Atlanta Spirit lied to us about Thrashers? Go figure
Three of the Thrashers' caretakers (left to right): Ed Peskowitz, Michael Gearon and Bruce Levenson. (Curtis Compton)
They told you they cared. They lied.
They told you their biggest concern was putting out the best product for you, the fans. They lied.
They told you not to pay attention to any of those rumors of the Thrashers being for sale, although they eventually admitted begrudgingly that, yes, they were looking for “investors.” They lied.
The Atlanta Spirit is not looking for investors. They’re looking to sell the Thrashers. They’ve been looking to sell them for — ready for this? –six years.
Six . . . years.
Those are the caretakers of your franchise. Those are the ones who’ve pleaded with you since 2005 to support a mostly inferior product — and now they can’t figure out how they’ve burned so many bridges in this town why fans still feel too angry or worn down to show up for a pretty decent team. Reality never has been their strong suit.
Team Pinocchio (a.k.a. the Atlanta Spirit) has filed a $200 million malpractice suit against their former attorneys at King & Spalding. Within that suit, the often dysfunctional ownership group discloses it has been looking to sell the Thrashers since 2005.
The remaining seven heads of Team Pinocchio (Michael Gearon, Bruce Levenson, et al.) are suing King & Spalding for their perceived shoddy work in the original ownership agreement, which led to the protracted litigation and settlement between former partner Steve Belkin and the non-Belkins. Team Pinocchio members are trying to recoup some of the claimed nine-digit losses they say they incurred as a result of the litigation.
The problem with making such claims is you’ve got to make a case. Part of Team Pinocchio’s case is that it “incurred over $130 million in out-of-pocket losses” while operating the Thrashers, which it intended to sell. If that’s not clear enough, here are four bullet points from the 20-page, 75-point complaint:
♦ Point 53: “Plaintiffs’ inability to buy out Belkin’s interest in a timely manner and the resulting cloud on their title created by the Maryland litigation interfered with operation of the franchises and specifically prevented Plaintiffs from selling the Atlanta Thrashers.”
♦ Point 54: “Because of a dispute with the players, the National Hockey League suspended the 2004-2005 season. It was widely anticipated that the league would enter into a new labor contract that would inure to the financial benefit of smaller market franchises such as the Thrashers and thus increase their value. Plaintiffs expected that once the new labor agreement was finalized there would be substantial interest from potential buyers and that they would be able to sell the franchise.”
♦ Point 56: “Potential buyers talked with Plaintiffs about acquiring the Atlanta Thrashers. However, because they had been unable to acquire Belkin’s interest and were entangled in the Maryland litigation, Plaintiffs could not convey free and clear title to the franchise and thus were not in a position to sell. Indeed, during the period from June 2006, when the Maryland trial court entered summary judgment for Belkin, until the judgment was reversed on appeal in September, 2007, Plaintiffs were subject to a judicial decree specifying that Belkin, in fact, was entitled to buy out SSG and LPF.”
♦ Point 58: “In addition, the Thrashers have steadily lost money, requiring Plaintiffs to fund operations from their own pockets. Plaintiffs have incurred more than $130 million in out-of-pocket losses operating the franchise over this time period. Plaintiffs would not have incurred these losses if they had had free and clear title to the Thrashers and thus had the ability to sell or otherwise dispose of the franchise.”
Dispose of the franchise? They make it sound like it week-old lo-mein.
Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it?
Team Pinocchio has shot down sell or sell-and-move rumors every time they’ve popped up. Sometimes, they put out statements. Sometimes, they scoffed and said a report didn’t dignify a response. Sometimes, as was the case in March 2010 after a New York Times story suggested both the Thrashers and Hawks were for sale, they didn’t even return reporters’ phone calls or emails to issue a denial.
In 2009, Thrashers president and former general manager Don Waddell — who has assumed the unenviable position of Team Pinocchio mouthpiece — stated: “In countless meetings with ownership, never once have we expressed any interest in selling the Thrashers or moving the Thrashers.”
He must’ve been out for coffee whenever the topic came up. I’ve heard better lies from “Baghdad Bob.”
I’ve stated this before but it bears repeating: If Atlanta loses its second NHL franchise, it won’t be because the sport failed here. It will be because ownership and management failed.
And right now, I wouldn’t even buy a hot dog to put a buck in these guys’ pockets.
By Jeff Schultz
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Previous posts:
– NCAA has lost sight of mission, needs to end ‘oversigning’
– Part I: A word about ‘oversigning’ (and revisiting Saban’s dance)
– Time to mock! Kiper, McShay say Falcons take . . .
– Stacy Searels leaving Georgia? Can I offer him a lift?
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342 comments Add your comment
Matt
January 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
ASG=complete and total scumbags.
I may be going to my last game tomorrow night. What a crying shame, because I love hockey and desperately want it to succeed in this town.
MLH
January 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
First
Nickz
January 21st, 2011
2:57 pm
1st…the Atlanta Spirit sucks
Nickz
January 21st, 2011
2:58 pm
3rd…and the Atlanta Spirit still sucks
Benjamin
January 21st, 2011
2:59 pm
First?
Benjamin
January 21st, 2011
2:59 pm
Samsonite! I was WAY off!
Yeah, that’s pretty shady of the Spirit folk. Hope the Thrashers stay around…
JB
January 21st, 2011
3:00 pm
I would comment with my opinion of these new revelations as a die-hard thrashers fan but surely nothing I would or even could construct would make it through the filter.
Twisted Wrister
January 21st, 2011
3:00 pm
Waddell lied again…BIG SURPRISE
Matt
January 21st, 2011
3:00 pm
I’ve got a big middle finger for the ASG. That about sums up my feelings.
JB
January 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
…oh, and I’m sure this news will do wonders for attendance! We could win every single game until the Cup Finals begin and (former) fans will stay away.
Brett
January 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
What a slap in the face to all of the hardworking fans who’ve supported the Thrashers!!!! We’ve been lied to all this time!! What a bunch of A$$ CLOWNS!!!
Gwinnett Fred
January 21st, 2011
3:04 pm
Jeff,
You had a great article until your last sentence.
YOU don’t buy tickets – we fans do.
YOU don’t buy concessions – we fans do.
So please don’t tell the fans what YOU wouldn’t buy – you are just as big of a liar as the ASG scumbags – because you haven’t bought any to start with!!
P.S. – That’s the trouble with “journalists” and “columnists” – you have no real perseption of what we REAL FANS think, feel & anguish over rooting for our teams.
Mr. Heat Miser
January 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
Fire Waddell?
Kevin
January 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
Thrashers have finally hired a good coach and quality GM and are competing for a playoff spot with the second lowest payroll in the NHL. It is obvious they are still in need of 1-2 players to boost the squad if they are to make a run, will it happen? I doubt it!
If you have ever been to a season ticket holders town hall and heard one of the owners speak, you leave the meeting feeling violated. They have always been dishonest and continue to be.
Coleslaw
January 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
I agree Jeff. Pisses me off about the whole thing. I wish we could just start over from scratch. What a bunch of pricks!
Mark C.
January 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
Can’t wait for the defense to use all those ‘the team isn’t for sale’ quotes as exhibit A, B, C, D…
Coach Cool
January 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
There goes NHL in the ATL…
You’ll be sorely missed… AGAIN.
Way to read, Jeff
January 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
In your haste to get an article up, you neglected to see that the law firm is King & Spalding not Spaulding. They don’t make basketballs there, they’re kinda a big deal in the legal world. It’s not like you had to do any research, just read the article Kristi wrote. Keep up the hasty work!
Bluestreak
January 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
Maybe Blank can buy them bargain-basement and do them like he did the Falcons, but that won’t happen.
Maybe Thrasher fans can do like the Packer fans did, and buy the team ourselves.
I just hope we don’t lose them now that the cat is out of the bag…
Tim
January 21st, 2011
3:07 pm
F THE ATLANTA SPIRIT! THEY RUINED THE THRASHERS!!
Brett
January 21st, 2011
3:07 pm
Here we go with the relocation talk again. After these revelations the Thrashers may be even closer to relocating. I can’t image that this can be good for attendance! I’m a former STH who officially attended my last game last night! F off ASG!
Everybody
January 21st, 2011
3:10 pm
Please sell the Hawks and the Thrashers. Give them to someone who wants to build a winner and is willing to invest. Just do it and be done with it.
Way to read, Jeff
January 21st, 2011
3:10 pm
Man, I guess I was in a haste too was in a haste to bash you up. I neglected to catch the gem on ‘$130,000 million’ Wouldn’t that be 130 million? Because the number you just wrote would be 130,000,000,000.
Michael
January 21st, 2011
3:11 pm
Did they really misspell the law firm’s name? Dear god…
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
3:13 pm
First of all…well, I like my posting priveledges here on AJC, so all I’ll say is that there’s at least two obscenely gesturing hands over here meant for the ASG.
So there is no second of all, I’ll keep the kiddie gloves on, nothing nice to say about this group.
Rich T
January 21st, 2011
3:13 pm
I don’t know which is worse; the fact that they lied about intent to sell, or the fact that there are no buyers.
Actually, I hope they sell them, but hope they haven’t ruined things so badly that it wil be impossible to keep them in Atlanta.
TheDorkBaller
January 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
You people are seriously just gonna sit back and let the Thrashers move?
This time, more than ever, is the time us fans need to come together and put butts in those seats.
Do NOT support the ASG. I won’t. Support the team on the ice. If we don’t, we will lose them.
Alan R.
January 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
I would surmise a reason the ownership lost so much money is based solely off the perception they don’t care about the team. What this story tells me is it wasn’t just a perception, but a reality.
Now more than ever do we need a local buyer to pick up the team. The NHL can work in Atlanta, but we need an owner who believes in the product. These owners obviously do not.
MannyT
January 21st, 2011
3:15 pm
I love the Team Pinocchio reference. Hard for them to make team profitable once the public no longer trusts you. I guess the next best source of funds is a lawsuit.
Smoothie
January 21st, 2011
3:15 pm
At least we know that most all of the money we’ve spent on Thrashers tkts has gone directly to the players in the form of their salary as they owners surely haven’t profited one iota from their misguided attempts to “run” this franchise. Perhaps the hockey fans should start a fund-raising drive to buy the team and then sell shares like the Green Bay Packers did how many years ago? Let’s turn the tables and take control of our hometown team!! Oh wait, most of the folks who like hockey aren’t even from this town!
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
3:16 pm
priveleges rather
Coach Cool
January 21st, 2011
3:17 pm
Owner suggestion (he’s got a really PHAT wallet): David McDavid.
D’OH!!
lanier
January 21st, 2011
3:17 pm
loved La Flame as Boomer called then. they went to Calgary because their moron owner couldn”t afford them.
I was excited when the Thrashers came to town. So excited I wasted 42 grand on 4 tix for 4 lousy seasons. After the 3nd season I couldn:t get anybody to go. These fools let their best player Donald Audett go for a lousy million bucks. They refused to spend initally because they though the new enthusiam would continue to sell tix no matter what.
They are now stuck with a DOG which is 100% their responsibility.
The hell with them and their team.
Matt
January 21st, 2011
3:17 pm
Burn in Hell ASG!!
Herschel Talker
January 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
I do believe Bettman when he says he intends for Atlanta to be part of the NHL market. Look no further than Phoenix.
Jason
January 21st, 2011
3:19 pm
My former STH rep told me she doesn’t trust the AJC. I told her I hope she doesn’t trust her own team’s court filings then either….
Darren
January 21st, 2011
3:19 pm
You’re totally correct Alan. Committed local ownership is the only way out of this mess.
PMC
January 21st, 2011
3:19 pm
This is the worst ownership group in the history of sports.
It’s not close.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:20 pm
Gwinnett Fred — I don’t pay for media credentials. I have on occasion purchased tickets for self, family or friends. Secondly, I also on occasion do buy food at concessions. … Make you feel any better, or were you just looking to take a shot? … By the way, you spelled “perseption” wrong.
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
3:20 pm
Don Waddell should be given a break from here on out. Can any of us imagine working for these gianormous d-bags? I’d imagine there’s lots we’ll never know.
Atlanta Thrashers ownership sues former law firm | Atlanta Thrashers
January 21st, 2011
3:20 pm
[...] Columnist Jeff Schultz also weighed in on the matter. READ IT HERE. [...]
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
Kevin — Agree, it’s a shame to have all this as a backdrop when the team FINALLY is making good personnel decisions and is being coached well.
Atl teams= Playoff chokers
January 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
Cant the NHL do something? Many people want to support the Thrashers, but they dont do it cause of the ASG. Maybe the NHL can buy the team kind of like how the NBA bought the Hornets.
