Monthly Archives: October 2009

It’s time to walk the talk…why do the facts contradict the lip service?

Posted on October 10, 2009 | 1 Comment

It's an exciting start for Israeli hockey!

Gary Bettman says he speaks the truth…whether it is related to the MLSE veto, or the fact he had no influence on the Board of Governors’ rejection of Jim Balsillie……quite simply, he is full of it as the morning show boys had said the fans would say! But don’t worry, according to Gary Bettman, “our fans” don’t want to hear it anymore, as it is bad for the game!

What seems clearer is that there needs to be something in it for the NHL, or it’s partners. That’s the issue that floats the boat.

Critics of Jim Balsillie said he waived the Canadian flag, when all he wanted to do is get a team in one province…..to some Balsillie was not doing this for Canada…..well, he could certainly put to rest that criticism!

Disbelief.

What can be said about a commissioner of a sport who likely believes what he says, but speaks a lingo and language that contradicts reality?

The crazy truth is a conversation with Gary Bettman, without knowing the facts, might actually lead to one believing he has a grasp on the situation. Of course, we know the truth, he doesn’t. But to listen to him, he is almost convincing.

Take the morning show interview with Landry and Stellick. Bettman was able to handle himself in a way that someone on the outside of reality would think he sounded convincing.

Again, true hockey people know the difference between reality and the Bettman reality. Economics and “Bettmanomics”. Franchises in trouble vs. franchises “never in jeopardy”.

Let’s first look at the interview in a little more depth.

Gary Bettman seems to talk a lot about “our fans”. When Landry and Stellick tried to tell him that the fans in southern Ontario were not happy and wanted to have discussion about Gary’s take on their view, Bettman was quick to say that “the fans” are tired of hearing this.

The Fan boys said No, we want to hear about this, and the phones and emails suggest it.

But no, Bettman was adamant that “the fans”, “our fans” as he put it just wanted this to go away.

The question is, “who are his fans”? The fans outside southern Ontario? Or fans including southern Ontario, because he doesn’t seem to want to listen to a radio station plunked smack dab in the middle of the fans that the commissioner says are not interested.

If we are to believe someone here, would we listen to the radio boys getting the emails and calls and show of interest, or the commissioner of the league that might get emails, etc, but not necessarily from southern Ontario?

Commissioner Bettman says that the league is not going to expand in the middle of a recession into Hamilton, and he does not want to dilute the competitiveness of the game by increasing the number of teams.

We have 30 teams, 30 or so more players in a league of 900 plus (sorry don’t know the true numbers) is going to make a huge difference? As the morning show boys pointed out, it couldn’t get more diluted anyhow, so it wouldn’t make a difference.

There is so much hockey talent out there still. We are talking about the world here. 900 players from a world of billions is not diluting the “talent pool”. Making the NHL is like winning the lottery. Very, very tough.

Bettman has claimed that the games have been terrific, and he is happy with the performance. Did he happen to watch the Toronto – Ottawa sleeper last Saturday? That was far from entertaining for the fans who dropped a $1000 for the best seats, with concessions and parking, etc.

On the issue of the MLSE veto, everybody has testified the veto exists, including Eugene Melnyk, yet Bettman says his interview was “miscast”. Well, the only definition of “miscast” I see in the dictionary describes an actor’s role that should not have been given to that particular actor.

If that is the case, Bettman is right, it should not have been Melnyk given the “role” to make that up. Bettman himself can “act” better and convince the audience of the “fantasy” that doesn’t match the facts or reality.

It is getting really tiresome, isn’t it? When is someone going to say enough is enough to the leadership of an NHL that thinks it has a stranglehold of the elite hockey world?

Expanding into southern Ontario in a recession is not a good idea according to Bettman. Not even if, as pointed out, there is actually a demand for the product. A demand that would mean immediate profits for a league that continues to give away the ship, just as fast as it hangs it’s poor owners out to dry.

But don’t forget about the fans. “Our fans” that the league will not abandon.

Same old, same old.

There are a couple things that really need to happen.

Like in the expansion years of the WHA, competition needs to jolt the NHL into reality.

As in this article, Jim Balsillie can simply say enough is enough, let’s give them some competition:

“I’m not going to tell him what to do, but his money would be better served if he did,” Vanderbilt University sports economist John Vrooman said in a telephone interview on Thursday. “He could call it the Northern Hockey League or maybe the southern Ontario Hockey League.

“He could put Hamilton right at the middle of it. Winnipeg wants hockey [back] … they could have the Jets, the new WHA Jets or something. . . . He’s smart enough that he can figure this out.”

Bettman has made it clear that the NHL is not looking for expansion or to abandon markets.

Of course this flies again in the face of true economic reality, including the lack of confidence the NHL has in Phoenix with the one year out clause for the lease.

If the NHL truly didn’t want to abandon it’s fans, it would guarantee success and take on the obligation of the Jobing.com arena lease, as a league, and walk the talk. Put the money where there has only been lip service. Reality has not matched rhetoric in Bettman’s NHL.

Let’s look to Dallas, where you can enhance your wardrobe at the same time as taking in the game.

Okay Mr. Bettman, do the math for us won’t you? How are the owners in the poorer markets supposed to survive the recession you speak of?

Not your money, is it, Mr. Bettman?

Unlike the morning show boys, some of us do not have to worry about “how we word this”, do we?

Let’s look at the Lightning, “Big Night Out” package. Giving away the ship there, with 40 home dates, will add up to how much revenue for the year?

When do the prices go to where they truly need to get to, to ensure the survival, of not the franchise, but the deep pocket owners that are being tapped?

Same old, same old, and getting hard to continue to stomach.

Jim Balsillie still has the Make it Seven page up.

I am hoping it is because he seriously is looking for an answer and his next move.

My hope is the next move is to bring in another league, like the KHL, as the Canadian pioneer. And, no, I am not smoking crack, thanks much to the comment from Michigan.

We are talking about a talent pool the world over.

Canadians are even helping to develop hockey in Israel. The Canada Center is the only rink there, but check this out:

The Canada Center’s Olympic sized skating rink is the only one in Israel. It has been upgraded so that it meets international standards. You don’t just have to go to the Canada Center for the ice hockey; there is also a great indoor pool, bowling, a shooting range, a cafe for snacks and a whole lot more. A great day out, with or without the hockey stick!

