Collapse of Hawks’ sale is just one more Spirit nightmare
Alex Meruelo is out as Hawks' owner. That means ...
(Updated at 5:45 p.m.)
The only thing worse than bad ownership in professional sports is uncertain ownership. We have been cursed with both.
The sale of the Hawks from the Atlanta Spirit to Alex Meruelo has gone from in danger of falling apart to officially dead. Our Tim Tucker reports that the deal was terminated by mutual agreement.
This is what it means to you: There is nobody minding the office. Not Meruelo, who presumably never had the funding and/or wouldn’t provide the financial guarantees as laid out by the NBA to purchase a franchise, his claims to the contrary not withstanding. His purchase was announced Aug. 7. The dissolution of deal was revealed 89 days later on Nov. 4. This lasted only slightly
... These guys are back running the show.
longer than a Kim Kardashian marriage (72 days) — the only problem being that most consider this closer to real life.
Not the Atlanta Spirit. They weaseled out of NHL ownership and sent the Thrashers to Winnipeg, and now they’re looking to liquidate themselves of the Hawks and Philips Arena’s operating rights so they can get out of the sports business.
Not even Hawks’ employees, who aren’t in a position to make decisions because they don’t know who their boss is or what
Kim Kardashian's marriage to Kris Humphries lasted nearly as long as Meruelo's "ownership."
their boss wants.
One of the Spirit’s partners, Bruce Levenson, released a statement, saying: “The Atlanta Hawks are no longer for sale. We’re excited to remain as owners of the Hawks and are committed to building on our string of four straight playoff appearances.”
And why shouldn’t we believe Levenson? Doesn’t he always speak the truth?
(Pause for effect.)
And if you were trying to sell a property, wouldn’t you be “excited” when that deal fell apart?
(Pause again.)
The Spirit basically has gone from bad ownership to relative absentee ownership because their primary objective now is to sell the team, not improve it.
Granted, the NBA is in a lockout, and there is no sign of that ending any time soon. The league already has canceled a month’s worth of games. In that sense, a case could be made that the Hawks haven’t lost any ground during this expanded offseason. But other NBA teams can at least look at their roster, their payroll and their coaching staff and plan for the future. They can prepare themselves for next season under a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Hawks? Well, imagine that you owned a team and you were looking to sell it. Your focus would be on finding a buyer, cutting overhead and maybe dusting the office furniture and vacuuming the rugs for any interested party who wanted to give the place the once over. It certainly wouldn’t be in investing time, money and resources to improve the product or cater to the fan base.
The problems created by Meruelo’s exit are compounded by a depressed economy, one that is thin on potential sports owners and ownership groups. It follows that Levenson, Michael Gearon, et. al. likely will continue in the executive suite for sometime. The Atlanta Spirit’s attempts to leave have become as big a headache as their attempt at sports ownership.
It’s the nightmare that won’t end.
By Jeff Schultz
• Earlier: Weekend Predictions: Guaranteed winners (I’m serious this time)
• Earlier: Alabama-LSU have what everybody else wants — a great coach
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168 comments Add your comment
dumb
November 4th, 2011
5:13 pm
not gonna do it
sowega
November 4th, 2011
5:16 pm
Sad state of affairs for what should be a rock solid franchise in a cith the size of Atlanta
sowega
November 4th, 2011
5:16 pm
I meant city
ryan
November 4th, 2011
5:20 pm
What a crock of Sh!t i am no longer a Hawks fan don’t care if they move to St. Louis ASG can go to strait to hell .
tckr83
November 4th, 2011
5:20 pm
Atlanta Hawks… the Los Angeles Dodger of the NBA. Sell the team ASG, the fans (those left anyway) hate you!
Hawks
November 4th, 2011
5:22 pm
Hopefully someone with adequate $$$ will buy 100% from these bozos. Muruelo was only a positive if he had cash and bought 100%, neither of which was case. Next buyer may need to buy from bankruptcy trustee. How long until next lawsuit among the various ASG owners. If this ultimately causes complete divestment quicker it is a blessing. Dont believe ” The Hawks are not for sale!” for a moment. If there is anything we know about ASG it is that they are proven habitual liars.
John
November 4th, 2011
5:22 pm
Liberty Media and the Atlanta Spirit need to get out of town. They are causing nothing but problems for the Braves and Hawks.
wxwax
November 4th, 2011
5:23 pm
This is good news, not bad news.
The last thing the Hawks need is another under-funded owner.
If Meruelo doesn’t have enough bucks to satisfy the NBA, then it’s a good thing he won’t own the team. Be happy, not sad.
lewis
November 4th, 2011
5:23 pm
i hate spirit group
tckr83
November 4th, 2011
5:23 pm
Seriously, the NBA has to do something about this… don’t they? Stick Will Ferrell in the lineup and call us the Atlanta Tropics… this is ridiculous. Talk about an ownership that is absolutely ruining a professional franchise in a state/city that loves basketball. Words can’t describe my feelings right now!
Paul From Milton
November 4th, 2011
5:25 pm
I think the future sale depends on where the revenue split ultimately falls. If it is such that it provides a good ROI and cash flow then the Hawks should sell pretty quickly. Otherwise, look for a lot more pictures of the ASG.
Spyro
November 4th, 2011
5:25 pm
Let me repeat what I said on the other blog:
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-
wxwax
November 4th, 2011
5:26 pm
Let the Spirit find a buyer who can actually afford to run an NBA team.
I’m glad the league is setting a high threshold. While this may look bad right now, it is in fact good for the future stability of the Hawks.
The league is making sure the next owner of the Hawks will be rich enough to actually make the team competitive. We don’t need more penny-pinchers.
Atlantas Air Farce
November 4th, 2011
5:26 pm
The Hawks should be sold at auction on the Fulton County courthouse steps like so many other properties in this state.
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
November 4th, 2011
5:28 pm
I’m glad I’m not a basketball fan or I would be furious.
ryan
November 4th, 2011
5:28 pm
Atlanta has has worst owners it just seems like nothing will ever change we are stuck while other teams make big moves just have same old same old .
wxwax
November 4th, 2011
5:30 pm
Why is everyone so angry that a potential bad owner has been axed?