GPCooper
January 21st, 2011
3:22 pm
Every year we are given these fairy tales that the ASG are trying to make the Thrashers a top team for the Cup. Yet every year they put out a bad product and raise the price of tickets. I’m not sure what they learned at Corporate Wonk School, but people pay for wins in the sports world, not promises of wins. They seem to be shocked that Atlanta fans are not as stupid as they are.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:22 pm
Way to read, Jeff — Yeah, fixed that shortly after posting. And I love you, too.
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
3:24 pm
Mr. Schultz, thank you for brining out some hard evidence to back up our vibes about this travesty called The Atlanta Spirit group. What an ironic name, regardless of what it implies I’ve always thought it was a bleep name.
Dana Blankenhorn
January 21st, 2011
3:24 pm
Devil’s advocate. (Not from New Jersey.) What they’re saying in order to get money out of their lawyers and anyone else is that they’ve been losing money for years and could have put the team into stronger hands if their legal hands had not been tied.
All true. The ancillary revenue brought in by a hockey team is bupkis next to that from other sports.
Now you can be angry all you want, but I think the facts back these guys up. You really think you would have been better off with David McDavid when the auto industry crashed? I don’t. Steve Belkin would have sold you down the river in a heartbeat.
What this news means is that the team is officially, now, for sale. Anyone here want to step up to the plate? Remember, they claim to be losing $20m a year, without a gigantic salary structure, with good crowds.
Any buyers? Y’all want to complain, fine. But howsa bout someone putting some money with their mouth is?
The real question Jeff Schultz and everyone else ought to be asking is whether there is anyone else in this town that might want to buy the team, and is there any way it can turn a profit.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:24 pm
Way to read, Jeff — That also was quickly fixed. You want a job?
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
3:25 pm
Group rather. No, Mr. Schultz isn’t the only one with typos.
Monkey
January 21st, 2011
3:25 pm
Gut Punch…
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:25 pm
Iron League 13 — Your feelings (and visuals) come through loud and clear.
Sage of Bluesland
January 21st, 2011
3:26 pm
…Gee, I’ve heard some of this before; I just don’t know where…
(silly sheep–are you convinced NOW?)
Ben
January 21st, 2011
3:26 pm
You mean some super rich d-bags tried to bamboozle hard working people who supported their cause??
Weird. Seems like I’ve seen that somewhere else in the last few years.
Chuck Sheen
January 21st, 2011
3:26 pm
Good work Schultzie. Good read as always. It angers me that these boneheads own the Thrashers and Hawks. Does Blank have the bottomline to make a sensible purchase? Makes you really appreciate his ownership of the Falcons..
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:27 pm
Coach Cool — Funny that the guy who made out best was the guy who never bought the teams, David McDavid, who got jobbed during attempted purchase and then crushed Turner in court.
LAC
January 21st, 2011
3:27 pm
Jeff, I have an open invitation to the Drunk Liar levenson to fight me one on one. Just sign a release and have a go, but the little wimp coward never responds, would you expect anything less ?
This A-Hole, really, I mean REALLY needs a Good Old Fashion Butt Whipping, in front of the fans of this team. But as we All know, liars hide, they never will stand up and face the music and never
will he be in a position to walk again after I get finished with him, I promise… But he will never
defend his honor or the like, he will continue to hide and Lie as always.
What a little man, how in the HELL he ever got the $ to be in the position he is… Is unreal, he is a DUMB as a blade of grass…
So Jeff, ask little bruce why he will not tangle with a fan who is tired of his LIES and acting like a little baby, ask him where and when, let me know and I WILL BE THERE !!!
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:28 pm
Jason — Seriously? A season ticket rep said that? Unbelievable.
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 21st, 2011
3:28 pm
Sounds to me Jeff that they bought both to sell the Thrashers to fund the Hawks.
Want to know how to become a millionare in Pro sports? Start with 100 million and lose 99.
Tweets that mention Atlanta Spirit lied to us about Thrashers? Go figure | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
January 21st, 2011
3:28 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by 790 The Zone, Augusta Golf Girl , Charles Olson, Michael Alexander, Brandon Culpepper and others. Brandon Culpepper said: RT @JeffSchultzAJC: BREAKING: Atlanta Spirit have been lying to us about #Thrashers for 6 years. (Go figure.) http://bit.ly/fuRxfd [...]
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:29 pm
Atl teams = Playoff chokers — Only thing NHL could do is take over if Thrashers were in bankruptcy. At least that’s only scenario I know of.
Matt
January 21st, 2011
3:29 pm
Relax, Gwinnett Fred… Take it easy. I’m sure at one point, Schultz was a fan of a team, or he wouldn’t have gotten into this business. He has a much larger voice than we “fans” do, so I say, Do your thing, Schultzie, do your thing..
Ugh
January 21st, 2011
3:30 pm
Finally the truth comes out……… Talk about a slap in the face.
Joe Friday
January 21st, 2011
3:30 pm
“Team Pinocchio”
Classic, love it.
I have known for a long time that they’re wanting to sell the team, if you didn’t realize that you just aren’t paying attention. This guys were and are basketball guys. So a revelation today that they’ve been trying to sell the team for 6 years isn’t news, but it’s interesting to see the reactions of some who believe the smoke being blown up their rears from Waddell and Team Pinocchio. But I always figured they’d sell to a new owner who would agree to keep the team in Philips Arena, and the Spirit would retain the Philips rights and the Hawks, and the new owner would take care of the Thrashers.
What is worrisome to me is to consider this news coupled with Bill Daly, the #2 man in the NHL front office, last month let it slip that “they’re going to have to consider options with Atlanta”. What this means is Team Pinnocchio has gone to the league and said “look, we’ve tried to sell for 6 years, no buyers in Atlanta” and now the league is setting the table for the move of the Thrashers out of Atlanta.
There is a lot of blame to go around, but the inability of Waddell to build a team in the first 5 years really really killed the fan base. It’s clear now that the owners kept him in place to manage a budget, not ice a winning team, in order to try to maximize their profit on a sale of the club.
I bet the naive fans who stood behind Waddell for so many years calling for patience and saying he was building it the right way feel pretty foolish today in the light of the facts.
Unfortunately, the Sage of Bluesland was just proven that, to be quite the Sage . . . he called it all along . . .
James Brown
January 21st, 2011
3:30 pm
Jeff you should not encourage people to not support this team. We want hockey in Atlanta and the only way we can have this is to come out to the game. What you, with your following, should do is figure out a way we can rid this ownership, protest our disgust, but still support this team to let the NHL know we want a team. I also would say its very immature to attack your readers for a grammatical error. Now lets try to work together, or is that something this society can’t do?
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:31 pm
Dana Blankenhorn — The only way I think Thrashers could be sold AND kept in Atlanta is if Atlanta Spirit cuts new owner in on arena revenues. Owning the hockey team alone is guaranteed financial losses.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:32 pm
Chuck Sheen (and others) — I understand why Arthur Blank’s name always is brought up. But his priorities right now are: 1) Falcons; 2) A new stadium for the Falcons. There’s no No. 3.
Reid Adair
January 21st, 2011
3:32 pm
Why is anybody even remotely surprised? They’ve lied before – about the Thrashers and the Hawks.
Doesn’t anyone remember them saying that the Hawks weren’t done in free agency after giving Joe Johnson a max contract? Even the AJC’s Michael Cunningham fell for that one.
Thrashy Thrashy
January 21st, 2011
3:33 pm
This is a real tough situation for Thrasher fans. We want a team in Atlanta, but we don’t want these idiots owning the team. The odds are good that new ownership means that the team will be leaving. We’re just kinda stuck. I don’t think any true hockey fan in Atlanta wants to see that happen, so what the hell do we do?
Ken Stallings
January 21st, 2011
3:33 pm
The NHL needs to step in and force a better ownership situation with the Thrashers. This current one has been an abysmal failure from the outset. Comparatively speaking, the Atlanta market is larger than the average for all NHL teams. Without question, there is no other market available current not served by an NHL team that would be larger than the Atlanta market.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:33 pm
LAC — Levenson and I haven’t spoken in probably 2 years. So I can’t be the matchmaker. Sorry.
:)
January 21st, 2011
3:33 pm
This is dumb. These people don’t deserve to own anything. Hopefully someone like Blank comes around and buys both teams and keeps them here.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:34 pm
“Chef” Tim — They’ve been basketball guys from the outset. Levenson always has tried to present himself as a hockey guy but he’s not. Doesn’t know anything about the sport and doesn’t care.
Erin Andrews' Landing Strip
January 21st, 2011
3:34 pm
Jeff, small item, but why did you place the name of the law firm being sued, King & Spalding, in quotation marks? Are you implying that the first being sued isn’t really King & Spalding?
Flame Lover
January 21st, 2011
3:35 pm
I feel sorry for the real fans. I was a Flame STH and the same thing is happening again. No concern for the fans–just the BIG bucks!
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:36 pm
Matt — Thanks. I’ve always loved hockey and have always wanted this team to succeed. Anybody who knows me knows that to be true. But when things go wrong, I’m not going to hesitate to point them out. If I didn’t care about the sport or the team, I wouldn’t write about it at all.
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
3:37 pm
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say the only possible loss of revenue would come from:
A.) composite sticks
B.) pure unadulterated bullbleep
More monetary shell games from bigshots, are we surprised? This is a typical excuse used by wealthy people in lawsuits. Chances are we won’t know the truth, again shell games. Money manipulation, pure and simple. You wanna tell me the Panthers have been around for what, about 20 years with ****** attendance and we’re struggling up here WITH MORE TRANSPLANTS? Gimme a break.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:37 pm
James Brown — I only take a shot at a reader when they attack me personally … and even then I don’t do it much. …. But I agree. Let’s hug it out!
buckhead benny
January 21st, 2011
3:39 pm
Sounds like these guys are looking for a settlement from King and Spalding and someone at King and Spalding has peed on their corn flakes. I am not an attorney or judge, but if you have an owner that is in an active lawsuit you should not be able to have the team sold from underneath you until that litigation is complete then you can tackle that hurdle. They should not have bought the team if they were not ready for it. They must have accepted responsibility for it.
When I married my wife and we got divorced. Hell I would love to send her a bill for the divorce or blame a damn attorney for me not being able to get rid of her. Hey, I had to pay the price because I chose her and I married her.
Atlanta Spirit you married the Thrashers and Chose the Thrashers you need to “MAN UP” AND “OWN UP” to it!
Hollywould
January 21st, 2011
3:41 pm
Man, i just bought 4 tickets yesterday to a feb. game. Maybe I should cancel that credit card transaction/ everyone knew they were lying/Waddell lying again/ Levenson/screw them all!!!
Road Trip
January 21st, 2011
3:42 pm
Not a shock at all. Not one of them had any discernable passion for the sport. Mike, Jr. grew up at center court and not center ice. Their communications with the season ticket holders was insulting. For years you could buy season tickets and find yourself next to someone with 2 for 1 seats. I can’t quite recall if they have hot water in the mens rooms on the concourse side yet. And that’s not to mention the product on the ice up until now. You hate to use the word “lie” loosely, but what other word is appropriate.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:43 pm
Erin Andrews’ —- The quote marks was because I thought that was our style but I’ve since removed them. And the “and” instead of the “&” was because I didn’t realize that was firm’s style until after re-checking Kristi Swartz’s story. So that’s been changed. …. What part of the firm do you work in?
Art Vandelay
January 21st, 2011
3:46 pm
I interviewed for the ASG’s open Director of Corporate Communications position last month. I can’t even begin to explain how happy I am that I wasn’t offered the position. What a nightmare this is going to be for the poor person who got the job.
coachx
January 21st, 2011
3:46 pm
That is not right Jeff.
The ASG said the team was not for sale in 2007 to the ptresent.
The court papers said they wanted to sale back in 2005 when they were trying to buy out Belkin’s 30% share.
By 2007 and 2008 the economy tanked so the Thrashers franchise lost a lot of value. At that time it made no sense to sell at a depreciated value.
Get you basic facts straight before calling people liars. There is this thing called a time line you should look into.
Thrashers Recaps
January 21st, 2011
3:47 pm
Still supporting the Thrashers and keeping hockey in Atlanta by being a season ticket holder, no matter what.
gdawginkalamazoo
January 21st, 2011
3:47 pm
This is going to be great. These A clowns are going to lose millions. The lawyers will get filthy rich off this and probably collect the team as payment for the legal fees. In this type of litigation there is no such thing as “opposing” counsel. It is “how many hours can we bill on this thing” buddies.
PooperScooper
January 21st, 2011
3:47 pm
Its hockey. Who cares?
B. Thenet
January 21st, 2011
3:48 pm
I wonder how much of the Thrashers have generated they have hidden in the Philips Arena books.
Suing their own lawyers, be careful they might sue the season ticket holders next.
da' boomer
January 21st, 2011
3:49 pm
I TRULY HATE THESE GUYS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A COLLECTION OF ASS CLOWNS.
LET’S HOPE WE CAN FIND A ‘REAL’ OWNER…WHERE’S DAVID MCDAVID WHEN WE NEED HIM?