….That’s right, the Canada Center in Metulla, up at the northern tip of Israel, will be holding the Jewish Ice Hockey Championships with six countries competing for the title of the best of Jewish ice hockey – USA, Canada, France, Russia, the UK and Israel.

International hockey is not a far stretch, and Jim Balsillie could be huge in it’s development in Canada.

Expanding that resource into true hockey markets in Canada is really a no brainer, not a “dilution” issue.

Until there are enough Canadian teams, you could have a structure like the MLB. Three game series over the course of a few days or even a week. Travelling would then not be the biggest issue.

Bettman’s take on the Olympics is that in a few years, when the games will be broadcast at 4 AM to 2PM in the afternoon, this would mean nobody would be interested enough to make it good for the game. He is kidding right?

Of course not, it is Gary Bettman’s view of reality once again, not that of the rest of the world.

Kind of like the notion that expansion into Hamilton during a recession is not a good idea. Bettmanomics 101 – don’t do anything that might actually make monetary sense.

It would appear the protection of the game, is a protection of the American interest in the game, best illustrated by this cartoon.

The question really is, who are “our fans” of which Bettman speaks?

Cmon Jim Balsillie, the only way in is through another door altogether.

When the commissioner is out we look at merging with the NHL. Then, but only then.

As a final note, Gary Bettman says the fans in small market Canada (Edmonton, Calgary, heck anywhere there is a team, really) appreciate the NHL. Okay, let’s get comments from them to support the NHL, shall we? Would that be the same small markets that are sustaining the revenues? Just wondering.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Corruption, KHL, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Sports, Uncategorized

Can't shake the feeling of the international rivalry

Posted on October 7, 2009 | 2 Comments

In all honesty, Jim Balsillie has an opportunity to ‘blow the NHL away’ as a pioneer in bringing international hockey to Canada on a regular basis. Hamilton could become a well known landmark location to change the professional game forever…..

In 1972, it was the Summit series.

While the NHL becomes "plastic", the KHL shows their own version of the outdoor classic....who's bringing hockey heritage further these days?

I was 11 years old, and living in Beaconsfield, Quebec.

Close to my school, there was a rink in Pointe-Claire. My friends and I had heard the Russians were in the rink practicing for the series. So, we walked over. Knowing they would be there did not prepare me for the life altering memory of seeing the Russian stars in action – practicing their trade. It seemed almost impossible. Today, would the average child be able to walk into a local rink to see the elite of the game practice? Not likely. There would be security and a hefty cover charge I am sure.

The ’72 roster of the Russian team included the famous goaltender, Vladislav Tretiak, that all the kids in my neighbourhood were emulating in road hockey nets, street in, street out. No doubt, Wayne Gretzky would recall the feeling that the competition against the Russians brought. Of course, Gretzky would go on to both compete against Russia, and be the head of Hockey Canada, to fulfill a full circle dream I am sure he must have had.

Hockey sure was cool for an 11 year old boy in suburban Montreal.

Any kid at my age would likely recall, coast to coast, as the schools no doubt brought television sets into the gymnasiums so a school assembly could have us all wondering with excitement and anticipation how Canada would do against those seemingly strange Russians.

‘They’ didn’t smile you know.

‘They’ were told that they couldn’t smile, that’s what we Canadians were led to believe. They seemed a strange people. Very rigid, and very structured. Were they a happy people? We wondered, and marvelled. After all, hockey was a Canadian game, and how did these fellows learn how to play so well?

In 1972 there were no Russian players in the NHL, and the names all ended in an ‘ov’ it seemed. Or, an ‘ev”, like “my favorite Russian, Alexander Yakushev.

I delivered the Montreal Star newspaper to about 40 homes. In those days, you had to walk a considerable clip just to get to the ‘depot’, someone’s garage. Then, when you got your papers together, off you’d go.

On collection day, we paper boys had a little collection card, and a hole puncher. If you got a quarter tip on $1.25 collection for the week, it was something boy!

I can’t recall what Peter Mahovlich tipped. I was much too shy. My friends and I would stand at his door, and hope his wife Bunny wouldn’t answer. Ah, it was Peter! “Did you win last night”. “Nah, we lost”. Thanks boys!”

We knew he lost but we were fighting to find words to come out.

He lived on Olympic Drive in Beaconsfield. How suiting a name, Olympic Drive. It was a new street then, and obviously well established now. I lived on Dublin Drive, and you can see the walk my paper route took me on to get that paper to Peter! To the right on that map, you will see a street named Windermere. It was a long road, and that is where the paper depot was located. We used to ride our bikes no hands down Windermere hill, and there were cement blocks on the ends of driveways. Sometimes you could feel your bike drift towards the cement, and “ahhhhh”, you eased it back with your legs to the road. Daredevils were we – road warriors. Like our hockey team, the Windermere Warriors. I digress with the memories….on with the story…..

Mahovlich’s teamates on the Canadiens, and friends included Guy Lafleur and Guy Lapointe. I didn’t live on that street, but a friend lived around the corner. He said they would come over, and he witnessed them. Man was Peter a big guy.

But, there was a bit of a rivalry in international circles. Who was bigger and better. Mahovlich or Yakushev? It was tight, but, sorry Peter, the Big Yak was really good!

Radulov celebrates the win over Canada in May's World Cup

. It seemed he was on the ice all the time, and involved in every scoring opportunity. The “Big Yak” he was called. And his play reflected a bigger than life opponent.

Valery Kharlamov, another Russian that ‘brought it’ every game, and seemed to be in on all the plays. Oi, was it a time or what?

Could it be the kids of Canada were emulating their favorite Russian players?

Oh yes we were. And the proof – in those street hockey battles after school. The best players would stand out in our minds, as if we were somehow brainwashed from the announcer that kept saying their names over, and over, and over again. Oh, it was exciting to be a kid in 1972. “Kharlamov, over to Yakushev, he scores!!!!”

Copps Coliseum and the fans 'lit up' in 1987, in support of our Canadian heroes!

Fast forward to 1987, and the Canada Cup.