If Meruelo was going to be under-funded and couldn’t support that Hawks properly, what makes him better than the Spirit?
I don’t get it. He was no better than the Spirit.
GT Alum
November 4th, 2011
5:30 pm
Well, so far, they’re saying the Hawks are no longer for sale. Kinda like they told us the Hawks weren’t for sale before they announced this agreement. And how they did everything to keep the Thrashers in town.
That picture should be captioned Larry, Moe And Curly.
GT Alum
November 4th, 2011
5:37 pm
Wxwax – People are just frustrated at the setback. I haven’t seen anyone complaining that the NBA was wrong to axe the sale, just frustration at not being rid of ASG. It’s not like they have the money (or the intelligence) to run a sports franchise.
Davey
November 4th, 2011
5:39 pm
The best action Atlanta Fans can take….
Non-Occupancy Phillip’s Arena!!!!!!
That is whenever the lockout ends or this team is sold.
Ha-Ha
KSU Alum
November 4th, 2011
5:43 pm
NOOOOOOOO!!!!1!1!!!
When, God? When will you free us from these evil, franchise-destroying bastards?
Vol4ever
November 4th, 2011
5:43 pm
IM done after 30 years…….enough with all this crap with the Hawks, year after year of BS and the last 5 have been the worst. I have better things to do starting this winter…..they wont be playing in 2011 anyway.
glacialspeed
November 4th, 2011
5:44 pm
FIRE LIBERTY MEDIA!!!!
ryan
November 4th, 2011
5:46 pm
Go Falcons screw the other teams .
Harry Hawk
November 4th, 2011
5:46 pm
I knew these buffoons would still be owning the team as soon as there were issues with the sale.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawks moved. That’s how bad Atlanta Spirit Group, LLC. has been for Atlanta. I mean, how the hell can any Hawks fan who isn’t high on chemicals feel excited about this team? Read this tripe:
“The Atlanta Hawks are no longer for sale,” Levenson said in a statement. “We’re excited to remain as owners of the Hawks and are committed to building on our string of four straight playoff appearances.”
Ho-ho! The Hawks aren’t up for sale anymore! We wouldn’t dare sell this team. We’re so excited to own this team! Ooooh! Four straight playoff appearances!
Levenson should have said this:
“Bend over and take it.”
Worksoutforme
November 4th, 2011
5:47 pm
My boycott of Philips can continue. I will not set foot in that building until it is owned by someone else. ASG do not deserve any of my money, and I hope they all rot in hell.
Davey
November 4th, 2011
5:47 pm
Philips Arena (Correction)…
Just don’t occupy it.
Heath
November 4th, 2011
5:50 pm
Go Thrashers! And take the Hawks with you!!!
wxwax
November 4th, 2011
5:50 pm
GT Alum — thanks for the explanation. It makes sense!
Bone
November 4th, 2011
5:51 pm
What a total screwup! This city is a total screwup when it comes to professional sports! PLEASE HAVE ALL TEAMS LEAVE THIS CITY AND LET’S START OVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!
Boyz From North Ave
November 4th, 2011
5:53 pm
Lets face it….we gots nowhere to go but UP…..woot.
John
November 4th, 2011
5:58 pm
Well the Hawks weren’t gonna go anywhere anyway if they were sold to Meruelo so I think Meruelo gets the better deal by not having the Hawks to have to deal with.
Hoop Doggy Dog
November 4th, 2011
5:59 pm
LOL at all those people saying Alex MerFAILo was worth $14 billion (probably more like $14 dollars.)
If ASG keeps embarrassing this organization with their poor decision-making skills, we’d be lucky if Jesus Christ brought the team.
Hoop Doggy Dog
November 4th, 2011
5:59 pm
Arthur Blank to the RESCUE!
Jeff Schultz
November 4th, 2011
6:01 pm
Folks, I think I’ve done my final update. This whole process has been just sick.
GT Alum
November 4th, 2011
6:02 pm
Davey -
Looking at the Hawks’ attendance figures, I’d say many fans are already taking that approach, and I’d expect it to continue if the Hawks haven’t been sold by the next time the team plays.
The only concern is that the NBA, ASG and a new owner use low attendance to justify moving the team. It’s not like ASG cares about Atlanta fans, and the NBA has shown they won’t hesitate to let owners who have run their teams into the ground move the team to another city.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 4th, 2011
6:05 pm
The ASG have found their new minority partner, haven’t you heard?
His name is Joe Johnson.
Bluestreak
November 4th, 2011
6:05 pm
If they can screw something up, they’ll find a way to do it. They can’t even get out of the business without finding a way to stay in.
They all may be great businessmen, but they all look like the business end of a horse they way they can’t handle the sports team(s) right.
Ponzi Scheme
November 4th, 2011
6:05 pm
Occupy Philips Arena
Steve
November 4th, 2011
6:06 pm
Worst ownership in sports a bad gm been fired by seattle dallas and milwaukee lousy unproven coach worst contract in sports johnson and one thats not too far behine williams letting the trashers go who I feel has young talent just needed a gm but the spirit thought waddell was a good gm what a joke. ASP is a joke
tmc
November 4th, 2011
6:06 pm
from the department of the redundancy department:
The Atlanta Spirit screw up something else… Really? really.
extremus
November 4th, 2011
6:08 pm
The Hawks’ failed sale will likely be a small footnote on the gravestone of the NBA. Ah, at this point who really cares about the NBA as a whole anymore; the entire league is dead where I’m concerned, and they only have themselves and the grossly hedonistic, hip hop culture they’ve nurtured for years to blame. Its death would be welcome and hopefully restore some sense of responsibility and accountability to other pro sports leagues.
Joe Bob Friday
November 4th, 2011
6:08 pm
Great news! This means the Spirit Squad gets to eat more losses while Phillips sits empty. You reap what you sow, Levenson/Gearon/et al
Patrick
November 4th, 2011
6:08 pm
Well, there goes any opportunity I had to see a game this year at Phillips Arena, as I’m NOT going to any events owned by these pieces of you know what who ruined hockey here.
Davey
November 4th, 2011
6:09 pm
GT Alum -
Thanks for the response. Moving the team would be a sad day for the city. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. Losing two NHL teams over the years is enough.