BIG BUFF
January 21st, 2011
3:50 pm
Why cant they pull like a Phoenix Coyotes deal and have the league buy them? The league needs this town to succeed.
And if yall decide to boycott because of ASG your only asking for this team to relocate. If no one keeps showing up then they’ll definatley sell to some French Canadien and move the entire show to Quebec City. Dustin Byfuglien hates French Canada.
The Real Thrash
January 21st, 2011
3:50 pm
Why is this a surprise to anyone?
PMC
January 21st, 2011
3:51 pm
Sure they can make money, if they win or even have close to a chance of winning long term. Why would anyone invest in the Cleveland Indians from Major League?
Don Waddell presided over a team that has won 0 playoff games EVER. Not, a championship. They haven’t won a GAME. He wasn’t trying to win and he got to keep his freaking job for 11 years and get promoted? WHY?
Matt
January 21st, 2011
3:51 pm
Too many “Matt” posters on here. Gonna have to figure out a way to differentiate myself.
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
3:52 pm
Well, Pooper Scooper…
No, on second thought your name ’s making me hold back. I won’t verbally annihilate simple people.
layinlow
January 21st, 2011
3:53 pm
Jeff, can the public pronouncements by Liar Inc. to the fans of Atlanta that the team was not for sale be used against them in court? I’m no lawyer but this seems like it could be used by the defense.
Larry E
January 21st, 2011
3:53 pm
I hate to see the Thrashers go and hope they can be saved, but the upside is there is always the Gwinnett Gladiators and you will not have to go down down Atlanta. The Spirt owners should be arrested and charged with false representation to season ticket holders. They out right lied to cover their own butts and didn’t give a rip about the paying public, ala Wall St.
Matt from MN
January 21st, 2011
3:54 pm
How the heck did these guys ever succeed in their respective businesses? If they ran their business, like they have the Thrashers, they would all be “living in a van down by the river!”
gdawginkalamazoo
January 21st, 2011
3:55 pm
Matt, to differentiate yourself you can usually add the name of your city, for example, kalamazoo, or maybe the team you are a fan of, for example, gdawg. Or put the double whammy and go with both.
Tears for Beers
January 21st, 2011
3:56 pm
Is anyone surprised by this? I mean, really?
Tweets that mention Atlanta Spirit lied to us about Thrashers? Go figure | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
January 21st, 2011
3:57 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by JAEaton, HA57Y, HA57Y, Robin Boonk, Chelsea Kearns and others. Chelsea Kearns said: RT @JeffSchultzAJC: Atlanta Spirit lied to us about Thrashers? Go figure http://bit.ly/ep3dwz [...]
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:57 pm
Art Vandelay — A job’s a job. A man’s gotta eat. But I hear ya.
Jon
January 21st, 2011
3:57 pm
Jeff, could you explain how this story came out on a Friday afternoon? This would have been so much better as a Monday morning story (with days upon days of follpw-up). It would be GREAT for Atlanta sports fans to show the requisite passion and fire to run Mike & Bruce out of here. That may not be possible with a Friday afternoon story that gets buried by NFL Championship weekend.
Larry E
January 21st, 2011
3:58 pm
I hate to see the Thrashers go and hope they can be saved, on the up side their is the Gwinnett Gladiators and you don’t have to go downtown Atl. The Spirt owners should be put in jail for misrepresentation and sued. They did not give a rip about the season ticket holders.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
3:59 pm
Coachx — They COULDN’T sell the team when the economy tanked. It’s not that they WOULDN’T sell the team when the economy tanked. You think they would’ve turned down offers?
gdawginkalamazoo
January 21st, 2011
3:59 pm
Maybe Papa John can buy the Thrashers. Mike Illitch has done wonders with the Red Wings.
da' boomer
January 21st, 2011
4:00 pm
And while I am spewing hate, Tom Cousions can go to hell on the same bus w/ASG!!!!
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
4:01 pm
Layinlow — I’m not a lawyer. Obviously anybody can sue anybody for anything. But not sure where that would go.
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
4:02 pm
B.Thenet – EXACTLY!!!
I’m tellling you this is pure bullbleep, these guys are entirely full of bleep. They’re doing the same thing an AIG exec, would if they felt the squeeze, LIE! No, freakin’ way this team has it that bad, NO WAY!!!
Dear NHL,
Never trust prospective owner(s) who don’t give two rosy red bleeps about hockey when selling a franchise or allowing a sale.
Thank you,
One of Many Atlanta Thrashers Fans
Lynn Waldorf
January 21st, 2011
4:02 pm
The ASG is awful. Although I dislike them with all my heart, I do think the LA Clippers who have been forced to put up with Donald Sterling, hold the distinction of the worst ownership situation ever. ASG is probably second. Too bad Ted is apparently broke and Mr. Blank has his hands full with the Falcons.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
4:03 pm
Jon — The suit was just officially filed today. Sorry.
Gareth Bale
January 21st, 2011
4:04 pm
Serious question: How about a someone buying the team and moving it to Gwinnett Arena? For how long are the Thrashers locked into playing at Phillips?
gdawginkalamazoo
January 21st, 2011
4:06 pm
Where is Matlock when you need him?
heartofdarkness
January 21st, 2011
4:09 pm
No lie involved, Jeff. The team wasn’t for sale, they were only waiting for offers. Has the Chinese delegation left the country?
Tampa Falcon
January 21st, 2011
4:11 pm
As an Atlanta native now living in Tampa, and a Lightning Season Ticket holder, let me tell you, an ownership change will be the best thing for the Thrashers.
Look at the difference one year has made for the Lightning since Jeff Vinik bought the team from Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum down here. Less than a year, really.
Hopefully the Thrashers will go to someone committed to Hockey and making it work in Atlanta. Clearly, the ASG has never cared, and never wanted the team in the first place. It was just baggage that came with the real object of their affection, the Hawks and Phillips Arena.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
4:12 pm
Gareth Bale –Not sure moving Thrashers to Gwinnett Arena solves any problems financially.
Hollywould
January 21st, 2011
4:12 pm
The spin stops here!!
Smoothie
January 21st, 2011
4:12 pm
Tampa Falcon – and didn’t the league intervene and force them to sell the franchise since the two were inept and feuding?
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
4:13 pm
heartofdarkness — Hah. Funny.
Section 119
January 21st, 2011
4:13 pm
Sad. Too bad McDavid got screwed by Turner … Too bad Belkin didn’t win the war with “Team Pinnochio”. Still remember Ted Turner’s fat son-in-law whatshisname standing at center ice on opening night Oct.2007, the night the ‘06-’07 SE Division champion banner was raised, declaring to the crowd that the ASG (sic) would do everything in its power to bring the Stanley Cup to Atlanta. I guess that one is right up there with OJ’s never ending quest for the “real killer”.
Gwinnett Fred
January 21st, 2011
4:13 pm
Curosity point:
This story “broke” over an hour ago.
Interesting that no other media source has released anything on it. Guess we ARE the only people that care about the Thrashers!
Coach Cool
January 21st, 2011
4:14 pm
Move to Gwinnett?
Why not move to Uptown Charlotte!
Then, the N Carolina would have two NHL teams and no NFL teams.
skydawg
January 21st, 2011
4:14 pm
I wish Blank would/could buy both of the teams from the ASG. Wishful thinking, I know.
Sherry Taylor
January 21st, 2011
4:19 pm
Every photo I’ve ever seen of these guys is always at a Hawks game, never at a Thrashers game. I know Levenson swears he goes to the games, but not so the fan would know it. Does he hide away in one of the top, top boxes? Has anyone ever seen him?
They’ve lost money on this team because they refuse to spend the money required to bring in top players. They spent just enough this season to get to the eighth spot, but it isn’t enough, when one defensive line is well into the minus column, not to mention at least three of the forwards. They want a winner, spend some money! Otherwise, stop lying to the community and season ticket holders.
gdawginkalamazoo
January 21st, 2011
4:21 pm
skydawg, Blank could afford it too since they don’t give Gatorade baths for winning in BBall and hockey. No new suits to buy. Of course he might get hit with an octopuss when visiting Detroit.
Section 111
January 21st, 2011
4:22 pm
To Section 119: Yes, I absolutely remember Lie-dell’s statement on opening night in October 2007. What a putrid group of liars. I’m so angry right now, I don’t even have words for it.
Tampa Falcon
January 21st, 2011
4:23 pm
Smoothie — Yes, but the league was also putting money into the franchise because they couldn’t meet payroll and other financial obligations. Train wreck doesn’t begin to describe it.
Tim
January 21st, 2011
4:24 pm
I”M SO PISSSSED and sad :’(
john galt
January 21st, 2011
4:26 pm
Dear God, these guys are the biggest idiots in the world. Except, maybe, for the idiots they have taken their fan base to be. I’ve thought since Day One that this was a group of guys who could never hope to own a franchise by themselves, but by pooling their bank accounts they might just scrape by, some with the help of daddy or daddy-in-law.
I’ll never forget the picture of them all, dressed in business garb and a Hawks jersey on top, palming a basketball. They looked like the biggest goofs in the world.
So to hear that they lied to us for the last 6 years (at least) while trying to turn a quick buck or stop the flow of red ink does not surprise me. I’ve thought they were the laughing-stock of professional sports ownership for at least as long.
Lew39
January 21st, 2011
4:28 pm
Not going to games hurts the chances of finding a buyer that would keep the team here. Let’s find a way to isolate these liars and yet permit us to keep an NHL franchise in ATL. Jeff is right, people are not showing up because of the product. The product is a direct result of lousy management
Duck a Fawg
January 21st, 2011
4:31 pm
@Way to read, Jeff : Man! you need to get laid or something…who gives a s***…everyone knows what Jeff meant….
Dawg A
January 21st, 2011
4:32 pm
Jeff, It’s sad that the powers to be in the leagues don’t do a better job of keeping out idiots like the ASG. We have already lost this team once…. do you really think if we blow it again that we will get another team?
Why do the owners avoid you…… wait is it because you care and call them out for what they are? Keep doing this and maybe they will get their act together!!! OK………. I can dream can’t I?
Darren
January 21st, 2011
4:32 pm
Tampa Falcon, you are correct. Thank you for the optimism and hope on a dreary day.
And I still hate your favourite team with a passion.
JSS
January 21st, 2011
4:37 pm
So who comes off looking worse in the matter? The Belkin fan faction who have been vocal in believing everything that has come out of his mouth? The 7 dwarfs who called his buff on the appraisals and the valuation (and yes outright lied in regards to selling), and/or one of my favorite association of legal counsel (not), those fore-tellers of truth, justice, and the Georgia civil judgement masters of the universe: King and Spalding? So tell me if I’m missing something?
Tell the truth
January 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
These guys all appear to be jock sniffers with more money than sense(although apparently less money now than when they bought in). They have no idea how to run an NBA franchise it appears and they certainly have not been willing to buy the players that the Hawks need. I don’t even watch either of them for free on TV, much less make the trek downtown.
Dave "Killer" Carlson
January 21st, 2011
4:48 pm
My attitude is right.
Tampa Falcon
January 21st, 2011
4:49 pm
Thanks Darren. If it makes you feel better, my Dad had Flames season tickets, and I grew up idolizing Willie Plett and the guys on those teams.
Tim
January 21st, 2011
4:51 pm
@Lew39 You are right. All of these people saying they will no longer support the Thrashers actually increases the chances they will move.
JSS
January 21st, 2011
4:52 pm
layinlow
January 21st, 2011
3:53 pm
“Jeff, can the public pronouncements by Liar Inc. to the fans of Atlanta that the team was not for sale be used against them in court? I’m no lawyer but this seems like it could be used by the defense.”
It’s a malpractice suit, not a defamation suit. If King and Spalding had a muster of sense on this one, they’d work out a settlement and let the insurance company get this taken care of… Scary as it sounds, they may actually have a case… Even when the ASG screws up they somehow get out of the scrum!
Freddie's Falcon
January 21st, 2011
4:53 pm
Did you know Darren Elliot was a back-up goalie? He says it on every broadcast he is on.
Flames
January 21st, 2011
4:56 pm
We all knew that the ASG were liars…I’m just as pi$$ed as the next guy, but I do know one thing for sure. I love MY Atlanta Thrashers. I will continue to support MY team and pray that a new owner will come in and purchased this team. I cannot worry about things that I can’t control. All I can do is support the team that I love and pray that they don’t get sold to someone who wants to leave Atlanta. I will be at the bulb Saturday night with my Thrashers uniform on cheering on MY team. I will not let the media or a group of idiots like the ASG take away my love for hockey and the ATLANTA Thrashers.
Freddie's Falcon
January 21st, 2011
4:56 pm
I understand Slater has a concussion.
tim
January 21st, 2011
4:57 pm
TURNER should have sold everything to McDavid instead of the Spirit Clowns.