Ah yes, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and the boys, all bigger than life heros. I was at one of the final games at Copps Coliseum. They say the game could be heard for blocks and blocks from the arena. The crown noise was deafening, the atmosphere electric.

Great hockey again. And the Russians were still not in the NHL. The wouldn’t be for two more years, when:

One of the all-time NHL greats is leading the way. Vyacheslav Fetisov had the Soviet authorities’ blessing when he became one of the country’s first players to move to the NHL in 1989 after more than a decade of success with CSKA Moscow.

We Canadians were a little more familiar with the Russians, so the culture shock was not the same as in 1972. They seemed to smile a lot more in ’87 and’ 89 as well.

They seemed to have loosened up for the better.

Fast forward again, to May 2009, at the World Hockey Championships, the Russians beat Canada to take the title.

And my mind goes back to 1972, when hockey was hockey.

And then I think of Jim Balsillie.

And then I recall the boring contest of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators the other night.

Then I think of a ridiculous article that everyone at Make it Seven seemed to say was ridiculous. I agree. It was posted by the National Post newspaper. Should we really say, “anti”-National Post? Why not?

And, then I marvel at another National article, this one from “The National”, not to be confused with the laughable National Post. No, this one has content! I urge you to read this inspiring article on how serious the KHL league really is.

According to the league, they are five years or less away from meeting and possibly becoming a major threat to the NHL:

Fetisov will be hoping that the trend continues. “If we continue this way then within five years we will be able to compete with the NHL,” he said.

“We are ready to catch up with Americans as to the quality of the game, and the level of the games organisation. But there is, of course, a lot of work ahead of us.”
There is a long way to go. The best Russian players still head for the NHL and there is little sign that the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Alexander Ovechkin will be heading for home, not with 11 years to run on his NHL-record-setting 13-year, US$124 million (Dh455m) contract with the Washington Capitals.

There is an interesting irony in today’s NHL versus the Russian attitude of 1972.

In 1972, it was the Russians who were seemed stern and rigid compared to the freewheeling style of North American culture.

It would appear there is a shift.

The NHL may try to restrict the NHL players from entering into the Olympics, and Ovechkin is not too happy, and might have other thoughts:

Forget the 'Chunky Soup', O V doesn't need to be reminded where his roots are!

Even in the short term, the KHL could become a bargaining chip for some of the biggest players in the NHL.

With the lure of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, the NHL’s MVP Ovechkin, perhaps the best player in the world today, says he cannot rule out a return home – if the NHL refuses to allow him to play in the Winter Olympics in his native Russia.

Looking back to 1972 and 1987, and looking to the present, rather mediocre offering of the NHL, I can’t help but wonder what Hamilton’s future could hold if only someone had a strong vision to develop the game beyond the relatively puny North American borders, and deteriorating mindset of the NHL.

Jim Balsillie may have been shunned by the NHL, but could become a huge friend of International hockey circles.

Balsillie could be destined to change the way we look at hockey, and be responsible to bring back the level of excitement in the game we hunger for.

The Maple Leafs played the Senators in a mediocre contest the other night. A sleeper for all intents and purposes.

We in Hamilton could do much better.

Much, much better!

→ 2 Comments

Posted in KHL, National Hockey League, NHL, Sports

Tagged KHL

Can’t shake the feeling of the international rivalry

Posted on October 7, 2009 | 2 Comments

In 1972, it was the Summit series.

While the NHL becomes "plastic", the KHL shows their own version of the outdoor classic....who's bringing hockey heritage further these days?

I was 11 years old, and living in Beaconsfield, Quebec.

Hockey sure was cool for an 11 year old boy in suburban Montreal.

‘They’ didn’t smile you know.

In 1972 there were no Russian players in the NHL, and the names all ended in an ‘ov’ it seemed. Or, an ‘ev”, like “my favorite Russian, Alexander Yakushev.

On collection day, we paper boys had a little collection card, and a hole puncher. If you got a quarter tip on $1.25 collection for the week, it was something boy!

We knew he lost but we were fighting to find words to come out.

But, there was a bit of a rivalry in international circles. Who was bigger and better. Mahovlich or Yakushev? It was tight, but, sorry Peter, the Big Yak was really good!

Radulov celebrates the win over Canada in May's World Cup

. It seemed he was on the ice all the time, and involved in every scoring opportunity. The “Big Yak” he was called. And his play reflected a bigger than life opponent.

Valery Kharlamov, another Russian that ‘brought it’ every game, and seemed to be in on all the plays. Oi, was it a time or what?

Could it be the kids of Canada were emulating their favorite Russian players?

Copps Coliseum and the fans 'lit up' in 1987, in support of our Canadian heroes!

Fast forward to 1987, and the Canada Cup.

Great hockey again. And the Russians were still not in the NHL. The wouldn’t be for two more years, when:

One of the all-time NHL greats is leading the way. Vyacheslav Fetisov had the Soviet authorities’ blessing when he became one of the country’s first players to move to the NHL in 1989 after more than a decade of success with CSKA Moscow.

We Canadians were a little more familiar with the Russians, so the culture shock was not the same as in 1972. They seemed to smile a lot more in ’87 and’ 89 as well.

They seemed to have loosened up for the better.

Fast forward again, to May 2009, at the World Hockey Championships, the Russians beat Canada to take the title.

And my mind goes back to 1972, when hockey was hockey.

And then I think of Jim Balsillie.

And then I recall the boring contest of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators the other night.

According to the league, they are five years or less away from meeting and possibly becoming a major threat to the NHL:

Fetisov will be hoping that the trend continues. “If we continue this way then within five years we will be able to compete with the NHL,” he said.

“We are ready to catch up with Americans as to the quality of the game, and the level of the games organisation. But there is, of course, a lot of work ahead of us.”
There is a long way to go. The best Russian players still head for the NHL and there is little sign that the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Alexander Ovechkin will be heading for home, not with 11 years to run on his NHL-record-setting 13-year, US$124 million (Dh455m) contract with the Washington Capitals.

There is an interesting irony in today’s NHL versus the Russian attitude of 1972.

In 1972, it was the Russians who were seemed stern and rigid compared to the freewheeling style of North American culture.

It would appear there is a shift.

