUCK !
Like the bumper sticker once read… “Can the big dawg READ”… NO !
Jim Friendly
August 31st, 2010
9:40 am
Oh yes, old stoge or whatever, I think your “legal” comments are simply NUTS.
You have ZERO clue about what you are speaking of and futhermore, Mr.Schultz, is 100% correct in his evaluation of Atlanta STUPID Group.
rutherford snydel is a LIAR first off. In 2007 raising the SE Banner, he told the crowd, “We will do everything to bring The Stanley Cup here”. Then we watched star player after star player leave because they have no clue as to running a business.
they are simply put, stoge… Stupid Fools !!!
snydle needs to be BITCH Slapped across his pantywaste face for lying. As for drunk Levenson, a Mental Hospital would be a good place to start.
So go take your sicking support for these LOSERS and go away, You are just as STUPID as they are… And I am sure Jeff is scared to death you have a “legal background”, You’re a cop I bet and writing a parking ticket IS a legal background, What a Nutcase you are !
Keep you the GREAT WORK Jeff !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris P
August 31st, 2010
9:41 am
The real loser is Atlanta for having to read crap like this from a crap sports writer.
frustrated ATL fan
August 31st, 2010
9:59 am
I wonder if McDavid would be interested in trying to buy the franchises again? I think the ASG would be willing to listen to offers even for their beloved Hawks (we already know they’ve listened to offers for the Thrashers).
At this point, my personal preference would be to have McDavid be the owner and see what he can do, rather than continue down this spiral with the ASG clowns.
Spud Webb
August 31st, 2010
9:59 am
I think J and old stoogie work for the ASG. ahhahahah, ruffled some feathers shultz, I love it!
Stogie, write a letter to the ASG about this, they can sue me…they SUCK, they’re the worst group of owners this side of Don Sterling. 8 monkeys trying to run 2 teams, both of which are going no where. I’m curious as to how they made their millions, certainly wasn’t running sports teams. They have ZERO ideas on how to market/promote and build a CHAMPIONSHIP contender. J, there is a big difference in making the playoffs and having a REALISTIC chance at winning a championship…take a look at Art Blank and the REALISTIC shot that the falcons have over the next 3-5 years of winning a superbowl. I’d say better than they ever have. It’s no fun to watch the hawks make the playoffs and know they have ZERO chance of beating Boston, orlando, & now Miami (heck, I doubt we’ll be better than the bucks with the moves they’ve made this offseason). WE ALL KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE.
I don’t think it could be any worse if McDavid owned the teams, not sure if that’s possible.
J
August 31st, 2010
10:00 am
And just so you know, I refer to myself as only “J” because I wouldn’t want you to know that I have been on TV once–a surprise interview with Chris Hanson!
Brett
August 31st, 2010
10:19 am
Keep it up Jeff! ASG is awful. They took a public trust like our sports teams and have done little positive. Please do us a favor and sell.
Buffy
August 31st, 2010
10:30 am
I went to school with Rutherford at Lovett, the likes of all the ASG golden spoon fed candy as8es. He has never worked a day in his life. Married into Turner money. Wouldn’t know how to manage his clip on Lovett tie, much less a professional franchise. Stick to bogus charity work that keeps you in the papers Rutherford. You got a lucky ride in life. Do something useful and something you can handle, like a lawn service.
buckhead benny
August 31st, 2010
10:34 am
david mcdavid is my new idol- Talking about a great return on something you didn’t even technically invest in. This may go down as the biggest return ever on a major sports franchise- (and he didn’t even spend any money on any of the teams. This does show you how awful these teams were being run by turner, etc.
Jeff Schultz
August 31st, 2010
10:34 am
Now you see ‘em — What are Woody’s eyebrows going for on eBay?
Jeff Schultz
August 31st, 2010
10:36 am
Old Stogie — Have a nice day.