Don Waddell and the clowns had better not show their face at any game….Hawks or Thrashers.
Freddie's Falcon
January 21st, 2011
4:58 pm
This franchise is gone. A 10 year run was better than what you expected.
LAC
January 21st, 2011
4:58 pm
Jeff, At the least I think you should send a copy of AL THE NEGATIVE comments spoken here to those LIARS, so they would know they are Hated as much as Osama !!!
Paddy
January 21st, 2011
4:59 pm
Jeff, many of us fans suspected what you have now made public. ASG has treated the fans like “the great unwashed”! I see moving vans in the middle of the night in this franchises future and maybe sooner than we dare think. What a collection of Maroons!!!!
jerry
January 21st, 2011
5:01 pm
It was gone from the start because the ASG tried to sell chicken sh-t and pass it off as chicken salad, a theme the Atlanta fans know very well from every pro team that ever set foot in Atlanta.
Freddie's Falcon
January 21st, 2011
5:01 pm
I HATE THE ATLANTA SPIRIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bettman needs to step in.
JK Sockey
January 21st, 2011
5:01 pm
Greatest businessmen ever!
Zombie Steve
January 21st, 2011
5:02 pm
Anyone want to petition Arthur Blank to swoop in and save the day?
Jason
January 21st, 2011
5:03 pm
The NHL and NBA need to take note of this mess. Don’t approve sales to large groups of unrelated people who have to go digging under the couch cushions for change in order to make the purchase. Ownership by committee simply doesn’t work well.
As far as relation goes, my understading is that anyone who buys the Thrashers would have to pay a huge premium since the naming rights to Philips Arena requires both an NBA and an NHL team to be there. Philips made the agreement at the neight for the market for naming rights so there is a huge amount of money to be lost by Atlanta Spirit if they sold either team and it relocated. Who ever bought the team would need to pay not only the market value of the team but also for the lost revenue from Philips. If they wanted the team enough, they might pay all that extra money but more likely they’d just find a cheaper sunbelt team to relocation.
Zombie Steve
January 21st, 2011
5:03 pm
Thrashers Rise Up……anyone???
Freddie's Falcon
January 21st, 2011
5:03 pm
I would LOVE to hear Don Wad’s explanation of this. Seriously.
Freddie's Falcon
January 21st, 2011
5:05 pm
Too Bad Dan Kamal is going to be out of a job. He was a good one.
jerry
January 21st, 2011
5:06 pm
Give Winnipeg 50 million dollars and they might take them.
Harry Redknapp
January 21st, 2011
5:09 pm
Gareth Bale,
Shouldn’t you be practicing and preparing yourself for the Newcastle Utd clash this weekend instead of posting on the AJC?
Love,
Your Favorite Manager,
Harry ‘Arry’ Redknapp
P.S. Please get another hat trick in the San Siro against AC Milan
Otter from Animal House
January 21st, 2011
5:11 pm
We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part!
Dejay
January 21st, 2011
5:12 pm
Wow. Just wow.
And I can hear it now. Once these morons finally sell the team to the next Nelson Scalbania in Winnepeg, the national media will bag on us bad Atlanta fans for never showing up and supporting an inferior product. Then, we will see the new owner(s) in Canada spend big $$$ and the team make deep playoff runs to a Stanley Cup; just like another NHL team that used to call Atlanta home 30 years ago.
Such a shame because hockey can work in this town, just like baseball did when Ted found someone competent to run the team in the early-’90s. But the fans just aren’t going to spend hard-earned $$$ on an inferior product, especially when their stewards were found to be trying to ditch the team for over half a decade. To do the opposite is pure madness, like going to a restaurant where the food is bad, the service is worse, and the manager hits on your wife in front of you and your kids.
Stuff like this makes me wonder if the sports venues here were built on some ancient Indian burial grounds or something. The only folks who I can think of who have it worse as a sports fan are in Cleveland and Seattle. And considering what they’ve gone through over the last few years (Sonic fans watching Durant tear it up in OKC, Cleveland with ‘The Decision’), that’s saying something…
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
5:16 pm
Dawg A — NHL’s had some bad ownerships in the past. You’re correct about them not screening good enough.
Ray Ferraro's Bobble Head Doll
January 21st, 2011
5:17 pm
My head is shaking. It won’t stop.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
5:17 pm
JSS — Can we call it a tie? Or do we have to go to a shootout? (See how I did that?)
Acer
January 21st, 2011
5:17 pm
Is it a coincidence that the follow story comes out today? http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/01/21/quebec-city-to-announce-construction-of-arena-within-month/
Smiling Jack
January 21st, 2011
5:18 pm
That’s telling him, Gwinnett Fred..I agreee with you.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
5:19 pm
JSS (on lawsuit) — I think they’ve known for sometime this malpractice suit was coming. Actually, we all have. I’m sure they’ve been formulating strategy.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
5:19 pm
LAC — I don’t have to send it to anybody. They read everything, trust me.
Rick
January 21st, 2011
5:21 pm
But isn’t this what pro sports is about? It is not really about the city, nor the fans. Rather, it is simply about the business.
This is another reason college sports are better. GT , UGA, etc… are not going to relocate.
Smiling Jack
January 21st, 2011
5:27 pm
agree
Tell the truth
January 21st, 2011
5:29 pm
I am sure their answer is “it was never personal- it’s just business”!
Tim
January 21st, 2011
5:34 pm
CAN SOMEONE TELL ARTHUR BLANK TO BUY THE THRASHERS?!
JSS
January 21st, 2011
5:35 pm
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
5:17 pm
“JSS — Can we call it a tie? Or do we have to go to a shootout? (See how I did that?)”
They all skate like Bob Probert and shoot like Stefan… No thanks to seeing that!
Jason
January 21st, 2011
5:37 pm
Does the NFL still have restrictions on owning other professional teams (other than Arena)?
JSS
January 21st, 2011
5:37 pm
Tim
January 21st, 2011
5:34 pm
“CAN SOMEONE TELL ARTHUR BLANK TO BUY THE THRASHERS?!”
Doesn’t he have enough to cry about already? Dang, you people are masochist! I’d never want y’all to have to get me out of hole!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 21st, 2011
5:38 pm
I don’t know anything about hockey, but as a Hawks fan, I can’t wait until the DASG sells the Thrashers to someone who actually wants to own them. It would free them up to spend money on the Hawks, and it would be better for the Thrashers to be owned by someone who wants them. Hopefully for Atlanta’s hockey fans (none of whom I have ever met in person) they are sold to someone who wants to keep them here.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 21st, 2011
5:39 pm
“Does the NFL still have restrictions on owning other professional teams (other than Arena)?”
They supposedly do, but somehow it hasn’t stopped Denver Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke from owning a controlling interest in the St. Louis Rams.
5150 P.O.A.D
January 21st, 2011
5:43 pm
Would anybody really be that sad it the Hawks and Thrasher just moved to another state? I am pretty sure most of the people in ATL wouldn’t even notice other than the cost of lost jobs and little revenue.
Casey
January 21st, 2011
5:45 pm
Dear Mr Blank, Please buy the thrasher. Do great work like you do with the falcons and Hockey fans will Love you for ever and ATL gets the cup. Thanks! A true Thrasher fan
P. Bull Terrier
January 21st, 2011
5:48 pm
To say the team is actually for sale is reading too much into the claims made in the lawsuit. On the surface, it seems like ASG might be able to prove the liability part of the case against the law firm, ie. the contract was flawed, it was the law firm’s fault that it was flawed, and that the law firm had a responsibility to write a legally binding contract. Proving liability is only half of the case.
If ASG can prove the law firm is liable for the flawed contract, they still have to prove that they suffered damages in order to collect any money in the case. Things like legal fees incurred trying to sort out the contract would be fairly easy to prove and collect, but those things only add up to a few million dollars. Other possible damages, like loss of revenue due to negative perception of the organization or the “stress” of the ongoing legal battle can reasonably be assumed to exist, but putting a price tag on those types of things is complex and uncertain.
Claiming that ASG intended to sell the Thrashers, but were prevented from doing so as a result of a flawed contract, adds tens of millions of dollars to the potential value of the case. In fact, it appears that damages linked to an inability to sell the franchise may comprise a majority of the $200 million the ASG is claiming in this case. Due to changes in the ecomomy if nothing else, the Thrashers franchise has likely lost value over the last 5 years. If the ASG was prevented from selling due to a flawed contract, that lost value could be included in the damages award. An inability to sell the franchise due to issues with the contract potentially allows the ASG to hold the law firm responsible for some $130 million in operating expenses that would otherwise be assumed to be just a normal part of doing business. The public statements that representatives of the ASG have made claiming that they had no intent to sell the Thrashers will almost certainly hurt their case on this point, maybe even making it unwinnable. Even so, throwing it in the suit significantly raises the stakes in the case.
With all that said, the main goal in claiming an intent to sell the franchise is to inflate the potential value of the case and encourage the law firm, and their insurance company, to settle the case. Law suits like this are a game of chicken. If the plaintiff can raise the stakes high enough, the defendant will often decide that fighting the suit in court isn’t worth the price of a potential loss.
I can’t see this one ever reaching trial. My guess is that there will be a confidential settlement somewhere down the road. The ASG won’t get anything close to $200 million, but may end up with something in the $25 – $50 million range. My other guess is that selling the Thrashers to raise money to operate the Hawks may have been the game plan from the beginning, but we’ll never really know the real truth in this story.
Dawg A
January 21st, 2011
5:48 pm
Jeff, You say they read these blogs…. Interesting!!!!! I hope everyone is paying attention! I will start it…… ASG we don’t want you here so please take your Jethro Bodine mindset and buy a team in another city! Atlanta deserves better and should not a have a ownership group that is clueless! We had that in the Smith Family! Something tells me they were your idols and you want to be as successful as them!
Well guess what….. you have already arrived!!!! YEA I SAID IT!!!
5150 P.O.A.D
January 21st, 2011
5:49 pm
Turn Philips into a Gladiator Pit. We have enough thugs in jail that we could watch fight to the death. It would be a perfect mix of Basketball and Hockey. You would have to only pay the few winners unlike the Hawks and Thrashers players.
moron owners
January 21st, 2011
5:57 pm
a bunch of rich, spoiled morons that own these teams and have run them into the ground. I hope they lose every dime they put up. I stopped going to hawks and thrashers games 3 years ago when the prices went up and quality was never good. Maybe both these sorry teams will move out of town.
Paul in RDU
January 21st, 2011
6:03 pm
Kristi Swartz’ report on the lawsuit has got some interesting points. My favorite is this little gem
“Besides accusing King & Spalding of malpractice, the lawsuit also says the firm acted in bad faith by continuing to represent the seven members after recognizing they may have a malpractice claim.”
I’ve never known of any lawyers representing anyone who didn’t pay them. The ASG people are complaining that the law firm continued to cash their cheques and represented them? There was a very easy way to stop them.
Michael
January 21st, 2011
6:04 pm
Having litigated a few things I know these public statements that they did not want to sell the team will come back to bite them and cause them to pay the $$attorney fees$$ for K&S. Tack that onto your losses.
P. Bull Terrier
January 21st, 2011
6:06 pm
Interesting idea 5150 P.O.A.D. I’m just surprised you missed the opportunity to add something about sending suspended UGA players into the ring. Too late now.
mark s
January 21st, 2011
6:18 pm
so what does this mean for the hawks and thrashers jeff? will both be gone soon? one? none?
steverino
January 21st, 2011
6:20 pm
So…I’m guessing the photo of the Three of the Thrashers’ caretakers was taken at a Hawks’ game…
5150 P.O.A.D
January 21st, 2011
6:20 pm
p Bull T
UGA players proved last year they don’t have any fight left in them. Nobody would pay to see them. HAHAH is that better?
Can’t stand the NBA and the NHL is just OK.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
6:22 pm
Mark S — Hawks aren’t going anywhere. Philips needs a tenant and there are built-in TV revenue streams with an NBA team. Thrashers are less certain. That’s about all I can say right now.
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
6:22 pm
Steverino — Yep. That photo actually was taken the night the settlement of the Belkin suit was announced.
lanier
January 21st, 2011
6:23 pm
Shultize I think you just killed the Thrashers. Good job
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
6:25 pm
Lanier — Yeah, that was me.
Paul in RDU
January 21st, 2011
6:35 pm
I’ve read some comments about how the ASG have to be the worst sports owners in the world. Not a chance. The worst owner is Tom Hicks – a man who took one of the greatest clubs in the world and took them to the brink of bankruptcy not to mention relegation from the Premier League
native
January 21st, 2011
6:35 pm
Sad thing is, Atlanta will support a decent hockey team. Despite what most people think, the Flames didn’t leave because of poor attendance, they left because Nelson Skalbania (sp?) made the owners an offer they couldn’t refuse. It was in essence a real estate deal.