The NHL may try to restrict the NHL players from entering into the Olympics, and Ovechkin is not too happy, and might have other thoughts:

Forget the 'Chunky Soup', O V doesn't need to be reminded where his roots are!

Even in the short term, the KHL could become a bargaining chip for some of the biggest players in the NHL.

With the lure of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, the NHL’s MVP Ovechkin, perhaps the best player in the world today, says he cannot rule out a return home – if the NHL refuses to allow him to play in the Winter Olympics in his native Russia.

Jim Balsillie may have been shunned by the NHL, but could become a huge friend of International hockey circles.

Balsillie could be destined to change the way we look at hockey, and be responsible to bring back the level of excitement in the game we hunger for.

The Maple Leafs played the Senators in a mediocre contest the other night. A sleeper for all intents and purposes.

We in Hamilton could do much better.

Much, much better!

→ 2 Comments

Posted in KHL, National Hockey League, NHL, Sports

Tagged KHL

What up with the deal?

Posted on October 6, 2009 | 1 Comment

Click here to sign Jim Balsillie’s thank you card! For the bullet summary, please go here.

There are more questions than answers in the tale of the Yotes. Here is a brief recap, without a lot of insight…….sorry I tried analyzing this case, but it turns out what makes sense never really happens anyway!

The NHL is taking their time getting a bid together for the Coyotes, eh?

Where are you now Doug MacLean? If you are still with Jim, does that tell a tale?

What’s the hold up?

Are they waiting until there is no money left in the pot for the unsecured creditors?

Are they putting together a bid so bad that Chapter 7 liquidation may be the only answer?

What is truly up in the state of the NHL’s ammended bid?

Do they really have “potential owners” that have been speaking to Gary Bettman?

Is the lease breakable after one year, or is the NHL and the new potential owner responsible for the duration of the lease?

Why did Jim Balsillie back off so fast after the court’s ruling, that he seems to have a cat swallowing the canary posture?

Where is Doug MacLean? Has he left the Balsillie organization? If not, why not?

The proof is always in the pudding.

A handshake outside of a washroom in a Glendale courtroom, not once, but twice between Bettman and Balsillie may tell a tale. We have mentioned these relatively, seemingly unimportant human jestures, but in the setting where they took place, the significance factor rises considerably.

Everyone is looking. Lots are rooting around to see what is truly up with the state of the NHL’s offer to buy the failing franchise.

Well, what if they intentionally botch this thing up? What happens?

The team gets liquidated? Probably.

Nobody gets paid? Likely.

The NHL would be free to then expand? I would say they could do what they want.

So, if they were to expand to Hamilton, Ontario, they would not have to pay for the team?

What about the lease?

Would Judge Baum tap the NHL for a lease break penalty?

After all, it was Glendale all along that has created the unreasonable issues. The NHL has wanted a one year out clause for a reason. Glendale is unable to offer concessions to a team that is failing. Even the NHL knows that scenario does not work.

The NHL may be taking it’s time to make that next offer, and they may only do it if the Ice Edge group, or someone else can make a solid offer to buy the team, and can get out of Glendale what they need. Otherwise, what would be the point of taking on the ‘turkey’?

Why would the NHL want to be saddled with no end to the losses? Why would they take on a lease that would financially cripple them?

Has Judge Baum left the door open to the NHL and the Balisillie team, as a plan moving forward? Pass the puck northbound, if you can’t make a short, sharp pass locally may just be in play.

Seems to me the court is working with both sides still, whether it appears that way or not.

The NHL gets to save face by getting the necessary ruling. The judge was heading to the road of precedent but seemed to stop in his tracks. Perhaps Baum does not want to appear the hero or the goat, and doesn’t care if he gets the accolades of setting a sports precedent. After all, what does he have left to prove, after helping entire countries work their bankruptcy plans.

In the end, will the bankruptcy situation create the perfect outcome? Will it be a short or end to end pass?

Will the NHL be able to walk away from Glendale blaming the court?

Will another franchise or two fold as well, or will they simply relocate because the city strangelhold is not quite as bad as in Glendale?

There is a common theme that has run throughout this case.

Each individual party to the situation in worried more about themselves than anyone else, or reality for that matter.

The truth has always been this team in a loser money-wise.

Who wants to be responsible for the bills?

It is quickly becoming a question of what’s really up?

Has the court collaborated with the NHL and Balisillie in a master plan of attack that leaves the City of Glendale in a pickle?

Let’s all keep looking, and waiting, and wondering.

At least we aren’t paying the bills!

→ 1 Comment

Posted in bankruptcy, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Sports

To Russia, with Love!

Posted on October 3, 2009 | 1 Comment

For the bullet summary, please go here.

According to the Globe and Mail, Jerry Moyes will not necessarily get money from the Coyotes in bankruptcy. The Globe and Mail feels the NHL will not have to up the $140 million bid. And for this, the owners in the league salute Gary Bettman? Disgusting. The owners in this league will get what they deserve, but they won’t see a penny from me!

To Russia, with Love!

When Canadian hockey players won't stand up for their country, why not bring in Europeans to teach them all a lesson or two. (Action from a KHL game)

I hear the KHL is stealing players away from the NHL. Wow! I’d pay big to see more of that! And, I have a feeling there are many others in this fine city that would too.

The NHL is powerless to stop the KHL from attracting it’s restricted free agents. My, would a team in Hamilton be the transfer ground for disgruntled NHL players to exercise some control or what?

“Make a deal, or I speak to Hamilton”, a player might say! Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

And, that way, the NHL player could jump leagues, and not leave North America, keeping his family intact. Interesting.

Jim Basillie, if he wanted hockey and a means to send further shock waves through the NHL could likely be accepted as a KHL owner. What’s that, did I just hear Jim’s phone ring? Long distance?

Jim Balsillie was ready to spend $240 million on what? A corrupt hockey league? A league where the Canadian team owners teamed up and are now saluting Gary Bettman for his efforts. Raise the glass of champagne?

They ( the NHL, it’s and it’s owners) are all disgusting! Even the so called Canadian ones.

Let’s say Jim Balsillie wanted to buy a Tim Horton franchise, and Tim’s organization was run like the NHL.