Jeff Schultz
August 31st, 2010
10:39 am
Dukester — Hah! Carmelo for Crawford/Marvin and a No. 1? Gee, you think the Hawks really need to throw in the No. 1?
Jeff Schultz
August 31st, 2010
10:39 am
Atl Sports Fan (and others): Thanks for the defense.
Jeff Schultz
August 31st, 2010
10:40 am
1990 J-school alum — Thanks. Who told you to major in journalism?
KevinM
August 31st, 2010
11:55 am
Buckhead Benny, you could very well be right, but take a look at this statement in history from the defunct ABA team St. Louis Spirit…..
“17Jun76 The ABA clubs reach a settlement with the Kentucky and St. Louis franchises, with the St. Louis owners receiving $2.2 million and a 1/7th share of the four remaining teams’ television revenues in perpetuity”
..meaning that there is nothing the NBA can do to break this agreement with shutting down their franchise and not joining the NBA. So 1/7th share of the remaining 4 teams’ revenue (Indiana/SanAntonio/NJNets/DenverNuggets) from television in perpetuity awarded to the Silna brothers forever and ever……any idea how much that has equated to in 34+years?
A link to 2007-08 NBA revenue sharing…average TV revenue per team across the NBA: 12Million….so just say the 4 teams that pay the old St.Louis Spirit pay 1/7th of 8Million….that’s 4.5M+ per year to the Silna brothers and now heading into the 35th year of that deal…what’s that tally so far for NOT joining the NBA? 160M so far…so if the McDavid numbers come in at 45% of the 281M judgment……127M…..that sir, is a sweet deal for anyone not to have had a fair opportunity to own one of the worse franchises in NBA history….more than fair…..
That’s a good gig if you can get it for sure…..
Jeff….re: that comment that a #1 might be too much to throw in with JC1 and Marvin for Melo……
Who really knows what value the league places on Marvin? He is our Sam Bowie draft pick…like Milicic is for Detroit…..we actually missed out on 2 franchise PGs….incredible to say the least.
And Jeff, as long as you don’t continue to slam Calipari, I will keep reading most of your opinions.
ryan
August 31st, 2010
11:56 am
And now there are rumors that ASG are trying to sell the Hawks and Thrashers and Phillips Arena because they have lost Millions of dollars from the law suit with Steve Belkin and slumping sales .
Atlanta Suckit Group
August 31st, 2010
12:12 pm
Bunch of no talent a$$ clowns
Yes
August 31st, 2010
12:13 pm
The Atlanta Spirit Group are the worst and are a step below dog feces.
James
August 31st, 2010
12:30 pm
I would rather have David McDavid as the Hawks and Thrashers owner than the ASG. The Hawks need to get sold and the Thrashers need to be moved.
ASR
August 31st, 2010
1:09 pm
Old Stogie is senile. The ASG is a company conducting business… since when can’t you criticize businesses??? HEHE I wonder if Stogie thinks to himself: that cable tv company of mine has over-charged me… but I have to be nice and take it… don’t want to come off sounding mean by criticizing them!
Jerry
August 31st, 2010
1:13 pm
To ASR regarding Stogie – That seems to be the mentality in the south in general! Don’t y’allz be mean and boo the players… they’re-a-tryin’ the best they can! LOL I am from St. Louis and I have never seen a group of people more willing to accept sports failure than in the south… DON’T YELL OR SCREAM, YOU MAY THEEEERRRR FEELINS! lol
Bruce Levinson
August 31st, 2010
1:24 pm
DEAL WITH IT (SUCK IT)
J-man
August 31st, 2010
1:26 pm
I’m not sure that things would have been better. The word on McDavid at the time was that he needed a LOT of outside money to buy everything and it could have just ended up with him being another cheap owner who is unable or unwilling to spend the money it takes to have a winner.