Whatever, once the Thrashers leave we’ll never get another team. I grew up in the south, but hockey’s a great sport and a going to the games is a blast…..
old smelly socks
January 21st, 2011
6:43 pm
The nerve that these a-holes invited the Thrashers Fan Club to a Hawks game for $5. Everyone is supposed to wear Thrasher jerseys. Well, the Club should go and yell “KNIGHTS” during the anthem, then WALK OUT and picket Team Pinocchio outside in the concourse.
DON’T GO TO ANY PHILIPS EVENTS EXCEPT HOCKEY GAMES if you want to send a message.
Cletus Dooley Earnhardt SR.
January 21st, 2011
6:49 pm
wHatt in the Same Hill is hokey? Jefrey Shulz, when doooes Gorgia Football Srping Practace start? Whhy aree we waisting time talkkin about stufff bessides UGA foootball?
-GO UGA!
Flagstaff
January 21st, 2011
6:50 pm
This is very, very unsettling news, to be certain… but the truth is that the front in Blueland is no different than it was yesterday. The team still has a winning record, is still in 8th place, and can still make the playoffs this year. While little is certain right now, let’s not start digging the grave just yet.
JSS
January 21st, 2011
6:52 pm
@ Davenpoop…
Regarding the Nuggets…
Najeh Davenpoop
January 21st, 2011
5:39 pm
“They supposedly do, but somehow it hasn’t stopped Denver Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke from owning a controlling interest in the St. Louis Rams.”
Kroenke transferred controlling interest in the NBA team to his Son Josh and some investors down to 40% himself when bought he the Rams to make the deal go through…. (According to Forbes)
I would link it, but that gets me in the filter on the blogs…
Worth $2.7 billion, #130 on the 2009 Forbes 400 list
“In August NFL owners approved Stanley Kroenke’s full purchase of the St. Louis Rams (he already had 40%); to comply with cross-ownership rules, he will transfer interests in the NHL’s Avalanche and NBA’s Nuggets to his son, Josh. Kroenke, who is named for 2 St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famers, Enos Slaughter and Stan Musial, is also the largest shareholder in British soccer team Arsenal FC. Although married to Walton heiress Ann Walton Kroenke, Kroenke is self-made. Today his THF (as in “To Have Fun”) Realty operates shopping centers in nearly half the U.S., many anchored by Wal-Mart. Kroenke owns Canada’s largest cattle ranch and 2 wineries. The waiting list for his Screaming Eagle wine is 5,000-plus names long.”
JSS
January 21st, 2011
6:55 pm
That should have been “divested”
MF
January 21st, 2011
7:01 pm
Bring back the Knights!
Thomas Magnum
January 21st, 2011
7:03 pm
Amen Jeff!!! Preach it! Best thing that could happen is for this terrible group to finally sell and get an owner/owners who really want a hockey team.
Clay
January 21st, 2011
7:13 pm
We’ll be the game tomorrow night…wonder how many will be there with us…
Sean Grace
January 21st, 2011
7:36 pm
Fighting with Jeff isn’t going to solve our problem. Calling the ASG names isn’t going to either. If you’ve been following along for a few years you know that Mr. Schultz and Mr. Waddell and associates don’t go bowling on Tuesday nights. That being said, I have to take Jeff’s reporting with a grain of salt. In my opinion we still don’t know the whole truth and we never will.
I’ve heard a solution mentioned, a community purchase. Is it worth exploring? Is it possible? It’s worth looking into if the only other option is the team being moved.
What hurts the most is the damage this news will do to a team who is giving it’s all on the ice and a fan base that is fragile but recovering. The automatic reaction is boycott, stay home. In my opinion this is misdirected. The only thing you do by not showing up at Phillips arena is make the ASG’s alleged case, that Atlanta is not a viable market, stronger.
It’s time for Mr. Bettman to step in. Tomorrow night should be interesting at Philips!
Twisted Wrister
January 21st, 2011
7:39 pm
The ASG has been playing a shell game for years moving revenue between the two sports franchises and the arena operations unit. I’m sure King & Spalding are aware of the ASG’s shell game and will subpeona the financial records for the arena operations unit. At that time, King & Spalding will make the arena operation unit’s profits available as part of their case. The ASG will be exposed for “creating” greater losses by directing revenue and profits to the “arena operations unit” and losses to the two sports franchise units.
And, in the end, the ASG will, once again, be exposed as a bunch of “white collar” trust fund babies “con men.”
The Attack
January 21st, 2011
7:40 pm
Writing is on the wall. Bye Bye Thrashers and the last chance for Atlanta to ever have an NHL franchise. What a damn shame. I worked for the Atlant Spirit for 1 lousy year – WORST run organization in professional sports!
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 21st, 2011
7:44 pm
It doesn’t take connecting many dots to understand that Dickie Media was ready to purchace the Thrashers….But their bean counters even balked.
hbcuclassics
January 21st, 2011
7:44 pm
2010 HBCU NFL Draft Board (1-6)
1. Kenrick Ellis 6-5, 340 DT Hampton
AP/FCS All-American, All-MEAC, 34 solo, 15TFL, 2 sacks
2. Clifford Eugene 6’1, 198 CB Tenn State
FCS All-American, 3x All-OVC, 4 Ints, 14 PDs
3. Johnny Culbreath 6’5, 285 OT SC State
AP/FCS All-American, 2x All-MEAC
4. Derrin Nettles 6’6, 320 DT Morehouse
AFCA All-American, All-SIAC,37 solo, 23 TFL, 14.5 sacks
5. Ibrahim Abdulai 6’3, 282 DT Ark-PB
All-SWAC, 31 solo, 18 TFL, 7.5 sacks
6. Frank Warren 5’10, 195 RB Grambling
FCS All-American, 2010 SWAC Offensive POY,
1,592 yd rushing, 3rd in NCAA
http://www.hbcuclassics.com
Andrew
January 21st, 2011
7:45 pm
Ok, dont get all anti-Thrashers cuz of this yall. Remember, we still need to help our guys out, whether you want to or not.
JSS
January 21st, 2011
7:45 pm
Sean Grace
January 21st, 2011
7:36 pm
“I’ve heard a solution mentioned, a community purchase. Is it worth exploring? Is it possible? It’s worth looking into if the only other option is the team being moved.”
It would take a miracle and community cohesion to accomplish that… The Northside of the Metro has never done anything to make the rest of the Metro area want to step up to the plate and give that kind of back up… Sorry to put it that way….
ken
January 21st, 2011
7:48 pm
I truly hope and mostly believe that the NHL sees through this mess and will not allow the Thrashers to be relocated. This is way too big of a market and can certainly support a team under better circumstances. I cant imagine the NHL crushing the fans of Atlanta by allowing the Thrashers to move. Hopefully, a local owner will step up and get this franchise going in the right direction. This lawsuit, the last lawsuit and this whole thing is just awful.
old smelly socks
January 21st, 2011
7:53 pm
Boycott all Phillips events EXCEPT the Thrashers.
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 21st, 2011
7:57 pm
Kulvy looks like a Mensa wizard for getting while the gettings good….
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 21st, 2011
8:02 pm
Spirit Group should go to Dream group and ask (on their knees) for a loan.
Bluelander
January 21st, 2011
8:21 pm
Great. The pattern of lies and deception continues. Why do I continue to shell out 15k a year to these morons. Now they sue the biggest law firm in the State of Georgia. Good luck winning this one. Forget about handing this over to their E&O insurance carrier. King & Spalding will handle this themselves and whip their pants off in court. In the process it will distract the “spiritless” ASG. K&S will bleed them dry and the legal costs will be several million dollars. Millions of dollars that could have been used to pick up a player or two that this team needs for the rest of this season to secure a playoff spot. Idiots!
stu
January 21st, 2011
8:47 pm
i agree twisted. you know they are full of it with the amount of losses they are claiming.
hawks getting killed now. horford is the mvp for this team and without him, they are crap.
JSS
January 21st, 2011
9:00 pm
“King & Spalding will handle this themselves and whip their pants off in court”
You can’t do that… They’ve already farmed it out to Alston and Bird…
Fred
January 21st, 2011
9:19 pm
All members of the Atlanta Spirit Group don’t have any spirit for Atlanta and are not only a bunch of liars but worse……….hippocrites — they don’t deserve to be owners of any sports franchise…….I will never go to Phillips arena again for anything since they own that……….I want them to go bankrupt and then have someone else own the arena and the Hawks and the Thrashers.
Please leave Atlanta ASG………..you don’t belong here.
William Satterwhite
January 21st, 2011
9:28 pm
The fact that Atlanta Spirit has been trying to sell the team since the lockout (whether it has been a steady continuous effort or just once right after the lockout and again in recent years really doesn’t matter) puts a lot of things in perspective. First, it seems to shed some light on the panic trades from the playoff season in that it appears Waddell was probably under a great deal of pressure to guarantee a playoff berth that season. The Thrashers at the time had a solid enough young core (Braydon Coburn included) that they should have been allowed to grow into a championship team for years into the future but instead, it appears that Waddell maybe knew he was at a point where he couldn’t afford to worry about the future.
Second, it’s interesting to note that Atlanta Spirit has apparently always relegated the Thrashers to being a small market team. I think it’s fair to say that none of the other Atlanta sports teams would be considered among the “small markets” within their respective leagues- no one thinks of the Braves or Falcons in the same way they do the Kansas City Royals or the Chiefs. Outside of the handful of cities that are legitimately at the smaller end of the spectrum (Green Bay, Kansas City, San Diego, etc…), the praise “market size” typically is just another way of saying “owner’s willingness to invest in team”. The fact Atlanta Spirit on their own refer to the Thrashers as a “small market” team leads one to wonder exactly what their own expectations were for the team and how much they were willing to actually invest into operating a successful franchise.
MWC
January 21st, 2011
9:28 pm
ASG…a holes..
Joe Friday
January 21st, 2011
9:31 pm
“I know Levenson swears he goes to the games, but not so the fan would know it. Does he hide away in one of the top, top boxes? Has anyone ever seen him?”
He used to bring his wife and either his or her mom and dad. They’d be in the clubs looking completely lost in their own house, and dressed for the nephews bar mitzvah, not a hockey game. Oy Vey (Sorry if I spelled that wrong, Shultzie!)
BG33Brown
January 21st, 2011
9:36 pm
I find myself in a familiarly difficult position. I want hockey here in Atlanta more than anything. By not supporting these “rubes” I run the risk of losing what I really want. Therefore I will continue to support these “rear end-hats” and there is nothing I am willing to do about it.
Sigh.
bilbo
January 21st, 2011
9:51 pm
I’ve heard King & Spalding represents Arthur Blank and the Falcons….Wouldn’t it be interesting if Blank used K&S to buy the Hawks/Thrashers?
Ted Striker
January 21st, 2011
9:54 pm
You’re passionate [like me] about hockey, disclosure, ethics, oversigning and big busted wome…. — oh, nevermind — however I don’t look at this lawsuit quite the same way.
Striker says this lawsuit is no indictment of ASG. If anything, is a positive step forward. Striker says: Is a GOOD sign.
When the David McDavid verdict went down I was stunned. Shocked. Stumped.
However I got a cane and carried on.
Told myself there is more to this than meets the eye. Realized due to the sheer lunacy of a verdict (a plantiff being awarded damages when he was out of the buy/sell parameters) that it was likely due to lack of due diligence by the attorneys for ASG. Didn’t know what. But figured there was a “what.” So, based on the McDavid verdict, I don’t doubt that King and Spalding — a FINE FINE FINE law firm [especially if they ever have a client who sues me] — had unwise conjugal relations with the pooch when putting other ASG related agreements together.
Can’t dispute a word — not a word — of what you quoted in article c, paragraph g, section 57 b.
However will tell you that I’m confident ASG didn’t draft a single word of the document. Dude. I’ve drafted documents for others. And had documents drafted for me. The twain do not typically meet.
Chances are not even all the partners of ASG actually even read all of the document before it was filed. Did all of them sign it? Prolly not.
Love your passion but I’m not on the jump ASG train over this.
5150 P.O.A.D
January 21st, 2011
9:55 pm
Seeing the Hawks score right now, why does anybody care about the NBA?
The Only Sport I will pay to go see live is football. I still go to a few tech baseball games and Braves games but I can’t see paying for season tickets for those sports.
Twisted Wrister
January 21st, 2011
10:08 pm
Tomorrow, Coach Ramsay should sit the team down and make them watch “Major League.” Afterward, he should pull out a stand up figure of Laura Turner Seydel and reward the players by taking off the pieces after each win.
Curly
January 21st, 2011
10:09 pm
Jeff – Good article… but it really doesn’t matter to a regular Thrashers fan. I’m still going to attend Thrashers games. I’m still going to buy my season tickets. It really doesn’t matter who the owners are. It would be nice to have owners that care, but I can’t control that. The only thing I can control is my support for OUR NHL team. Boycotting the Thrashers will not help. Just enjoy having an NHL team here in Atlanta.