You’ve probably heard me say it before and I’ll say it again:
This ASG has been the most dysfunctional yet fully operational group I’ve ever seen.
baffled
November 4th, 2011
6:13 pm
How can Levenson and cry baby Gearon think that they can own the Hawks after costing the city a major professional sports franchise? Are they expecting to just sit courtside and have everyone else in the building (to the extent there’s anyone willing to buy a Hawks ticket from them) act like they don’t deserve our derision?
BigdaddyJ
November 4th, 2011
6:15 pm
Love the comment -”we are looking forward to extending our playoff streak”. Really? How about trying for a title? They trashed the Thrashers and now we are stuck with them. I rather the Hawks move than have to support anything the Spirit Group has to offer.
Ted M
November 4th, 2011
6:24 pm
Wow, now I really want to see the NBA cancel the season. Atlanta sports are cursed.
Can anybody…Jeff…anybody make my day?
I would like to know how much money the Atl Spirit has lost (if any). I hope they have lost 10s of millions.
crabbyjacket
November 4th, 2011
6:25 pm
Steve,
Punctuation is your friend.
Big Wally
November 4th, 2011
6:34 pm
Can you say Winnipeg Hawks?
Big Wally
November 4th, 2011
6:35 pm
It’s easy to know when the Atlanta Spirit Group is lying – their lips will be moving.
dre
November 4th, 2011
6:38 pm
I am completely shocked – shocked that none of you said “first!” like an idiot.
jarvis
November 4th, 2011
6:43 pm
G-d-it!
JSS
November 4th, 2011
6:51 pm
Well after all of the vein juggling and posturing here in commentaries (using the term lightly); where are the fans of professional basketball really at now in terms of the future?
As obvious that it is that they can’t run franchises; it is even more mind-blogging that they cannot even hire competent people to even sell one! Where does the point come that the league steps in like they did in New Orleans?
CONservative Johnson
November 4th, 2011
6:56 pm
Alex “Herman Cain” Meruelo’s “purchase” has fallen through. Who didn’t see that coming? I know I did!
Rutherford Seydel
November 4th, 2011
6:56 pm
Yeah!!!! I’m still a big shot! Suck it world!
Vain Jangling
November 4th, 2011
6:58 pm
Say, whatever happened to John Drew? I used to love his post-game interviews. Did anyone ever figure out what language he was speaking?
PTC DAWG
November 4th, 2011
6:59 pm
What are the “Hawks”?
ASG = garbage
November 4th, 2011
7:00 pm
This group of bozos is the worst thing to ever happen to Atlanta sports. It’s to the point where words can no longer describe how bad they’ve been.
smooth Eddie Peskowitz
November 4th, 2011
7:04 pm
Rutherford, you little punk. I’m going to hunt you down and beat you like a rented mule. I WILL get that $20 back.
Vain Jangling
November 4th, 2011
7:04 pm
If only daddy’s money hadn’t ran out. Well, who’s for sushi?
Jeff
November 4th, 2011
7:04 pm
Joe Johnson owns the Hawks.
shawn
November 4th, 2011
7:05 pm
ASG is the biggest liar in Atlanta sport history. Please, make these idiots go away…
Greg
November 4th, 2011
7:07 pm
I hope that every member of the Atlanta Spirit Group ends up bankrupt, and has to end up living with those tent bums downtown! LETS GO THRASHERS— the thrashers will never die in my heart! FU SPIRIT YOU BUMS! BRING HOCKEY BACK TO ATLANTA!
JSS
November 4th, 2011
7:10 pm
John Drew is driving cabs… And like most late 70’s Coke heads, he was a functioning illiterate most of the time…
Falclone
November 4th, 2011
7:25 pm
Come on Arthur…Belly up to the bar and end our suffering!! You have infected us all with “Falcon Fever” the likes of which we have not known since the hay days of Tommy Nobis.. Hell….we can double up some players even…Lets see…John Abraham as point guard….Matt Ryan as an outside shooter..and….I could go on….
Buy the Hawks from theswe low-life money mongers and hell…I’ll even stop by and look at all them fish on the way to a game…
SmyrnaBob
November 4th, 2011
7:29 pm
Frank McCourt might have some credit soon. But seriously it is better that this guy was never involved if he could not afford them.
Tom Lysiak
November 4th, 2011
7:35 pm
Love that sweet tasting karma these scumbags are wallowing in. The old heart warms looking at the blank nights on the Philips Arena “calendar of events”. The only fitting end for hockey fans would be for the Atlanta Suing Group to have to default before someone with a clue steps in, losing every possible dime.
What a monument to stepping up from fantasy league teams to the real thing, only because you have some money……
B. Thenet
November 4th, 2011
7:36 pm
All I know is this: Someone is going to get sued over this.
At the very least these morons are going to generate some business for the economy with their lawyers(provided they do not end up suing their own lawyers again of course)
GT
November 4th, 2011
7:37 pm
Again, let me say its the NBA, no body cares
GT Alum
November 4th, 2011
7:37 pm
Maybe the lockout will drag on and JJ will get injured playing in another league, which will allow us to void his contract.
CrazyDiamond
November 4th, 2011
7:49 pm
We are so screwed.
Matt the Brave
November 4th, 2011
8:07 pm
Man, I wonder if ole Teddy boy has enough dough to buy the Hawks back.
(STILL) 2-10 Against Ranked Teams
November 4th, 2011
8:08 pm
Yeeeeaaaaahhhh!!!!! Oh, there is a God afterall…..Thank you Sweet Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!!!
Let the “Spirit” (pun intended) bleed money until they can bleed no more. This is what they deserve for stabbing all the Thrashers fans in the back.
Hope they go bankrupt, and if the Hawks leave the ATL…..who cares?? NBA sucks anyway. But I bet Mayor Kasim Reed won’t be so cavalier if the basketball team leaves the city…..
(STILL) 2-10 Against Ranked Teams
November 4th, 2011
8:13 pm
Hey, maybe Schultz is on to something……maybe Kim Kardashian could buy the team…..she’s just as stupid as the 3 losers of the ASG in the picture above…..
….but at least she’s something pleasant to look at!!!