The other owners of Tim stores would gang up on Balsillie and say he was not ‘Horton owner material’,or other gibberish.

Because perhaps those coffee stores were making a lot of money and enjoyed the monopoly. Let’s say you couldn’t get a better coffee in town, and well, the people became addicted to their coffee fix.

The only thing that would tick off the owners in that kind of monopoly would be competition. Competition that the consumers were going to side with out of spite to begin with.What company wouldn’t want that kind of “differential advantage”in marketing it’s brand? Oh, boy!

Richard Rodier had, in an interview with Bob McCown on the Fan 590, the analogy of a hamburger restaurant chain. It doesn’t matter what product we are speaking of here, what does matter is the principle of monopoly power.

And let’s face it, the glitz and glamour of the once respected NHL is long, long gone. It’s ripe for a makeover that only competition could bring.

It also brings us back to the old days of the World Hockey Association (WHA). First looked at as a joke, it quickly became a threat, and well, the rest as we know is history. Rumour has it the best player that ever played in the NHL first played in the WHA. So, as far as crazy, there is no reason to support that idea. In fact, the time is now for a lot of reasons.

And with players in the NHLPA no doubt sharing disgust for the management and ownership, there may be a lot of interest moving forward (see the list of ex-NHL’ers to have made their way to the KHL already).

The Moscow Dynamo have been around a long time, and play great hockey....imagine going to Copps to see them play!

Imagine entertaining the Moscow Dynamo at Copps Colliseum. A reality that could come true with a little vision. Having Canadians embrace an international hockey battle on a regular basis may just be the ticket! It was always a huge draw in the past.

From a marketing perspective, I would easily say that Jim Balsillie has millions of angry hockey fans ready to stand behind his next move.

But what should that move be.

Antitrust? I don’t know. The Canadian Competition Bureau has shown collectively why they get paid to appease the people, rather than enforcing the law. So, in my opinion now, they are useless. They are out.

However, this is where it could get interesting.

Alexander Frolov in 2004-05 with Dynamo

There has been much talk about another league. Even experts have agreed that starting another professional hockey league would be just the ticket to have the fans in the GTA, and all of southern Ontario, perhaps Canada rally behind Balsillie to make it work.

I would even go as far as to say some fans in Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and, yes, even Toronto would support Jim Balsillie out of sheer frustration as to the shunning of more Canadian teams, and because fans, especially in the GTA, cannot see NHL hockey at any price.

In short, from a marketing perspective, it would be like a bunch of Tim Horton customers suddenly finding out something terrible about Tim’s, and how a monopoly existed, and how much those coffee nuts would make a point of supporting any alternative that wasn’t them!

Well, we have that marketing opportunity now.

We have millions and millions and millions. Did I say millions? Yes, millions of fans in Canada, not just Hamilton and area that would welcome an alternative.

We, as fans would welcome an alternative that would fly in the face of the smug (insert expletive deletive here!) at the NHL, and the owners. I, for one, will never watch another NHL hockey game until they have a change of heart, come back on their knees, and beg Jim Balsillie to buy a franchise, and put it in Copps Colliseum. I, and many others are boycotting this league for as long as that takes.

Jim Balsillie, in my opinion, and the opinion is shared by many, is a man who has exposed the NHL and it’s partners for the seedy business people that they are.

I don’t follow wrestling, but in the old days, my dad would tell me to come on over, and sit down, after all it was Saturday afternoon, and Hockey Night in Canada wasn’t on yet. Come watch the wrestling. As my dad said time and again with a slick smile, “It’s all fixed you know, it’s a put on”.

“Yes dad, I know”.

And we’d sit there and laugh, and marvel at “how real” the wrestlers made it all seem. How their “acting” was hokey but entertaining. But it just wasn’t real. It was phony.

Well, the NHL has become phony to me.

I disagree with Jim Balsillie for once. If an NHL team came to Hamilton at this point, and Jim Balsillie wasn’t the owner, I don’t believe I would be in line to buy tickets. The NHL would have won. I would remember back to the “we are gods” attitude of Bill Daly, when he said:

Not so fast, smug ones. I would love to see a little competition come your way!

“We admire and respect their passion for the sport and maybe at some point in the future they will have their own franchise.”

I’m with my friends on this one. That is simply not good enough.

Did I tell you there were millions of people in Hamilton area, let alone all over southern Ontario unhappy?

Well, let’s get back to Jim Balsillie.

Somewhere in a bank account, Jim has $240 million dollars.

The money was earmarked to do some good for the City of Hamilton and it’s people.

It was designated to stimulate the city he loves, and provide hockey to the hungry fans.

Well, if you are of my generation, you would remember the ’72 Summit series. Hockey so good, that they brought black and white televisions in the school gyms so the kids could all support Canada. What would we do to see more of that kind of hockey? That would make the NHL look run of the mill, like it should look.

That would make the Maple Leafs look like slugs.

That would make those at MLSE cringe.

And remember, a state of the art facility would attract the real money. The concerts and other events that would make 40 spots of hockey look trivial.

The argument in Glendale, AZ could be made here. A state of the art entertainment facility would bring so much revenue and interest to Hamilton that it could not help but stimulate the economy.

And if Jim Balsillie would stand to get a piece of that pie, who cares. I’d support that.

And, if Jim Balsillie were to put together a “select” professional team, that played a schedule of games against european elite teams, I would definitely help pack the new, state of the art arena, and several million (did I say million?) of the hungry hockey fans would add revenues to the ultimate goal of perhaps springing up another team in, say Winnipeg, Quebec City, Saskatoon, out east, and on and on.

Pretty soon, we might be able to break away or enhance the european influence, but if it is so good why bother.

We could create a hockey experience that makes the NHL pale in comparison.

And why?

It’s very simple. The iron is hot. The NHL doesn’t deserve our money, nor that of anyone else.

MLSE deserves to sweat, and not just over hockey.

No, MLSE deserves to have plenty of competition as the years to come will be filled with a society of kids that don’t consider hockey the number one choice. MLSE and the Leafs will have reached the abyss of being able to charge ridiculous hockey rates. It will and could soon be over for them.

So, if Mr. Jim Balsille were to take his $240 million and build a complex so elaborate that the world would take notice, it would increase the stature of Hamilton, and he could throw a hockey team in there that would make the NHL drool.