See you down at the Bulb on Saturday night! GO THRASHERS!
RAIN MAN
January 21st, 2011
10:19 pm
The ASG Sucks!
Freddie's Falcon
January 21st, 2011
10:19 pm
I want to punch Bruce Levinson in the face…LOL
Not a Hockey Fan
January 21st, 2011
10:26 pm
Is the picture at the top of Jeff’s article the reincarnation of the Three Stooges???
Not a Hockey Fan
January 21st, 2011
10:31 pm
Freddie’s Falcon, that would wipe that jackass smile off Levenson’s face. It looks like Gearon has been going around sticking his finger in people’s faces, and someone finally bit it.
Ward
January 21st, 2011
10:45 pm
Enter Arthur Blank and another partner to make the Thrashers “local” and guarantee a better future and NHL hockey in Atlanta. This might be a “inexpensive” franchise to purchase now that all this “laundry” is hanging out there for all to see. And the team is showing better team play than ever before……..Go Thrashers!
He Hate Gator
January 21st, 2011
10:46 pm
I live in Fla and am a Lightning season ticket holder, so as an outsider looking in, and in a place that has had its own ownership issues, lets take a DEEP breath here…It looks it is probably true that ownership entanglement probably has prevented the group from being able to sell the team to a better owner. I feel for the Thrash fan as the team has been so mismanaged its only made the playoffs once here in its existence….in a non-traditional market, you’ve got to have a competitive team or don’t bother. I think the commish will have to intercede here as in Phoenix and Tampa to direct the team to a better ownership and I think this will happen before any serious talk of relo. The team is NOW finally competitive…maybe the Spirit ownership should it give a bit longer as a playoff appearance could help quite a bit (yes, I know, its not my money that was lost) and the fans (and writers) give support for this competitive team and not turn you backs on it quite just yet….just sayin’….
mpeters57
January 21st, 2011
10:51 pm
Hey Jeff, I think selling the Hawks and Thrashers to the ASG was one of the worst ownership changes in the history of sports. They don’t care about the teams or the fans, they just want to be able to say they own a NBA and a NHL team. Absolute disgrace.
Gen Neyland
January 21st, 2011
10:53 pm
The treesome at the top of this page look like car dealers for a GM product. Safe, smug and in it for the money. Atlanta sports fans had enough of this type of ownership with the Smith family. We want our owners to invest and create winners, not borrow a turnover product for profit…
Jeff Schultz
January 21st, 2011
10:53 pm
Joe Friday — When I see Levenson at games, I see him up in Waddell’s corner box for one period. I don’t know where he goes for the other two periods. …. and you spelled Bar Mitzvah correctly.
sue me
January 21st, 2011
10:53 pm
can the fans sue these moron owners for intentional infliction of emotional distress or fraud for all these terrible teams every year and obscene prices for low rent play?
Not a Hockey Fan
January 21st, 2011
10:56 pm
Relocate the team to Siberia and require the current owners and management to go with it.
gabugman
January 21st, 2011
11:01 pm
Told ya.
Blueland Fan
January 22nd, 2011
12:28 am
Schultz~The owners sit in the same club seats almost every single game. Levenson goes up to the box for less than a period and comes right back down. This whole article including the other one is nothing more than what any business would do. No where does it say they have been trying to sell the team for six years. The AJC has turned into the National Enquirer. Used to be a must have daily paper.
Matt the Brave
January 22nd, 2011
12:34 am
I’m guessing that if the NHL fails here once again that we have zero chance of ever hosting another hockey team in this town other than a minor league club?
Also, any chance that the NHL either 1) takes over operations from ASG and/or 2) contracts the team?
I’d hate to see option #2 because it seems that for the first time, the Thrashers have a team that Atlanta might can get behind. Of course, that will be determined by how far they go in the playoffs.
Albert
January 22nd, 2011
1:12 am
JS, although I’ve asked you many times to concentrate on football and baseball, you are dead on with you comments here. When it comes to the actual game of hockey though, please focus on football and baseball.
Innocent Bystander
January 22nd, 2011
1:16 am
Suing a group of lawyers… We’ll soon find out whether they did “shoddy work”. And ASG needs to go buy the Phillies and Jets and every other sports team I hate. I’m afraid they may have caused the downfall of hockey yet again in Atlanta.
scottbravesfan
January 22nd, 2011
1:32 am
These guys have RUINED two franchises! The Hawks and the idiotic Joe Johnson trade and with the Thrashers for letting guys like Hossa and Kovalchuk get away. If they put more players around both guys they would have probably stayed. I mean it’s not like the Devils draw any fans in New Jersey.
Pathetic! And all the national sports media will see is how the Atlanta sports fans don’t support it’s teams. It’s a joke.
scottbravesfan
January 22nd, 2011
1:37 am
Thrashers are a small market team? Atlanta is the 7th largest market in the United States. There are 24 American teams in the NHL. Atlanta is should spend like it and the fans would come out.
Jared Lee Palin
January 22nd, 2011
1:41 am
There are enough hockey markets left for the Thrashers, if they left (not that anyone would notice) an ECHL would probably work in Atlanta, not that Atlanta hockey fans would notice the difference in the caliber of play. If the fans can’t even support this years winning team and can only draw 8000-10000 crowds forget it already!
Pd Off Fan
January 22nd, 2011
2:10 am
I told you all along……Bobbleheads Equals Attendance!!! I want my Bobbleheads Dammit!!
wxwax
January 22nd, 2011
2:37 am
Blueland Fan, you and I are reading different documents, then.
You said: “No where does it say they have been trying to sell the team for six years.”
The lawsuit says: “Plaintiffs expected that once the new labor agreement was finalized there would be substantial interest from potential buyers and that they would be able to sell the franchise.”
Hmmmm. Seems pretty unambiguous.
Paddy
January 22nd, 2011
5:58 am
This photo with Mike Gearon says alot. What fan (owner) would watch a hockey game while holding his cell phone waiting for calls. You are at a game! Watch the damn game! You can return calls between periods. Can you say self-absorbed?
Paddy
January 22nd, 2011
6:01 am
In addition……..never once saw Ted Turner with a cell phone at a game.
Sportswriting is a Vacation!
January 22nd, 2011
7:13 am
If we all know that owners, coaches and players aren’t going to provide truthful answers, why do we keep asking the questions?
“Coach – are you staying or moving on?”
“Are you looking to sell the team?”
“Did you do steriods?”
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeated times and expecting different results.
Who is the insane group here?
The Atlanta Spirit legacy – Lies, lawsuits and losses | Atlanta Thrashers: Ice Man
January 22nd, 2011
7:19 am
[...] So…the Atlanta Spirit, LLC lied to us, did they? When asked many times over if they intended to sell the Thrashers organization over the past several years, they denied it…only to reveal in court documents recently that they had indeed looked to do just that. Not only that, but the ownership cluster known as the Atlanta spirit, LLC is now engaged in yet another lawsuit. [...]
Kevin
January 22nd, 2011
7:28 am
Ah the atlanta spirt owners n spongebob squarepants as President (former GM) and Don(oops) Waddell the worst GM in NHL history way to go Don u have done u job to move us to Quebec in canada to become the Quebec team was there when move in95..To denver col. folks remember after they became the colorado aves. won stanley cup first year in the new area.Lets all clap if i could say folks show up fill it up SRO crowds bring signs sayin we want owners who care not lie fire waddell why hell u think redwings were laughin when we got him!
Snoopy
January 22nd, 2011
7:31 am
I wish Bruce Levenson had been one of Michael Vick’s pit bulls.
Dominik Wilkins
January 22nd, 2011
8:41 am
I want to sue them for using the name Atlanta and being a group of doucebags. It’s our 21st century business leaders like this that has sent this country into a spiral recession. Soo disappointed in todays leaders. Lying is fine if there is a buck to be made.
Watch out, the Hawks are next.
retired drill instructor
January 22nd, 2011
8:56 am
I understood the contract perfectly and I offered to buy the team for what it was worth but the ASG just started to cry. Tissue? Crybabies.
askip32
January 22nd, 2011
8:59 am
I wish people would pay attention to what our government is doing to us and continue to do to us. Instead of wondering if the Thrashers are staying or leaving.
Former Employee
January 22nd, 2011
9:05 am
Here’s the deal…bought the teams for 250 million before the 04-05 lockout (that was stupid), thought they were going to turn the Thrashers around and sell quick for around 200 million after the lockout, they only wanted the NBA team anyway..you should have seen these knuckleheads down in the locker rooms with their kids like it was a playground. So after the sale, they would have the Hawks and Philips for only 50 million now and the NBA tv deal nets each team around 80 million a year…this is what they were HOPING until they got stupid and got into a lawsuit with one of there own and now they were screwed…These guys have no business owing a franchise but since this was such a backdoor takeover from AOL, see where this is going? I mean some of the original owners were Dominique Wilkins? Bo Turner? (yep, Ted’s son). Rutherford Seidel is Ted’s son-in-law!!! what a joke..they were looking to make a quick buck and sell the Thrashers and sit courtside happily ever after at the hawks games…these guys make me sick
Too emotional
January 22nd, 2011
9:06 am
The truth is is boycotting Thrasher games would feed right into the hands of the spirit as it would make their case that the NHL can’t make it and thus they sell it to the highest Canadian billionaire and they make millions!
We show up then Bettman doesn’t move team…..period!
These comments from some that the NHL can’t make it is dumb….we win they show…we have won nothing at this point but we need to all be on a mission and show up and that would be the best forum to get back at the spirit. They don’t make money on hot dogs but rather will make a killing when you help confirm the NHL can’t make it!
The Knights are cute but please grow up!
Too emotional
January 22nd, 2011
9:10 am
Gearon is at a basketball game knucklehead……where he could carry on a cell phone conversation since it it quite enough other than those idiots that play the drums before game
Former Employee
January 22nd, 2011
9:11 am
Also..Don Waddell was a horrible GM now you make him president????where is that logic?..probably because his contract expires this year and they wanted to put him somewhere since he couldn’t build a hockey team …again, these guys are a joke…the ship is sinking boys..too bad..I think a second chance for the NHL in Atlanta with the right owner would have done well but it’s too late for second chances.
not surprised
January 22nd, 2011
9:12 am
Is anyone really surprised? These bozos have got to go. Sell the teams to somebody who knows what they’re doing.
Freddie's Falcon
January 22nd, 2011
9:14 am
Our Team, the Thrashers, deserve better than this ownership group.
Freddie's Falcon
January 22nd, 2011
9:17 am
Former Employee: Thanks for the insight. They are so far underwater with the lawsuit and losses over the years their plan has so backfired.
Moonlight Graham
January 22nd, 2011
9:18 am
I’ve had experience with a cheating spouse, and even before I knew for sure, I knew. It’s the same with these scumbags. I was a STH from the beginning but after about six years of the promises and the lies and seeing the handwriting on the wall in big, bold font I bailed out. I still feel sorry for the group of fellow STH’s that I see on TV occasionally that continue to be faithful to this lying, cheating ownership group. It’s sad, really sad.
Whisky Breath
January 22nd, 2011
9:20 am
Nice job Jeff. Maybe your new years resolution is working.
Too emotional
January 22nd, 2011
9:40 am
Enter your comments here
ylojkt
January 22nd, 2011
9:47 am
I’ve wondered many times about why our pro hockey teams can’t win or at least play for a championship while in Atlanta. Obviously ownership has to want to pay for a good team on the ice, but there have been years where we had a good team that for whatever reason couldn’t produce up to their potential. Maybe it is the discord or lack of interest that the ownership has filtering down to the players. Last year I spoke with Slava Kozlov and Eric Boulton about the teams direction. Kozlov was done so he was more interested in getting home after the game to his family, but both of them basically shrugged and gave a non-commital answer regarding the teams future plans, as if to say “we can’t tell, we don’t have any consistency in what the ownership says and does to be able to predict anything but the schedule.”
The Knights came here and won and played for multiple championships, the Gladiators have also already played for a championship. Both of these teams did this in very short order after arriving and both had great fan support, why the Thrashers can’t do this is all too obvious when you take a look at the clowns who own them and the amount of concern they show their team and it’s fans.
Eileen
January 22nd, 2011
10:03 am
We all know that the ASG lies. Why don’t we continue to support this exciting team and prove to a prospective buyer that Atlanta is a good hockey market when there is a winning product? By boycotting, not only are we feeding the naysayers about an Atlanta hockey team, but also discouraging potential buyers who want to make a proftitable purchase. If you look at the money for hotdogs, tickets or whatever as YOUR entertainment money, it keeps the owners out of it.