Objective fan
November 4th, 2011
8:17 pm
EXTEND THE LOCKOUT!!!!!! Go away until 2015!!!!!
cukooforkovalchuk
November 4th, 2011
8:27 pm
The only thing that would make this news better would be if it somehow cost Gary Bettman money. Oh, and if the story came with figures about how much ASG was losing per day due to the lockout. This story warms my heart.
Ezekiel
November 4th, 2011
8:32 pm
All that is left to figure out is who has the biggest boobs.. Kim or ASG?? How do you feel about that, Jeff?
shankit
November 4th, 2011
8:40 pm
Schultzie – Off the subject, but a good article for Sunday
Assuming the Dawgs win Satdy,
After Satdy nite, Mark Richt and the Dawgs will have the
second longest winning streak in the SEC, and I believe
including Oklahoma, Clemson, Ga. Tech, Wisconsin, Michigan State,
Southern Cal, and a host of others.
(STILL) 2-10 Against Ranked Teams
November 4th, 2011
8:54 pm
shankit….this is a Hawks blog…
as for UGA (and I am a UGA fan)……wake me up when they beat a RANKED team!!!!
until then….FIRE MARK RICHT!!!
Octoman
November 4th, 2011
9:15 pm
Don’t care about the Hawks, don’t care about the NBA to begin with and then one reads about this kind of nonsense going on. Who can take it seriously?
Sara
November 4th, 2011
9:35 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Fitting that about the only thing going on at Philips this year will be the Circus.
GT Alum
November 4th, 2011
9:50 pm
(STILL) 2-10 Against Ranked Teams -
Around here, I could just as well say who gives a sh*t about hockey. Bet there’s more people in this city that care about basketball than ice hockey. And the Hawks at least have over 40 years of history in this city.
What?
November 4th, 2011
9:57 pm
How are the Thrashers doing this year? I have been focusing on college football.
Chasjons
November 4th, 2011
10:06 pm
So hard to remain a Hawks fan after 30 years of watching a failed product. The only glory days were the Nique years. Now we have to worry about ownership more than anything. At least we have Blank for the Falcons and a good group of guys running the show for the Braves albeit with budget constraints from Liberty Media. Hawks are the black sheep.
Wayne stuck in AL
November 4th, 2011
10:07 pm
JEFF:
I’m enjoying the hell out of this…One question: would Gearon & Levenson lose LESS or MORE money the longer the NBA lockout goes?
Who Cares?
November 4th, 2011
10:18 pm
The Hawks have never and will never be relevant. Just leave town and take the ASG with you. Neither of you will be missed!
cpsman_atlanta
November 4th, 2011
10:28 pm
BOYCOTT ATLANTA SPIRIT GROUP!!!!
Let me repeat again, BOYCOTT ATLANTA SPIRIT GROUP!!!!
zulu
November 4th, 2011
10:38 pm
I would be shocked to hear that any of these idiots made their own money. Each must have had to get the cash from their daddy.
kreedham
November 4th, 2011
10:43 pm
Since the lockout still goes on and the ASG is still(back) in control look for the layoffs at Hawks HQ to begin!
kirkinga
November 4th, 2011
10:53 pm
I blame the NBA every bit as much as ASG.
It seems to me that the very first threshold a prospective owner should have to meet is whether or not s/he has the money to purchase. It should be that way so as to avoid upsetting the fans.
I thought there were people who specialized in discreetly matching teams on the market with interested and qualified people looking to buy a pro franchise? Why didn’t ASG use the same guy That Time Warner used when it wanted to sale the Braves, Hawks, and Thrashers?
lukifurcub
November 4th, 2011
10:54 pm
If I’m not mistaken, wouldn’t if a new owner wanted to move the hawks, he would have to pay off all the bonds and loans on Phillips Arena, since they were the reason it was built in the first place. I was thinking that them playing until it was completely paid off was a condition of it being built.
And I was really hoping to get rid of the ASG. I need to get to a Glad’s game so I can get one of the not moving to Canada shirts.
tonyb
November 4th, 2011
11:11 pm
Jeff, you mean sick like the sick we all felt watching a little nothing town in Canada make off with our NHL franchise because of these owners who dare call themselves ATLANTA Spirit Group. If Hawk fans are smart, they award this group with an empty building night after night.
WitStream
November 4th, 2011
11:36 pm
I think the ASG is a joke just like the next guy, but this particular twist is clearly not their fault. Trying to spin it like that jackasses they are is though, I guess
As an aside, I still can’t believe Joe Johnson was given a max contract. When, oh when can I root for this team again?
david
November 4th, 2011
11:41 pm
There is not going to be an NBA season this. How soon before the ASG goes to the mayor to raise taxes to pay for the arena’s losses? Maybe Reed should of done something to keep the Thrashers from moving? I’m sure it will be debated during the next election.
If the NBA allowed the Sonics to leave Seattle, they will not stop the Hawks from leaving Atlanta. Kansas City, Louisville, Anaheim, and Las Vegas are cities that want an NBA team. The Hawks will be gone by 2014.
david
November 4th, 2011
11:42 pm
There is not going to be an NBA season this year. How soon before the ASG goes to the mayor to raise taxes to pay for the arena’s losses? Maybe Reed should of done something to keep the Thrashers from moving? I’m sure it will be debated during the next election.
If the NBA allowed the Sonics to leave Seattle, they will not stop the Hawks from leaving Atlanta. Kansas City, Louisville, Anaheim, and Las Vegas are cities that want an NBA team. The Hawks will be gone by 2014.
Gabriel
November 4th, 2011
11:50 pm
Watch the Spirit get hurt, watch them!
Jamal Crawford
November 5th, 2011
12:03 am
SEE YA!
Josh Smith
November 5th, 2011
12:05 am
Don’t worry guys. I’m working on my jumper as we speak!
schultz likes ASG
November 5th, 2011
12:08 am
Better idea for the Three stooges of basketball owners….if ever play all hawk fans come in wear Home thrashers uniforms under u shirt so when enter u can whip off shirt n show the thrashers jersey all game lets see them eject all 20,000 folks out n try take it from U….and wave and it around n Boo the Owners so they get upset and cry!