McGarity: It's 'unfair' to give coach specific win mandate | Jeff Schultz
August 31st, 2010
1:36 pm
[...] ♦ McDavid’s win is painful reminder of Atlanta Spirit’s birth [...]
athdog
August 31st, 2010
2:51 pm
I thought Time/Warner, not Turner, owned the Hawks and Thrashers back then. If it was Turner, no wonder they stuck it to McD and went with the idiots known as ASG. Gearon and Turner are old pals, Seydel, perhaps the most inept of them all, is Turner’s son-in-law and how’d you like to have that Flounder look-a-like in your family?
Dejay
August 31st, 2010
4:31 pm
At this point in time, I wouldn’t mind seeing Belkin, Ted Turner, Tom Cousins, Taylor Smith, or the Cox sisters take over much less McDavid. Short of moving the teams, either of them couldn’t do much worse than the Notorious A.S.G. has over the years.
And as far as J and Old Stogie is concerned, they must be relatives or employees of the A.S.G. because anyone with a speckle of common sense would’ve kept those thoughts to themselves and never, EVER put them on a keyboard for public consumption. The FDA needs to investigate because whatever they’re taking surely needs to be recalled; there are lives at stake.
There are many words to describe the Notorious A.S.G. but I’m pretty sure that my post wouldn’t get by the censor folks who patrol this blog if I typed them. So I’ll keep it simple; they’re the biggest running joke this side of Enron and the WWE (wait a second, the WWE actually makes $$$). If they were running pro basketball and hockey teams in Boston, NYC, Chicago, or Philly, the President would have to call in the 82nd Airborne to keep these clowns safe. They are, without question, the living manual as to how NOT to run a professional sports franchise, much less two. They’re the main reason why fans of rival teams look at the Hawks and Thrashers and fall over laughing, no matter what their records are.
And as far as the national media who dogged us for years about not showing up to their games, they’re finally beginning to learn what we’ve known for years. Did you see the ashen look on Hubie Brown’s face when Orlando was up in Game 3 by 31 with their players laughing, cracking jokes, and setting up postgame parties at the nightclub on the sidelines? This wasn’t some 8th seed getting beat on by the Showtime Lakers, MJ’s Bulls, or Bird’s Celtics; that would’ve been expected. But to see a #3 seed fold up their tent and call it a season like that was a slap in the face to every Hawk fan who ever invested a single dollar, much less any emotion into the franchise since they arrived here from St. Louis. After seeing that lack of pride, lack of emotion, and lack of physical and mental toughness being put on display for all to witness, there were no calls from the ESPN guys about the ‘bad, spoiled Atlanta fans’ needing to get behind the team more. I didn’t hear anyone from TNT pipe up about the fans needing to be more appreciative over the 53 wins they had, either; everybody on that set took turns taking shots at JJ, Smith, Woodson, et al.
You would think that after such humiliation, the ones in charge would be the first in line to tell the world that getting slapped around by 101 points in a four-game sweep is not acceptable. You would think that they would be the first ones to fire off the ‘changes are coming’ edict, starting with finding an established guy with an actual track record, along with bringing back JJ and having him ride shotgun next to some REAL players (and nope, Josh Powell and Jason Collins don’t count). Besides, that’s what the Lakers did with Kobe. Same with Paul Pierce in Boston and now, Dwyane Wade in Miami. And folks are wondering why Jamal Crawford all of the sudden wants out?
That’s where the problem lies with the Hawks and Thrashers; finding out whose in charge of this outfit is like being in a Laurel and Hardy episode of ‘Who’s on First’. There’s no voice we hear from them other than us being mean-spirited for having the gall to actually demand more than just lip service, a playoff appearance, the promise of bringing in better players only to talk about luxury tax problems, and nothing more. And I’m sure Thrasher fans would kill for just that.
The bottom line is that this summer has proven once and for all that they are not ready to compete in the ‘big-boy’ business and if they don’t have the goods to be in the ‘big-boy’ business, they shouldn’t BE in business. Case in point; Arthur Blank could’ve sat on his hands and counted his $$$ when you-know-who was the weekly headlight on every sports channel but his payroll remained among the tops in the league at that time. You know why? Because he wanted to win a world title. Did it work? Of course not, but it proved that he was willing to do whatever it takes to get one. Can we really say the same for this bunch? Sadly the answer is clear….