$240 million could do a lot. And to break the monopoly of the MLSE and give people a reason to vote with their wallets would be priceless.

I wouldn’t line up to pay the crooks in the NHL a chance to watch their product.

But I would support a team Jim Balsillie would put there.

Balsillie is a visionary too good for the hokey hockey league known as the NHL.

Another WHA may be in order here.

And to start with building a state of the art arena and entertainment complex may not be so crazy. That is one idea of Gary Bettman’s we can agree on. At least in Canada, if you build it, they will come.

Maybe our thinking was all wrong. Perhaps it’s time to Make it one! A vision for a new league!

More reading: How it all went wrong : Globe and Mail

Bettman, Daly the toast: Globe and Mail

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Antitrust, bankruptcy, Competition Bureau, Corruption, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes

Hamilton, Winnipeg, or a shuffle off to Saskatoon?

Posted on October 2, 2009 | 1 Comment

For the bullet summary, please go here.

One way or the other, Canada, the land of the shunned is yet again destined to bail out the NHL’s ‘derrieres’………put another way, send us your turkeys, they are cleared at Customs!

Ice Edge Holdings is interested again in the Phoenix Coyotes?

Might as well ship some of the turkeys to Canada, as there aren't that many viable hockey markets you know

Yes, okay, but are they interested in the albatross lease? That is the bigger question.

And, this may be a little bit premature, because it would seem the ruling passed down in the case of a ‘no sale’, has asked the NHL to pony up an amount (undisclosed) to bring Gretzky and Moyes in equal creditor status.

That has left some speculating that the amount could be as high as an additional $100 million, or an amount equivalent to mirroring the PSE offer.

The NHL, in its shallow victory didn’t exactly seem ready to spring the champagne corks, as they simply chose to comment on their happiness that the court sees their right to pick who owns the teams, and where they are located.

Speaking of location, the NHL has talked a good game, but now they have an opportunity to walk the talk.

Are there really buyers ready to take a long term commitment in Phoenix?

Let’s not forget the “deep pocket” requirement that goes along with owning a fat turkey in the U.S. South, known as an NHL franchise.

All you have to do is ask Tony Tavares if his money was any good. Personally, I’d trade places with Tavares in the equity department, but apparently he doesn’t have a ‘personal enough’ equity stake to satisfy the “we want to tap you dry” requirement of the NHL. (Note: “personal enough” as in we ‘tap you for all you’ve got’).

You just have to remember Gary Bettman saying he believes Jerry Moyes was in equity position not creditor, when he said they owed him nothing. Note to all owners in the NHL, start giving “loans’ to your teams! No more equity!

Only problem is, the judge in the case, Redfield Baum, has agreed with Moyes and Gretzky, that they are “owed money”.

So, there is a precedent after all!

Yes, the NHL sure knows how to tap owners dry. And without repeating myself too much, perhaps again Jerry Moyes could take comfort in knowing that he wasn’t as alone as he might have thought. Although his friends may not have been in Glendale, he has men of equal stature getting tapped in Florida, and surprise, they are being told they had better “walk away” from their turkeys too.

But, then there is the young, strapping new fellas at Ice Edge.

With vim and vigour they are heading down to Glendale again to discuss ways to work a deal on the team.

Well, just a thought.

Make sure the deal is “just about hockey”, won’t ya fellas?

After all, all the foreclosures in Glendale could have you drooling to ship in some Canadian content, and import hockey fans.

Maybe that’s the new take?

Sell the foreclosures to Canadians. If you can’t take hockey from the desert, perhaps we can bring Canadians to hockey.

Then, if they are wealthy, they can buy up the corporate boxes at a feverish clip, solving that problem.

Maybe not so crazy after all.

Well, Daryl Jones and Ice Edge, it’s not quite post-bankruptcy yet.

What’s the angle?

Could it be get the Coyotes and the City to break the lease, a la the NHL gets the deal, and you benefit? Could it be five games in Saskatoon is a precursor for 40?

Or do you truly want to take on the albatross known as the lease?

Remember, it isn’t the lease payments, considering $4 million in $100 million in losses is only four percent.

It’s when you realize you can’t make money, and you have no money pit to trough from, and you are stuck with the turkey in the desert, that’s what is going to hurt.

So could Saskatoon be the ultimate plan, or is the aspects of foreclosures, and investing in real estate and back taxes the bigger draw?

Well, according to just about everybody, it would appear the Coyotes are destined to pack and leave.

This from Reuters:

If the NHL buys the team, analysts said its losses would force a move because Glendale was unlikely to offer the team a deal that would make staying there worthwhile.

It is generally not expected that the NHL would retain ownership of the team for more than a year or two, which could be enough time to find an owner willing to keep it in Arizona.

“One year is a very long time,” said David Carter, executive director with the USC Sports Business Institute. “So much could happen in the course of next year.”

Many analysts expect the NHL to allow a relocation to protect the value of the franchise.

“There aren’t as many markets as you might think,” Ganis said.

There is something yet again strange with the Ice Edge “pick me, pick me” excitement, yet the NHL, as in bankruptcy just doesn’t seem to share the enthusiasm. Bill Daly speaking with the National Post seemed to say they are keeping their options open, and are not going to make a quick decision.

Okay folks, red light!

What’s up?

Jim Balsillie walked away a little too quickly and easily, out of character for him, for sure.

He’s getting a deal now, or when another turkey comes up for sale. At the high priced turkey seasons of Thanksgiving or Christmas no doubt. Could Hamilton see a team sooner than later.

There are teams to be moved. What about Winnipeg.

There aren’t that many markets as we now hear.

Canada is looking better all the time.

And Ice Edge, perhaps you are approaching this all wrong.

Don’t try to import hockey fans and sell them the foreclosures in Arizona, just cut your losses, and ask to ship a turkey to Saskatoon.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Antitrust, bankruptcy, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Sports

Are you ready to "expand" NHL? What's the deal?

Posted on October 1, 2009 | 2 Comments

For the bullet summary, please go here.