EuroHawk
November 5th, 2011
12:13 am
This makes me just sick. Arthur Blank was trying to purchase the Braves a few years ago. I really hope he is interested in owning a basketball team. There is so much potential for an NBA franchise in Atlanta, the city does not deserve to have such cra**y owners like the Spirit Group. I really want the Hawks to stay here but they need the owners who actually give a damn…
sIdney c
November 5th, 2011
12:20 am
The Atlanta Spirit group is the worst group of Frat boys/owners who really don’t care about their city or their fans.
They screwed the hockey fans of this city and i hope they lose every freking dime they have because they are a bunch of losers.
T Dog
November 5th, 2011
12:27 am
Interesting. I thought they did away with pro basketball………yawn………..who cares? I honestly don’t care if I never see another pro basketball game again.
Reality Check
November 5th, 2011
1:05 am
Blank can’t buy the Hawks. Rules say one person can’t own an NFL and NBA team in the same market.
Sad but True
November 5th, 2011
1:10 am
Hate to break it to you, but ASG actually saves money via the lockout, they’re one of the 23 of 30 that lose money by operating this year. This group reminds me of Rebeillion (Lies), every time you close your eyes, lies, lies.
tiger7_88
November 5th, 2011
1:17 am
Who do I blame above all? Ted Turner, that’s who. Because he sold everything he had so that he could produce Captain Planet and give $1 billion to the United Nations.
Yes, the UNITED FREAKIN’ NATIONS.
Dang, Ted Turner got dumb as hell when he got old.
Whopper Dawg
November 5th, 2011
1:50 am
In the words of Jerry Clower,
Shoot up here among us, one of us has got to have some relief.
UGASlobberknocker
November 5th, 2011
2:07 am
I think its hilarious that the Spirit is still stuck with the team during the lockout..I hope they lose every dime they have. We would be better off to go the route Charlotte went..let the team with the crappy owner go to aonother city, then get a new start with an expansion franchise..maybe thats the way to go.
day old fries
November 5th, 2011
2:32 am
i was looking forward to the pizza
M
November 5th, 2011
2:49 am
I am disappointed, this guy was the real deal, I know because I had a chance to meet him. He was serious about what he wanted. Atlanta needs to go after this guy and get him back. Wow he had the money baby. He wanted much for the city.
BRAD LYONS
November 5th, 2011
3:51 am
After getting a HUGE run-around on the Thrashers and getting my money back—I can’t wait for the rest of the ASG to go down in a burning disaster. I hope these fools go bankrupt and get run out of this city after their lies to the fans of Atlanta. They screwed us out of a hockey team—they bought the team SOLELY to get an NBA franchise, and sold the Thrashers off immediately—well tried to, but couldn’t for years. The general public blamed the fans, but those of us that know the situation know it wasn’t the fans fault. I DESERVE A FACE TO FACE MEETING WTIH THESE FOOLS TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA. I DEMAND TO GET IN THEIR FACE AND LET THEM HEAR IT FROM ME.
Charlie Criss
November 5th, 2011
4:18 am
Me and spudd will buy the team.
Andrew
November 5th, 2011
7:23 am
Winnipeg doesn’t want basketball too?
The Ghost of Pistol Pete Maravich
November 5th, 2011
7:26 am
Hawks in turmoil? NBA lockout continues? Suits me.
Hell, suits me just fine.
Less traffic downtown. Less panhandlers.
My ideal Christmas (or Xmas or holiday or whatever politically correct season you want) present would be the cancellation of the entire NBA season, and the relocation of the Hawks to anywhere else.
Manny
November 5th, 2011
7:34 am
This is the failure of the NBA lockout, not the ASG. I can’t blame Meruelo, either. I mean, there may not be a season and the NBA wants Meruelo to sign on with $90 million guarantee with no hint as to ROI? He’s no fool!
It’s the ASG that’s left holding the bag. They can’t sell the team because of the lockout.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
7:48 am
Levenson lied again. “the Hawks are not for sale”! Who does he think he is talking to, a 4yr old? If you think nobody showed up for games last yeat, just wait till this season starts. You will be able to have hand grenade practice at Phillips and not hurt anyone.
why are you so stupid?
November 5th, 2011
7:53 am
I really wish people will stop being yo stupid. ASG hasn’t been the best to hockey, but to Hoops in Atlanta they have spent money, removed Billy Knight, and created a team that has been in the NBA’s elite 8 in the past few seasons and four playoff years striaght. Have the Falcons done that? NO. Braves? NO.
So they keep the Hawks and Arena, how about you look at the team and support them, and maybe just maybe someone else will want to buy them or ASG wil keep spending money on the team.
Occupy your Brain, don’t be a stupid fan (or person in general) and learn how to merge in traffic, look at the record of the most successful pro team in the city and pay attention to the facts.
GT
November 5th, 2011
8:25 am
The south is a college sports kind of place. The college game has been around for over 100 years. The south produces more home grown athletes than the other parts of the country, we don’t have to pay to have talent shipped in, or maybe we pay but don’t ship is more accurate.
The pro sports thing is a northern habit imposed on the south like palm trees in New York. It is not natural to start with. Then you have local writers, from other places, if that makes any sense ranting about the conduct of mercenary owners who practically go bankrupt for the pleasure of transplanted audiences. There is no market for hockey in this town, and obviously no market for a buyer of an NBA team. I direct your attention to the NBA and suggest the failure of this product is not the local franchise but the corporation that creates the product. I also would add this may not be a negative evaluation on the character of this town that stuff like this does not sell well.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
8:30 am
why are you so stupid……….I don’t know. Maybe it is reading post from idiots like you? Playing in 4 straight playoffs in a league that almost all the teams get in is not turning the fans on. Maybe you have not noticed, the ASG is nonfunctional. When ownership lies to its fans everytime they open their mouths, it tends to make even us “stupid” folks look for other ways to spend our money. My guess is that you work for the ASG.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
8:34 am
GT…..I do not agree with everything you just said but the marketing of the NBA is a disaster, I will agree. And the ASG is at the bottom of that disaster, league wide.
William
November 5th, 2011
8:35 am
What’s the NBA?
Ben
November 5th, 2011
8:45 am
Unreal. The ASG are complete epic fails. They literally fail at failing.