JSS
August 31st, 2010
4:58 pm
ASG is yhe worst? Sorry, I saw the reign of the Smiths and pure lunacy that was the Time-Warner (Turner Broadcasting) era in Atlanta. The ASG could be black-out drunks and never reach down that low…
Is McDavid going to sue Major League Baseball now since they didn’t accept his bid to buy the Rangers? I’m by no means a fan of the mess that Belkin made of the ASG in terms of his litigation. I’m certainly not a fan of the Spirit Group; nevertheless, they’ve at least got us from being a 13 win NBA team or the complete skin flint ownership of Time-Warner towards the poor Thrashers. I feel for fans of the Thrashers, I really do… The well is poisoned for most of them. They refuse to drink no matter how much the water system may have been cleaned up.
One last word on McDavid, he’s like Art Modell, be glad that we dodged that bullet. He would have Calvin Griffith us into the true dark ages…
Aaron Murray will give Georgia what it has been missing | Jeff Schultz
August 31st, 2010
5:00 pm
[...] ♦ McDavid’s win is painful reminder of Atlanta Spirit’s birth [...]
Spud Webb
August 31st, 2010
6:35 pm
Dejay, GREAT post.
jason
August 31st, 2010
8:05 pm
I wonder if he did take over that he would have brought in a guy like corlos boozer or chrish bosh
Jeff Schultz
August 31st, 2010
9:06 pm
Frustrated ATL fan — I’d like to ask McDavid that but he’s not talking right now. But I tend to doubt considering he told me two years ago he had lost his desire to owns teams then.
Jeff Schultz
August 31st, 2010
9:08 pm
JSS — You’re right, the Smiths might’ve been worse than the Spirit. MIGHT have been. There’s arguments on both sides.
Brendan
August 31st, 2010
10:10 pm
I wonder how much Turner Broadcasting is worth? This has to be a setback for them. I don’t know if it’s a lump sum vs. structured payments over time. But if it’s the latter, McDavid can’t just take his windfall of newfound cash and go buy a team with it, lest he was already in that position. Teams need an infusion of capital. What I remember of McDavid’s bit … was that his financing was always in question. And then, there was some “bond issue” over the arena, where McDavid would have to put up the Hawks as collateral. Well, he didn’t like the sound of that.
Imagine if you use your home equity line of credit to go buy a luxury car with it. Then, you default on the loan, but you put up your HOUSE as the collateral. Oops. People actually do this kind of stuff. So, I don’t blame McDavid for saying, “No, I won’t put up the Hawks as collateral.”
In any event, I know this much. We can’t say we cancelled any parades the moment McDavid’s bid to acquire the teams failed. Had Belkin not objected over the JJ deal, no. On second thought, no. I was going to say, “Who knows how well the AS, LLC would have done.” But from what I’ve seen of them, they just don’t understand the dynamics of owning pro sports teams. They’ve learned some, along the way. But this JJ contract will saddle them for years. The Thrashers just accountability coming out of the lockout, and they might have been better off, with a new GM, new scouts, and a new coaching staff, starting in 2006-07. 2007-08 at the very latest. The single most stunning inaction this ownership undertook … was the INDEFENSIBLE NOTHING that followed the 2007 playoff sweep. That was truly amazing. There is just no justification for not cleaning house at that point, and bringing in all new people to start over. But, I suppose, in fairness, this Thrashers franchise is rebuilding with players like Kane and Bogosian and Burmistrov, etc. They’ve tried their best to salvage assets.
Brendan
August 31st, 2010
10:14 pm
That should be, “The Thrashers just needed accountability.”
niremetal
September 3rd, 2010
10:08 am
This column is a painful reminder that you still try to write columns about pro basketball.