We, the hockey fans that came a long way deserve a better fate than what appears on the surface. We the fans have been heard, we just don’t know it yet. The impact we have had on the NHL has been far-reaching, and now the league needs to come up with a ‘creative way’ to save face. Oh, how to do it? Well, what you are about to read is a theory of the ending, explained by the entire picture, and what must have been discovered…..read on my friends……

The ties that ‘bond’

Questions – there are so many.

The decision that came down in court yesterday was so strange, that the only thing stranger was the reaction from the parties involved. Did anybody catch this too?

The case that took five months to settle, that jokingly could have been ruled in a week (based on the result), ended abruptly. Or, did it?

People on this site might consider me the eternal optimist and write off what I’m about to say. Well, give me a chance. Read, and let it absorb for a while, and then piece the puzzle together before you judge my theory.

Hamilton may be closer to getting an NHL team than you may know, and there may be a deal closer than we might think.

There are several ‘out of character’ comments that strike the ‘strange cord’ from the fallout of the ruling from yesterday. The good news, and a big issue here, is it appears the NHL might have to mirror the Balsillie bid in money, and that would mean Jerry Moyes would get what he would have gotten with a PSE victory. That, of course, will be up to the NHL to determine if they are willing to fulfill the court’s requirements, but there is strong reason to believe they will.

So, the bankruptcy case will have solved Jerry Moyes’ issue, and that’s huge. But did it also do something significant for Jim Balsillie?

Let’s start by looking at the facts, from the ‘reaction’ front to try to figure this out.

Amongst the very strange comments made after the decision, here are the strangest in my opinion:

Jim Balsillie commenting that it’s over. He will not seek appeal. This is out of character for a persistent man that looked like he was building an anti-trust case during the trial. So, now, it’s over?
The NHL’s only comment yesterday, was that it was pleased that the court ruled in it’s favor, and that the league has the right to choose who owns the franchises.
Jim Balsillie saying hockey is closer than ever for Hamilton? Wait a minute Jim just lost, remember?
Jim Balsillie saying he will be first in line to buy tickets? (Sell them you mean, don’t you Jim?)
Tom Harrington reporting on the case in the one breath telling us Balsillie lost, and in another stating that Jim Balsillie could be considered for an expansion team (see video)?

Out of character indeed. Strange? Absolutely.

Jim Balsillie has been a pitbull in his attack of the NHL, it’s processes, and it’s good boy’s club.

Suddenly Jim,’ the pitbull’, puts his tail between his legs and goes home? No, no, no. Sorry, not buying it.

What I can “buy” is the fact that there were many months the Balsillie legal team was looking into the workings of the NHL, and without telling you all I know (it would go against something I promised someone), I can tell you this much.

As mentioned on several occasions, there are things I see from a site owner perspective to give a good indication of things that might not be seen otherwise. That is how the initial investigation started at the outset, and fittingly, how it has ended. Patrick Romanoski is the only other person I have shared my information with, and we are, well, sworn to keep it to ourselves.

But, at the same time, I feel the need to share it with the people of Canada, because we have all been in this together, fighting along with Jim, and now suddenly, it’s lunch bag letdown time. No, I am here to tell you the facts speak a different language. The ruling of ‘no sale’ was likely by design.

How it began is how it ended

A strange ‘hit’ to the site many months ago that got the ball rolling, and a few recent ones might have effectively ended it.

The situation in Glendale began years ago as a case of a city needing growth. The city as we know is Glendale.

They decided to bite the bullet and attack sports facilities as a means to attract residents, build the tax base, and otherwise thrive.

Glendale had quickly become the location of choice for the Arizona Cardinals and the Phoenix Coyotes. The common denominator – Michael Reinsdorf and International Facilities Group (IFG).

While IFG was quick to tell us that they constructed the Cardinals’ stadium, they also were responsible for the construction of the now Jobing.com arena.

While IFG was responsible for aspects of consulting on the Cardinals’ stadium, they strangely backed off dealings on Jobing.com arena, and instead brought in Beacon Sports to assess and give advice to the City of Glendale. That, in itself seemed a little strange. That is, unless the company needed to have a non-arms length relationship with Jobing.com and the city.

Michael Reinsdorf, as I pointed out, professes to be an expert in lease negotiations. So why didn’t he get involved with the lease between Jerry Moyes and the City of Glendale?

It never really made sense, and we, as the public know who several key creditors have been in this bankruptcy, but let’s ask the obvious question. How come we do not know who the bondholder is?

Well, I suppose the bondholder is once removed from the situation. That is, the bond is a deal between the City of Glendale and the bondholder. It is only the lease that is the issue between the hockey team and the City, and only that forms part of the financial obligations in this case. So, who holds the bond, although huge, is not directly a party to the bankruptcy.

But, as mentioned several times, the ‘ah ha’ moment would be to know who holds the bonds?

Why?

Glendale has sold out to private investment money to fund infrastructure growth. They built Jobing.com arena with no money down, but with a huge promise to come through with sales tax, to fulfill the bond terms. The only way to generate sales tax, is if you have tenants to bring the people in.

In this case, the hockey team is a condition of the bond terms, and revenue from sales tax the agreement.

We on Make it Seven have recently surmized that the NHL may have been involved with the arranging (convincing) of the City to take on the loan structure, and in effect the NHL may have been a party to being on the hook to meet the bond’s obligations.

Now, in the judge’s ruling of yesterday, is it clear that the NHL actually got the one-year out clause it was looking for?Again, I don’t believe it was clear at all. And, in fact, a lease concession of that huge a magnitude is simply a concession that I do not believe the City of Glendale is at liberty to allow. The Goldwater Group would see to that.

So, if indeed the NHL, by assuming this team would be on the hook for the close to $800 million lease liability, why would they take the deal? Unless they too are bound by it.

Remember again, the NHL philosophy is first you need a state of the art arena, and then a team, and then the fans will come (they hope).

Well, as we know in Glendale, we have a location where it is inconvenient for so many people to make it on time for a game, that many have likely elected to forget it. The location for the state of the art facility was wrong. But, the NHL, and the hockey team have been held accountable for it.

So, we have Jim Balsillie.

For Jim, all guns were ablazing for several months, and his desire to obtain an NHL franchise flew in the face of the NHL itself. But, at some point, would this strategy fail?

The answer is yes.

The court has proven it.