If we lose the Hawks they should be banned from the state.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
8:47 am
William……….the NBA is a players run league with the motto of “me first, me always” as their battle cry!
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
8:48 am
Ben…….The ASG “literally fails at failing”. Now that is classic! Well said.
GT
November 5th, 2011
9:01 am
The foundation of my argument is if there was value in these teams, Atlanta is a town of several million people, no buyers. Step up and buy the pony if you like the ride. Both teams were for sale, big sign in front of them, and bargain basement pricing. The local press loses money when the hockey team leaves town, less to report, less ads sold. Ted Turner bought these teams because all he had to sale on his minor league television cable at the time was old movies. His losses were mitigated because he wasn’t in it for this community he was looking for product to sell just like the AJC , only they don’t put up the money to buy the rights to what they sell, they just complain. Nobody should be shamed into stupid business moves for the sake of what is really not a true picture of what Atlanta has ever cared about. These articles come from vengeful writers and reporters on television and radio, who no longer have the welfare of local businessmen to support their livelihood.
Sippa
November 5th, 2011
9:31 am
“The Atlanta Hawks are no longer for sale,” Levenson said in a statement. “We’re excited to remain as owners of the Hawks and are committed to building on our string of four straight playoff appearances.”
‘EXCITED’ HA! LMSFAO!! lol!!! Thanks Levenson, my kids got a great laugh this morning when I spit out my cereal all over the table when I read that!!!!!! So one day you were excited to get the money from the sale, next day you’re excited to remain as owners?? HOLY F ING LOL!!!
You stupid muther f ers ruined basketball in Atlanta. If it wasn’t for this f ing lockout the transaction would have happened. F ALL Y ALL IDIOTS!!!
R. Stroztradamus
November 5th, 2011
9:32 am
As if every sports fan in Atlanta didn’t see this coming. Besides, wasn’t Don Waddell involved in the Hawks sales process? Has Don Waddell done anything other than destroy sports franchises in Atlanta?
The Spirit Clowns are like relatives that keep asking for money, they just don’t go away.
Sippa
November 5th, 2011
9:34 am
If Atlanta Spirit Group owned a funeral home nobody would die.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
9:37 am
GT…….I don’t believe the motivation of the AJC is vengeful. It is just as fed up as the fan base on the incompetence of the ASG. They are just reporting what we all know is the true spirt of the ASG. There are no real buyers for the NBA product because the NBA product can’t be sold as it is now being marketed. In this town or any other town in America. The guys with the big bucks. to buy are not fooled by this worthless product. The NBA is in a death spirial. Fans have had enough. When you combine that with the nonfunctional ASG you are trying to sell buggy whips and stagecoaches. Good luck with that!
R. Stroz
November 5th, 2011
9:41 am
GT – Would you have purchased the hockey team under these terms?
You have to pay “Philips Arena Operations” 120% of the “direct costs” of hosting each game.
You receive NONE of the concession, parking, or merchandise revenue from each game. All of this revenue would go to the “Philips Arena Operations” unit as well.
You would pay 5% of the “gate” for each game to the “Philips Arena Operations” unit as well.
And GT, that is just the “start” of the terms that a prospective buyer faced. Now under those terms would you want the Spirit Clowns as your landlord?
Atlanta Spirit is the anti-christ
November 5th, 2011
9:45 am
Ya know you would think AS would get the message that as a fan base we hate them and want them to crawl back under their rocks and go away. My only conclusion thus far is they want to bankrupt the Hawks so the NBA takes over so they can continue to blame the fans and stroke their egos saying it wasn’t our fault we tried. The Atlanta fans simply suck. Or they are so arrogant to think we can’t possibly be serious in our plan to unoccupy Phillips Arena. I would love to see Roger Waters but he chose the wrong venue. Sorry Roger maybe next time. Hey, AS deal with it. Karma is real pain in the wallet.
Joey
November 5th, 2011
9:51 am
Alex probably had a WTF-moment when he first viewed Joe Johnson’s contract, then viewed his highlights of last season.
That would be enough to scare off Bill Gates . . .
Atlanta Fan
November 5th, 2011
9:52 am
Anyone who thinks Liberty Media is a problem is truly living under a rock. They have not rocked the boat with the Braves once and they seem to let the Braves run as they always did. Okay, so the payroll isn’t $200 million, so what. They still have the 3rd best record in baseball for about 60% of the season. ASG could learn something from how the Braves are run.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
9:58 am
Sippa……..if I owned a bar in this town I could make some money with this promotion. When the ASG does die away ( no time soon it looks like), have a ASG “Irish Wake”.night. Who would not come to that happy event? They would be a line around the block to celebrate that joyious occasion. I can’t wait!!!!!!!!!! Green beer for everybody.
GT
November 5th, 2011
10:09 am
The only person with skin in the game is the Spirit. The rest of us are bystanders. The augments here circles around owning these teams equal some pleasure for the ownership of these things. In the NFL and MLB I believe you would be correct. And where there is pleasure in this business there is demand. These owners are bleeding to death for the your pleasure.
When you sell your house you may ask a million for it but you may only get 100,000. If you really need to sell it you will eventually come down to the 100,000. Some of you hot shots call the Spirit, I bet the AJC has their number. Get about 100 of you living up 400 with checkbooks. Make an offer. I bet you can buy these teams and then you too will be cussing me for giving you the idea in the first place. And the rest of us will be cussing you because we want entertainment at your expense. Something about modern America all over that situation.
R. Stroz
November 5th, 2011
10:19 am
GT – Let them bleed. The Spirit Clowns haven’t “produced” any pleasure in this town. The main “problem” is the Spirit Clowns want to “keeo a stake” in the basketball franchise. No one in their right mind wants to conduct “on going” business with these litigious clowns.
Atlanta Spirit is the anti-christ
November 5th, 2011
10:34 am
@GT Bruce is that you?? Just askin cause………
I Am Gearon's Crocodile Tears
November 5th, 2011
10:36 am
The next logical move for the Atlanta Spirit, LLC would be to file a lawsuit against Merulo for not having enough money to buy the Hawks. That is the m.o. for these clowns, “When in doubt, Litigate!” In an absolute worst-case scenario, they continue to bleed money uncontrollably to the point where they have to practically give the team away to an ownership that moves the team to St. Louis, or back to Seattle… Where would they rank in the list of lousy sports ownerships if they ran TWO franchises from two different sports into the ground to the point that they relocated?