Toxostoma Rufum
January 22nd, 2011
10:12 am
As much as I now want to boycott The Thrashers (and Hawks) we need to go to games more now than ever to try and lure an owner who will keep the team here. Boycotting the team will only attract owners that will send the team to Canada. However, I now fear that the NHL will just buy the team from Atlanta Spirit and take care of the sale to the highest Canadian bidder. Shame on the NHL (and NBA) for letting these people run these franchises.
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
10:43 am
Folks — I know this is an emotional topic but if you could keep your comments free of profanity (even cleverly disguised with asterisks) it would be appreciated. Thanks, J
failure
January 22nd, 2011
10:52 am
failed business owners suing their law firm for not drafting the contract properly so they could sell the business after running it in the ground. Brilliant!
Freddie's Falcon
January 22nd, 2011
10:53 am
If I see one of the owners in th CLUB I will ask him to respond to this article. It seems these Owners have crapped their drawers and messed themself.
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
10:53 am
Ted Striker — You are correct, probably, about ASG not drafting a word of the ownership agreement. I don’t know law but they might have a case against King & Spalding. What that amounts to ($$$), I don’t know. But Levenson’s an attorney, so’s Rutherford Seydel. So my guess is they looked over.
Jared Lee Palin
January 22nd, 2011
10:56 am
Let me get this straight; We in Atlanta love NHL hockey, We love the Thrashers, We hate the owners BUT We have a winning team, We should boycott the Thrashers, We want the dismal attendance to go even lower, We hope the franchise doesn’t move to another location because of low attendance We love hockey in Atlanta…..
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
11:07 am
Twisted Wrister — Now come on, don’t pick on Laura Seydel. She’s a good lady. (But that was funny.)
LawyerJG
January 22nd, 2011
11:10 am
I think that Jeff is missing an important point here. The Spirit Group suing its lawyers and therefore its goal is to maximize damages. The Belkin litigation effectively tied the hands of the Spirit Group to sell the team if it had been presented with the option. We don’t know if there was a buyer or even an active effort to sell, but had there been an offer, no sale could have been made. That is how Gearon, Levenson, et.al. were presumably damaged and they are wise to make that argument in their current litigation.
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
11:15 am
Curly — I understand your sentiments completely.
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
11:15 am
Not a Hockey Fan — At least The Three Stooges were funny.
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
11:16 am
Mpeters57 — Thanks, I agree.
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
11:19 am
Blueland Fan — I would dispute your contention that ASG is doing “nothing more than what any business would do.” The employees of the company that I’ve spoken with would dispute that too, by the way.
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
11:20 am
Albert — Thanks. But really, there are hockey fans out there.
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
11:21 am
Scottbravesfan — Exactly.
R. Stroz
January 22nd, 2011
11:23 am
As a fan of hockey in Atlanta, I advocate supporting the team; however, look no futher than the timing of this lawsuit to see the effect the owners are truely seeking.
1) Demoralize the fan base before a playoff run to keep attendence low.
2) Demoralize the “hard core” fans from renewing their season tickets, as season ticket renewal is just gearing up.
3) Demoralize the players with a constant nuisance factor motivating them to get as far away from this ownership group as possible.
4) Insure that Dudley will be unable to re-sign Ladd and Buff a multi-year deal with the Thrashers.
5) Thereby, forcing both Ladd and Buffs next one year RFA extension contract goes to arbitration.
6) Where the ASG will refuse to match the arbitration amount awarded to Ladd and Buff.
7) Allowing both Ladd and Buff to become free agents while the ASG blames the arbitrator for Ladd and Buff’s departure.
For those of you who wonder why the ownership might act in this manner, I’ll assist.
With low attendence and poor season ticket renewals, the ASG can go to the NHL and say, ” We tried and the fans just stopped coming.” To the casual observer, it appears Atlanta will not support hockey, when in fact, the ASG has never wanted to own a hockey team, other than to flip it to another owner. By stating that they wanted to sell the team six years ago in the lawsuit, the ASG has openly admitted this as fact.
The owners want to sell the team to whomever they desire and where the team ends up is of little concern to the ASG. The ASG only wants to maximize the “sale value.”
The owners are calling Bettman’s non-relocation statement as a bluff.
The policy being employed by the ASG is often called a “scorched earth” policy. The ASG has “scorched” the franchise with the lawsuit and the timing of the lawsuit. The ASG has undermined the players, fans, and the general manager. This is no accident. The ASG has decided the cost of “scorching” the franchise in the short run will pay off in the long run by selling the team to the highest bidder.
The question is simple: What will Bettman do? Will Bettman step up, accuse the ASG of mismanaging the team to the point of “driving fans away from the arena”? Will the NHL seize ownership in some manner? I don’t know the answer.
I know this, I hope the “scorched policy” does a boomerang, bites the ASG in the butt, the franchise stays in Atlanta under new ownership, and the ASG can take their “scorched earth” policy and go straight to hell
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
11:24 am
Moonlight Graham — Thanks for saving that little girl from choking on a hot dog. She was turning hand springs in no time.
Eamonn
January 22nd, 2011
11:30 am
Despite feeling sick to the stomach with all of this I will be there tonight and will continue to go to support the manager, the players and show that there are loyal hockey fans here in Atlanta. I hope the fans rally round Ramsey and the team
TC
January 22nd, 2011
11:34 am
These owners are just a bunch of rich guys looking for a tax write-off. They couldn’t have thought owning a pro team besides ones in NY and LA would actually make them money. They can’t be that stupid….Maybe they are. I am looking at the list and there are a couple who could be.
Gecko the great
January 22nd, 2011
11:53 am
R Stroz- great points on scorched earth strategy. Do you think asg are smart enough to come up with something like this?
I think asg owners are getting to an uncomfortable point with their money and maintaining their lifestyles going forward. Both the Hawks and Thrashers have been totally mismanaged resulting in disasterous financials. What you’re seeing now is panic. I wish them the best and hope they can each keep one house. LOL.
wxwax
January 22nd, 2011
11:58 am
Jeff, in all the years I’ve been reading your column, I’ve never read one that was so angry and heartfelt.
Strong medicine.
There’s a lot of anger out there today. I wonder what the Spirit will say, when they finally poke a nose out of their bunker?
valleyboy32
January 22nd, 2011
12:11 pm
i really hate the fact these devil edomites are continuing to put our state and city among the worst as sports towns atl should be in the top 5 yearly but these devil just want us to be loosers for life
BG33Brown
January 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm
stroz: +1
Albert Buckenberger
January 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm
I have the Atlanta Thrashers hooded sweatshirt at home, and I wear it sometimes before this happened. Sadly, I don’t wear it right now.
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
12:52 pm
LawyerJG — Actually, you’re missing the important point. You’re arguing like a lawyer. I’m arguing logic. (Big difference.) You don’t throw out “hypotheticals” like, “Well, if we were going to sell the team,” unless that was their plan. I mean, come on. And I’m not disputing that they may have a case, by the way. But that has nothing to do with their ownership of the Thrashers.
Jeff Schultz
January 22nd, 2011
12:55 pm
R.Stroz — As many people know, I was born and grew up in L.A. Grew up a Rams fan. That once-proud organization was run into the ground after Carroll Rosenbloom died and his wife, Georgia, took over. Ran the franchise into the ground, fired her stepson, Steve Rosenbloom, who was running the team, people stopped going to the games because they were so disenchanted and she moved the team to St. Louis, where she could make a ton of money. Sound familiar?
Stuck in NJ
January 22nd, 2011
1:02 pm
Did anybody else infer from Point #54 that the ASG (sic) was probably an active proponent of the lock-out of 2004-2005? When I read that point again, it made be think that they were probably one of the owners who were actively pushing for a lock out and didn’t want to work with the NHLPA at all (as opposed to the group of owners who were willing to compromise). I’m even thinking that the possiblity of a lock-out and its potential for franchise value improvement might have been part of their purchase decision.
Karma…please don’t let me down
Tom Lysiak
January 22nd, 2011
1:11 pm
Jeff, I know you were hinting around this earlier in your comments. The question is, will Bettman and the NHL allow the “Rosenbloom plan” to happen here?
drawtheline
January 22nd, 2011
1:12 pm
If you want to experience an intense hockey atmosphere don’t go to Philips. Go see a game in Nashville.
Freddie's Falcon
January 22nd, 2011
1:17 pm
R Stroz + 2
Good take. Everyone on this blog can see right through the ASG. As a season ticket holder, I am in a no win situation.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
January 22nd, 2011
1:21 pm
Ain’t a number of the Atlanta Sprit group just rich kids spending their daddiy’s money – or married into the money? Gearon and the guy who’s Ted Turner son-in-law come to mind.
Regardless, thanks Schultz, for providing a needed reaming to this gaggle of nimrods with way more time than managerial ability – and as you point out – integrity.
Otis Campbell
January 22nd, 2011
2:21 pm
This is all news to me! I thought they were a liquor store!
righteous
January 22nd, 2011
2:33 pm
Schultz is a total irrelevent. We have a great day of football tomorrow and look at his stupid topic. He’s out of time, out of sync, and just an overall general waterboy.
I, 4one, am sick to death of this chinstrapper.
He belongs behind bars.
gcs
January 22nd, 2011
2:37 pm
They thing about these six years of lies is that we NEVER, not for one minute, believed any of them.
How can we get rid of these bums once and for all???
.
Freddie's Falcon
January 22nd, 2011
3:50 pm
Anyone really like one of the members of ASG? From what I can tell everyone 100% thinks each of them are a bunch is a D-bag.
LawyerJG
January 22nd, 2011
4:01 pm
Jeff, the Spirit Group’s current lawyers (the ones suing King & Spalding) HAVE to argue that King & Spalding’s negligence prevented a possible sale of the team. This is Torts 101. A cloud on title is their best argument for damages and if the current lawyers didn’t raise it, they would be negligent. Just because the pleadings reference a hypothetical sale doesn’t mean that the the current owners actively intend to sell. It would be nice to hear from the current owners to clarify but they would be wise to keep quiet until the litigation is over. The current owners may be lying sleazeballs, but I would not draw that conclusion based on allegations they make as plaintiffs in a negligence lawsuit.
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 22nd, 2011
4:57 pm
Is anybody really surprised by this?
Conway
January 22nd, 2011
5:15 pm
Hockey will never make it in Atlanta no matter how many Yankees move to Atlanta!
Ted Striker
January 22nd, 2011
5:24 pm
1) I’d rather be owed money by King & Spalding than ASG. K&S has more $$$ than Carter has liver pills.
2) Seydel’s wife is a hottie.
Jeff Sutter
January 22nd, 2011
5:33 pm
Michael Gearon has always done his business this way. His approach is to try to suspend your disbelief. Maybe he will leave town with the team.
Paddy
January 22nd, 2011
5:41 pm
Conway…..you don’t have to be a Yankee to enjoy hockey. The game sells its self if given the opportunity. I became a fan in the 60’s after watching just one Dayton Gems game. Loved it so much I spent 7 years working in pro hockey. But not in Atl.
Flagstaff
January 22nd, 2011
5:45 pm
I’m a native Georgian and I love hockey! This isn’t 1861.
Delbert D.
January 22nd, 2011
5:59 pm
Where’s a Russian billionaire when you need one?
Smitty
January 22nd, 2011
6:37 pm
Jeff,
Great article. I would like to see a comment from Gary Bettman. I met Bettman just before the All Star game here in Atlanta. I am from Western NY and I thanked him for his commttment in helping to keep the Sabres in Buffalo after their owner went into bankruptcy. You would hope after what has happened in Phoenix, he would show the same committment here.
Freddie's Falcon
January 22nd, 2011
6:56 pm
I would think the lawyers at King & Spaulding, who defend cases in front of the US Supreme Court, know what they are doing.
Rand Stewart
January 22nd, 2011
7:17 pm
The bottom line is that none of these idiots have any business owning any kind of sports team, professional or otherwise. The Atlanta Spirit Group is nothing but a bunch of spoiled brats playing with daddy’s money. Sell the teams to someone who cares and has some intelligence. Further proof that money can’t buy class.
Retired STH
January 22nd, 2011
8:15 pm
sounds to me like the Atlanta thrasher fan club may know something we dont?
> From: Atl Thrashers Fan Club
> Date: January 22, 2011 2:37:04 PM EST
> To: Atlanta Thrashers
> Subject: AJC Story & Table Location
>
> Hi All,
>
> We have seen the story that broke in the AJC yesterday. Please hold off on believing everything that is in that story, it is not at all what you have been lead to believe. We will address the story in a separate email tomorrow.
>
> The fan club table will be located under the Omni scoreboard tonight which is located just to the left when you enter through the main arena entrance. This is your last chance to purchase tickets for the Carolina road trip. If you plan to go and have not purchased your tickets come to the table tonight. We will be there until the end of 2nd intermission. Members who have not picked up membership items, please stop by and pick them up.