Why would Jim back down now? Why not antitrust? He could continue to make the life of the NHL and it’s executives a living nightmare for years to come. God only knows he has the financial wherewithall to do it. So why back off? Good question.

Here’s where the theory comes in. What if the PSE legal team found out something so juicy, it would make everybody stand up and take notice. A lot like the NHL, the City of Glendale, and a developer all coming to this site one day, when I pinned the tail on the donkey, and determined Jerry Moyes was taken for a ride. Bingo.

Well, I think there was a second ‘Bingo’ moment, and I believe that PSE found out a very important fact.

The fact: Who holds the Jobing.com arena bonds?

If PSE and it’s team of lawyers were able to find out who holds the bonds, and it ties in with the suspicion of collusion nicely in this case, as the basketball announcer would say, “Get out the salami and cheese mama, this game is over”.

Well, I have reason to support the idea that in the last little while a break occured in this case, and PSE was able to do just that. I believe they found out who holds the bonds, and the situation, even to PSE became clear.

Jim Balsillie, not being the bad guy he was painted to be probably realized the significance of the finding, and also realized that it would not be good for certain parties to this bankruptcy. After all, we are all human, and who would have known it would come to this?

So, having information of significant magnitude, a deal could have been made. A deal that would work for everybody.

Instead of the prolonging of the facade of “character assasination” of Jim Balsillie, the game could now end.

The judge could look like the bad guy. The league, if it comes back to a ‘given up’ Jim Balsillie, a good guy.

Jim Balsillie was never going to get into this league by continuing to make the NHL and it’s people eat crow.

At some point he would have to back down. But, he may have enough clout now to have harboured a deal.

To put the finishing touch on this idea, let’s remember how badly the NHL wants to get this team out of bankruptcy.

Remember Ice Edge? The comment form Daryl Jones being they would only have an opportunity to buy the team “post bankruptcy”?

Why post-bankruptcy? Why not during bankruptcy?

Well, in bankruptcy, Jerry Moyes knew that the league would not be able to change loan terms, specifically bond terms.

But, if one of the parties to the collusion were to also be the bondholder, then out of bankruptcy, the bond payment terms could be made a lot easier on the City of Glendale, and maybe, just maybe the financial situation of the Coyotes in Glendale might have a chance.

The issue is this.

If the NHL is bound to remain in Glendale legally for the remainder of the lease, then they need to do all they can to find an owner. The bondholder would be motivated to ensure the stream of payments is maintained.

Judge Baum, appearing as the indecisive judge, cared less about his reputation, and in the end more about Jerry Moyes than we might appreciate. After all, Jerry Moyes will get his money here.

The Coyotes might stay in Glendale.

The NHL will still have one heck of a rough ride.

And, Jim Balsillie will have found out enough information to keep quiet, that when he goes to buy those tickets for hockey in Hamilton, he might actually turn around and sell them.

That’s right, he just might be made an offer that comes from a very generous league. A league that will look like good guys for having a change of heart.

A league that might offer Jim Balsillie an expansion franchise, as suggested oddly by Tom Harrington. What is striking about the comments by Harrington, is that the league was very “low key”, and that they cited Hamilton as the 5th best market in potential. Harrington said there may be opportunity for Hamilton, “and Jim Balsillie.” Now is that strange or what, especially coming off a bitterly contested battle? This is certainly not in keeping with previous atttitude or demeanor of both sides – the NHL or Jim Balsillie.

As Philip Mastronardi said so well:

…..something isnt right, I dont know what it is but i get the feeling things are far from over.
Phillip Mastronardi | | Oct 01, 12:52pm

Others are also getting the “feeling” this is not in keeping with the tone or the situation. “Something just isn’t right” alright, so what is it?

Well, I am here to say that information is power, and I believe there are secrets best kept secret in the NHL. And, keeping things quiet might just be worth a lot.

So, what’s not right?

We all know Jim Balsillie never, ever gives up! So why is he giving up now?

I think this tweet I found last night summarizes the bond albatross situation with a light heart:

RT @MichelleKenneth : Holy crap! RT @TheYotesDiva It would’ve cost Jim $794,663,034.00 to break that lease with the City of Glendale. 15 hours ago

Perhaps the reality of being ‘stuck’ with the albatross lease is playing into the thinking of the NHL, yet again, as Bill Daly had this to say:

“We are pleased that the Bankruptcy Court has confirmed the League’s rights to select its owners and the location of its franchises. We are reviewing the opinion and considering how we can best address the Court’s concerns regarding our offer to purchase the Coyotes. It remains our goal to secure the long-term stability of the Coyotes in Glendale.”

Yep, the ‘bond’ that ties likely is better tying someone else up, right Jim?

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Antitrust, bankruptcy, Competition Bureau, Corruption, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Sports

Are you ready to “expand” NHL? What’s the deal?

Posted on October 1, 2009 | 2 Comments

For the bullet summary, please go here.

The ties that ‘bond’

Questions – there are so many.

The decision that came down in court yesterday was so strange, that the only thing stranger was the reaction from the parties involved. Did anybody catch this too?

The case that took five months to settle, that jokingly could have been ruled in a week (based on the result), ended abruptly. Or, did it?

Hamilton may be closer to getting an NHL team than you may know, and there may be a deal closer than we might think.

So, the bankruptcy case will have solved Jerry Moyes’ issue, and that’s huge. But did it also do something significant for Jim Balsillie?

Let’s start by looking at the facts, from the ‘reaction’ front to try to figure this out.

Amongst the very strange comments made after the decision, here are the strangest in my opinion:

Jim Balsillie commenting that it’s over. He will not seek appeal. This is out of character for a persistent man that looked like he was building an anti-trust case during the trial. So, now, it’s over?
The NHL’s only comment yesterday, was that it was pleased that the court ruled in it’s favor, and that the league has the right to choose who owns the franchises.
Jim Balsillie saying hockey is closer than ever for Hamilton? Wait a minute Jim just lost, remember?
Jim Balsillie saying he will be first in line to buy tickets? (Sell them you mean, don’t you Jim?)
Tom Harrington reporting on the case in the one breath telling us Balsillie lost, and in another stating that Jim Balsillie could be considered for an expansion team (see video)?