Could we then break out the tar and feathers and run Gearon/Levenson et al out of town on a rail? Please?
ASG To Hell
November 5th, 2011
10:38 am
I spit in the face of every member of ASG after what they have done. They are an harassment (yes, that word) to this city, this state and to the professional sports industry. They have ZERO business being in MY city of Atlanta. They have ZERO business running the Hawks, Philips Arena or anything to do with Atlanta. They need to sell the Hawks, move out of this city and state and never be seen or heard from again. After what they did to the Thrashers and after the way they mistreated fans, lied to us, covered the story up and gave us the run around year after year, ASG and every association they have with this city needs to get out of here. I urge all Hawks fans to never step FOOT inside Philips Arena or give a DIME to anything touched by ASG. They are scumbag lowlifes and they need to GTFO of this city NOW.
Paddy
November 5th, 2011
10:38 am
GT…..there is something about modern America in this situation. We don’t like people to lie to us. Poor team, poor marketing and they lie. Not a good hand to draw to! No one in their right mind would do a business deal with these guys unless the circumstances of the sale were overpowering pro buyer. You could trust Ted Turner not so much the Marx Brothers of Atlanta.
GT Needs a Home
November 5th, 2011
10:44 am
I would have to say that I would like to see GT take a moral stance here and NOT play their games at Philips this year. Find another venue. Even as a UGA fan, I can’t stand the thought of a university giving money in any way, shape or form to Atlanta Spirit. They need to take the moral high ground, change venues and not play games at Philips after what they have done to this city. GT should not be doing ANY business with anything associated with ASG. Do the right thing, GT. Play elsewhere.
GT
November 5th, 2011
10:50 am
I think you have made the sell of the franchise more complicated than in reality it is. The reason this thing has not sold is no one wants it period. The Spirit ,clowns or not are stuck with it. There is no profit in this operation it is a donation to this city by the Spirit. Most native Atlantans could care less about this contribution, it is basically a corporate clientele of gypsies with public company expense accounts lounging around and calling it a tax write off. Or want to bes wanting to look like the they are lodge members, that couldn’t afford the luxury while living in the snowbound joints they evacuated to tell us how to run our city. If we don’t want it we don’t want it so get your charge cards out and maybe the Spirit can figure a way to sell it to you through their merchant accounts. You can then explain that to your bosses that are paying for your joy ride in the first place.
chico and the main
November 5th, 2011
10:57 am
you mean you can’t buy an nba team with pesos? aye….
GT
November 5th, 2011
11:03 am
Where does “GT take a moral stance” come from. This ain’t church this is basketball and we ain’t you. If you aren’t going to use Phillips then we are. You think Georgia Tech who loses players early every year if they get them at all to this addiction called the NBA now wants to take a moral stance for these thugs? The NBA is destroying college basketball. You take a moral stance and take your stripe joint somewhere else. 80% of the NBA is broke after five years of leaving the league. Las Vegas looks like the home of Christianity compared to the NBA, where guns are found in locker rooms and mugshots are taken in uniform so they have a number to id them with.
bj
November 5th, 2011
11:13 am
To he!! with Hawks, Spirit, NBA….they can stick it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Other than Blank, The Atlanta Sports Teams have the worse owners in the world…its a joke.
huh?
November 5th, 2011
11:25 am
So much for the crazy cuban pizza guy from Cali…..publicity hound….OCCUPY HOLLYWOOD!!
Tv ?
November 5th, 2011
11:26 am
Are Dawgs on CSS at 12:30 also? Anyone?
Sideline Dude
November 5th, 2011
11:29 am
Please, someone buy the Hawks & move them to Seattle or Timbuktu or somewhere else far away. The NBA is just a bunch of overpaid hoodlums & thugs.
GT Needs a Home
November 5th, 2011
11:29 am
“GT” makes zero sense. Why would a world-class institution such as GT do any sort of business with the clowns called ASG? GT is a respectable university doing business with unethical , non-respectable villains called ASG. That’s why GT should take the moral high ground and not give any of their money to ASG. GT should not have ANY association with ASG. It’s the equal to doing business with the mob.
Born2Buzz
November 5th, 2011
11:31 am
The best thing that could happen to the Hawks is a cancellation of the season. Sadly they will eventually start playing again.
Is David McDavid interested again? Hey, he can just use the $250M he won from Turner to buy the Hawks, basically getting the team for free.
Or maybe Uncle Ted will come back home to own the team. Probably not, he’s too smart. Just like Blank.
The ASG is an embarrassment to Atlanta. I’m sure they are all ashamed.
Buzzer
November 5th, 2011
11:32 am
After what the “Spirit” did to the Thrashers, I’m not going to a Hawks game until someone else owns the team (assuming the NBA starts playing again).
zzzzzzzzz
November 5th, 2011
11:42 am
the hawkszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
ZAvs
November 5th, 2011
11:51 am
I disagree partially with with the “pro sports doesn’t work in the South, particularly in Atlanta” comments. I was a transplant and yeah, I kept my Broncos and Avalanche as my favorite teams, but I definitely adopted the Thrashers and Falcons as my teams as well. There are two problems here: 1. Atlanta has a very large number of transplants from the North and they are going to stick with their teams, 2. Any business that run poorly (A$$G) is going to fail (with the exception of the medicinal marijuana dispensaries). And for the pro sports in Atlanta comment, by all accounts, all of the Falcons games I have seen in the past 6 years that I have followed them, they all seem to be pretty much sold out. And oh yeah, pretty sure the Braves made some pretty good $$ in the ’90s. Good teams = good attendance. Bad teams and bad ownership = low attendance = savvy fan base. Think of it this way, would you prefer to spend $15 for pack of ramen noodles or a nice sirloin? A$$G f-d up and they know it but won’t admit it.
Peter
November 5th, 2011
12:12 pm
The Spirit will CHOKE on the big JJ contract, and fall off into oblivion even more. Hopefully they bankrupt and we get new owners.