>
>
>
> —
> Lisa Lewis
> President/Founder
> Atlanta Thrashers Fan Club
> http://www.atlantathrashersfans.org
Wally
January 22nd, 2011
10:14 pm
And Jeff, you must really be Happy. You have been trying to run this club out of town for years. You must be Proud.
CrazyDiamond
January 22nd, 2011
10:26 pm
We are so screwed!
This may be the nail in the coffin for NHL in Atlanta. Unless ASG just gives the team away for a song and a promise to stay in Atlanta at Philips Arena.
NHL should sue ASG LLC.
stendek
January 22nd, 2011
10:44 pm
The corrupt owners are doing local hockey fans a favor Jeff! The Thrashers are a heartless uncaring group of prideless quitters. The sooner they are the Hell out of Atlanta the better. The Hawk fate is immaterial to me. Basketball bores me to tears! Teams with fight like the Knights and Flames are sorely missed. The Thrashers will be a quickly forgotten afterthought. No one likes to see home losses all the time. That is pretty much what these Thrashers deliver at Philips Arena. Let em go lose in Hamilton or wherever. I really respect Coach Craig Ramsey. As for the players my friend Fletcher from Outlaw Josey Wales summed it up nicely. Hell is waiting. Yep. That sums it up. Best. STENDEK
stendek
January 22nd, 2011
10:52 pm
Jeff since I am still mad as Hell after yet another home Trasher choke job to an overrated untalented New York team I provide the following for your approval…
http://stendek77.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/thrashers-fail-to-hold-home-leads-in-so-loss-to-weak-rangers/
Brendan
January 23rd, 2011
1:21 am
Incommunicado for the past few days, I am happy to see this story being reported, but not surprised by the behavior of the ownership. Jeff, wasn’t it Bruce Levenson who said, “This lawsuit has had NO IMPACT on the operations of our teams.” Well, we knew that was an absurd LIE from the intial utterance. But now, how does Bruce spin this one?
Truthfully, I’ve always wanted to be rid of this ownership. I hope they successfully sell the team. All I ask … is that the team remain in Atlanta and be owned by someone, preferably a sole person and not a group of people or a corporate entity, who will care for it properly. And treat the “lifeblood” of their business, the paying fan, with the respect they richly deserve.
insider
January 23rd, 2011
7:58 am
Spoiled rich kids? Gearon turned $3000 start-up money (his own) into an international cell tower business valued in the billions. Levenson and Peskowitz started a successful publishing company from an attic above a liquor store. At least get the facts straight.
Eon Rodeo
January 23rd, 2011
9:08 am
321st!
Gatorman
January 23rd, 2011
9:27 am
Schultz: They lied to us, ummmh! Come on now, don’t act surprised.
Dogham
January 23rd, 2011
9:52 am
Goodbye Atlanta, Hello Seattle!
Heather
January 23rd, 2011
9:54 am
I am disappointed with the ownership, but I LOVE the Thrashers. We live in Athens and drive over to as many games as we can. We all have jerseys (the expensive sewn on kind) and my son has a second jersey (because he wanted Kane on his back, instead of Hossa). We buy hats, flags, clocks, and plenty of concessions. When we can’t get to a game, we have Center Ice to watch. We are a hockey loving family and enjoy having a home town team to support. We will continue to support the THRASHERS even if it inadvertently supports the ownership. I would hope that the ownership would consider us lowly fans in their decisions. I realize that they only care about putting money in their pockets and don’t give a hoot about this team, and that is sad. *I* care about this team. *I* want to be able to drive an hour and a half, spend a boatload on parking and tickets and concessions, and take my family to watch their favorite team. I sure hope that the owners won’t take that away from us.
LAC
January 23rd, 2011
11:23 am
wally you are a COMPLETE IDIOT, Jeff has NEVER wanted or implied the team to move.
He has made Excellent points about the CRAP owners and IF you cannot see that, then you are proving that you. like you comment, are STUPID AS HELL !!!!!!!!!
Excellent Jeff, You speak the facts and exposed these little liars for what they really are. And lisa of the fan club is just their tool, nothing more.
hockeyman3944
January 23rd, 2011
12:55 pm
Now THAT would be a coup…Arthur Blank buying the? OK I’ll get off my cloud…BUT? Think if he did..Stability, willingness to ice a great product, make the city proud, market the team in a non-traditional market, be the talk of the town for a change and actually have people get on the bandwagon…POOF!! I just woke up and cursed the day the ASG and their sleaze ball owners ever brought the franchise here to end up breaking fans hearts! J***K Offs!
Southern Hockey Fan
January 23rd, 2011
4:09 pm
Canceling SportsSouth and emailing Gary Bettman right now. I urge everyone to do the same. Love the team and what Duds and Ramsay have done, but I’ve had enough: I’m out.
Mr. Tony Geinzer
January 23rd, 2011
4:41 pm
I hate to call a spade a spade, but, I wonder if the Thrashers and Hawks would have been better off with Ted Turner? Sadly, the Flames misfired and the Knights where a quantified success until the owners went to Quebec. I wish Hockey and Atlanta would have beared a Stanley Cup, but the lies are adding up about ASG and the truth is barrelling out in a hurry.
Freddie's Falcon
January 23rd, 2011
5:27 pm
insider: these guys are in over their heads, you get it straight.
BBOBB
January 23rd, 2011
6:24 pm
where have you been jeff – the asg has always done the opposite of whatever they deny.
DMR
January 23rd, 2011
6:28 pm
One Title in 149 Professional Seasons (Mark Bradley). Schultz is writing about how inept and what liars and hypocrites the ASG has been. See the correlation? Ownership and management in this town, with a few recent past exceptions….Blank/Dimitroff, Schuerholtz/Cox, have been the reasons for the lack of professional sports success in this town. There has been turns in the recent past, but the majority of the lack of success falls on the shoulders of groups like ASG. Go figure!
The Red Panty Pirate
January 23rd, 2011
6:36 pm
Jeff Schultz will never be happy until he personally runs the Thrashers out of Atlanta.
Pretty pitiful for someone who CLAIMS to be a hockey fan, but doesn’t even go to Thrasher games.
Why do I even subscribe to this freakin fishwrap anyway?
Only a LOSER columnist constantly bashes and attacks the hometown teams in print.
His name in this town is Jeff Schultz…..
Thrashers Reeling from Injuries, Season on the Brink | Hockey Independent
January 23rd, 2011
8:48 pm
[...] Nation bemoaning in great disgust what is starting to look like another season lost. And with the recent news of the ownership’s intent to sell the Thrashers all along, the already downtrodden and alienated fan-base is now swimming in a morass of negativity and [...]
stendek
January 23rd, 2011
9:08 pm
The owners would be doing all true local ice hockey fans a favor if they shipped these losers to Hamilton or Quebec. Since Bill and Chris have decided to ban criticism of Trashers my truthful posts follow each debacle on Yahoo Sports. This is latest:
A giveup job to end all giveup jobs by Trashers! What untalented pu$$ies these scumball oxygen wastes truly are. Even the staunchest apologists would struggle to finding anything of value in that fiasco! Hell! Losers did not even bother going through motions. Just flat out gave up! Wah wah wah. Excuses excuses excuses. What bullshet! No player with NHL caliber talent. No offense. No defense. No defense. Hearts have bewen AWOL since early in season. Playoffs? Playoffs my a$$! Cellar space better be vacant. Trashers on way!
Just send me fumigation bill Jeff. Know odor was foul.
STENDEK
stendek
January 23rd, 2011
9:16 pm
I am still mad as Hell Jeff…
http://stendek77.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/thrashers-go-through-motions-in-giveup-loss-to-tampa-bay/
PaulM
January 23rd, 2011
9:23 pm
Ted Turner got us into this mess by getting AOL to give the club to his drinking buddies, son, and son-in-law. Since his name is on the baseball stadium, he owes it to Atlanta to clean up this mess by stepping in and buying out the bums. I’m sure the ASG can own a sports bar in Cumming together – much more their speed.
Brendan
January 23rd, 2011
10:37 pm
DMR, I’m not sure I understand your post. Are you saying Jeff Schultz said the AS, LLC is responsible for the losses by the Braves and Falcons, too? Even if he said that, (and I don’t think he did,) how could the AS,LLC be responsible for anything but what they’ve owned? I can see blaming the AS, LLC for the years of mismanagement of the Hawks by Billy Knight. I can see blaming the AS, LLC for the years of mismanagement by Don Waddel of the Thrashers, and the AS, LLC’s utter disregard of the Thrashers, in general. For that, yes … the AS, LLC can be blamed. They owned those teams. They ran them. The decisions and inactions of the owners of the Hawks and Thrashers reside with them. But, the AS,LLC only has to answer of the years in which they owned the Hawks and Thrashers. No one can pin the losses and failed seasons of the Hawks and Thrashers on the AS, LLC that occured prior to the AS,LLC assuming control of those teams. That’d be absurd. That’d be like blaming Ronald McDonald if you got a bad cheeseburger.
It’d be sad, if the AS,LLC refused to acknowledge responsibility for what has happened on their watch. And not everything that has happened has been bad. The Hawks had a fabulous 7-game series with the World Champion Boston Celtics, a few years back. They’ve won several playoff series. That’s some success that has occured during their Administration. The Thrashers made the playoffs in 2007. That’s, technically, a success, even though the Thrashers got swept, and gave away the farm in a series of regrettable trade deadline moves that year, that ultimately left the franchise with no 1st round pick in 2007 and no 2nd round pick in 2008. The 2nd round pick they lost in 2007 wasn’t part of a trade deadline move. They had earlier coughed up that pick to get D-man Vitaly Vishnevsky, (from the Anaheim Ducks, who couldn’t sign Vishnevsky prior to arbitration–the Ducks balked at the arbitrator’s award, and traded his rights to Atlanta for a 2nd round pick in 2007) whom the Thrashers did move at the deadline … for … you know it. Say it with me … Center Eric Belanger. Belanger’s agent wouldn’t give the Thrashers the time of day in offseason contract negotiations, when Belanger would become an unrestricted free agent, ultimately signing with the Minnesota Wild.
The Joker
January 24th, 2011
8:37 am
I would like to break the other fingers of the guy sitting in the middle….These guys look like a bunch of *you know what* wonder what goes on behind close doors???? And no, I’m not talking about hockey or basketball, I’m talking about who’s on top and who’s on bottom…if you catch my drift…..
JR
January 24th, 2011
3:29 pm
Want to bring in the fans? Spend money, get some better players. There is a viscious cycle here. Ownership doesn’t want tpo spend until the attendence at games gets better. Fans don’t want to attend the games untl the team gets better. Someone has to make the first move. It is unlikely that the fans will given that most fans act independently of others. Management needs to spend money to break the impasse. At that point, when winning starts, “they will come”.
DawgDad
January 24th, 2011
5:10 pm
Stop with the blaming the fans nonsense. Attendance here matters not one whit; these owners were interested in buying low and selling high, not in establishing and maintaining a relevant NHL franchise in Atlanta. They’ve played Atlanta hockey fans for pure fools for years.
They will sell, the questions are to whom and is there any hope at all of keeping the franchise here in Atlanta? For now, our interests are served by them having botched things up so badly they may be stuck running this mess of a team in Atlanta while the court cases play out. Even if a local owner does step up these ASG-holes may botch up the team so bad it will take years to build a playoff roster. Let me ask you, if you were Dustin Byfuglien or Andrew Ladd would YOU sign here under these conditions? You’d have to be a complete fool, like me, the typical fan loyally following this mess for a decade.
DD
January 24th, 2011
6:23 pm
Go to all the Thrashers games you can go to this year because they may not be in Atlanta next season. The road trip to Atlanta is bad enough. I cannot do the road trip to Winnipeg.
Pekka Rinne carrying the Preds higher and higher – Monday’s notes | predatorsplayofftickets.com
January 24th, 2011
6:28 pm
[...] Atlanta Spirit lied to us about Thrashers? Go figure – Atlanta Journal ConstitutionUnfortunate truths are coming out of Atlanta – the ownership and management of the Thrashers have been flat-out lying to the sports fans in that city for years. [...]
The State of the Thrasherville Union address | Atlanta Thrashers: Ice Man
January 24th, 2011
9:12 pm
[...] a member abruptly rises from his seat and shouts…”THEY LIE”! [...]
big bob
January 26th, 2011
10:17 am
what kind of self respecting man would put the “thug” loser game of pro basketball above the true team sport of hockey ,, bunch white dude black wanna bees.. LYING LOSERS…. DON WADDELL BUTT PIRATE WHY IS HE HERE .. IF THEY WANT TO SAVESOME $$$$$ MAKE HIM CLEAN THE URINALS AT THE NBA GAMES
Trade focus (part I): Thrashers need help but will they get it? | Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2011
7:50 am
[...] the Atlanta Spirit once again busy litigating and lying, I thought this would be a good time for the rest of us to actually focus on their [...]