The GM is clueless on draft day, thus where we are today.
Hawks Fan Since 1988
November 5th, 2011
12:41 pm
This is why MAJOR SUPERSTAR don’t want to play of the Hawks cause things like this. Mess up ownership like this and owner from the past who dont know how to run a team or build a championship team. We City of Atlanta had been wait for a championship since 1995 (Braves) and tired of these owner who is in it for making money. The time of losing and being the laughing stock of the NBA,NFL and MLB is over I’m callin every owner out here in Atlanta . IF YOU NOT IN IT FOR THE RINGS WELL YOU CAN JUST TAKE YOUR MONEY AND STOVE IT UP YOUR A$$ WE IN ATLANTA TIRED OF THIS B.S . SO ASG IF U DONT GOT THE BALLS AND MAN UP RUN THIS THE RIGHT WAY FIND SOMEBODY THAT WILL STOP HOLDING THE FANS OF THE HAWKS UP FOR OURS HARD EARN DOLLARS….
Matt from MN
November 5th, 2011
12:45 pm
Thus, my personal boycott of all things ASG and Philips Arena will continue. A pox on all their houses.
TheAntiMe
November 5th, 2011
1:25 pm
God is not an Atlanta sports fan.
ads
November 5th, 2011
3:13 pm
yes i am one of the 10% that took iowa. too bad dummy jeff didn’t.
doc
November 5th, 2011
3:22 pm
oh to be a life long atlanta native and sports fan. i have to remember back to ponce de leonball park and the crackers to re examine the halcyon days in atlanta sports
skip
November 5th, 2011
4:16 pm
Who really gives a rat’s ass? I mean its not something important, like football.
Barn
November 5th, 2011
4:18 pm
I guess Meruelo sees what its like to be Swiftboated since he donated his money to derail Gore.
LIVE: Alabama vs. LSU for division... and SEC, and BCS | Jeff Schultz
November 5th, 2011
5:41 pm
[...] • Earlier: Collapse of Hawks’ sale is just one more Spirit nightmare [...]
ROCKMEN1
November 5th, 2011
8:26 pm
Enter your comments here
ROCKMEN1
November 5th, 2011
8:27 pm
Well there goes my season tix renewal.
brigadierjerry
November 6th, 2011
12:14 pm
Forbes Magazine in an “unbiased” report indicated that 12 teams (40% of the NBA teams) lost money in the 2009-2010 season. They include: Trailblazers, Mavericks, Magic, Hawks, Hornets, Pacers, Bobcats, Nets, Bucks, Grizzlies, Wolves and Kings.
When you look at the Forbes list of Money Makers and Money Losers they are as follows listed geographically.
West Coast – Portland Trailblazers (ML), Sacramento Kings (ML), Oakland Warriors (MM), Los Angeles Lakers (MM)
Far West – Arizona Suns (MM), Utah Jazz (MM), Denver Nuggets (MM)
South West – Oklahoma City Thunder (MM), Dallas Mavericks (ML), San Antonia Spurs (MM), Houston Rockets, (ML)
North Central/Great Lakes – Minneapolis – Minnesota Timberwolves (ML), Milwaukee Bucks (ML), Chicago Bulls (MM), Indianapolis – Indiana Pacers (ML), Detroit Piston (MM), Cleveland Cavaliers (MM),
Toronto Raptors (MM)
South Central – Memphis Grizzlies (ML), New Orleans Hornets (ML),
South East – Miami Heat (MM), Orlando Magic (ML), Atlanta Hawks (ML), Charlotte BobCats (ML)
Mid/North Atlantic – Washington Wizards (MM), Philadelphia 76ers (MM), Newark- New Jersey Nets (ML), New York City – New York Knicks (MM), Boston Celtics (MM)
At this point in the negotiations it boils down to small market owners led by Michael Jordon who have banded together and will not agree to a 52.5% player to 47.5% owner revenue split. Jordon believes that it should be 47% player and 53% owner. Jordon is one of the owner of the Charlotte BobCats who lost money in th 2009-2010 season. Other owners will take a 50/50 split. The players union is under heavy not to concede any more.
The primary issue is the Basketball-Related Income (BRI) split – We all hear in the negotiations of a BRI percentage split of 52.5/447.5 (favored by players) and a 50/50 (favored by most owners). But in reality when you think about it, the important thing is not the BRI percentage, but rather the percentage of what. The BRI is a pool of money that takes into account REVENUE (most of the individual teams’ local revenue and the collective revenue of all teams).
The following are the primary components of BRI:
??? Regular-season ticket revenues
??? Local broadcast revenue
??? National broadcast revenue
??? Playoff ticket revenues
??? In-arena concessions and merchandise
??? 40 percent of signage revenue
??? 40 percent of suite revenue
??? 50 percent of naming rights revenue
So, it’s pretty easy to see that any revenue-generating activity — from selling tickets to hot dogs to television rights to video games — is divided between the players and owners. But it is important to note that only revenue gets shared, not EXPENSES associated with generating revenue. The EXPENSES fall only on the owners not the players. If owners spend more than they generate on marketing, construction, etc., the players receive a net benefit and the owners receive a loss. Although not unique to professional basketball, it is the prime thrust that owners are focusing in on in the negotiations, i.e., revising the BRI through a lower share allocated to the players, like 50/50.
With a group of players banding together to focus on decertifying their union so no more concessions will be made and the small market owner group pushing for at least a 50/50 BRI, it looks like both sides are too entrenched for there to be any negotiated settlement soon.
Prediction: No play in the NBA for the 2011-2012 season.
Read more: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/316170-mj-leading-hard-line-owners?sct=hp_bf2_a9&eref=sihp#ixzz1cwUZiFOi
buyback
November 6th, 2011
9:36 pm
ted turner should buy the hawks at a rock bottom price and hire a real gm and coach to run the team instead of the morons in charge now.
move on
November 7th, 2011
2:42 am
hopefully, the atlanta thugs leave town like the thrashers. Overpaid, mediocre players and overpriced tickets. Good riddance!
John
November 8th, 2011
11:15 am
This may end up being a blessing. An underfunded, absentee owner (he was not going to move here) spells even more trouble than the current ASG.