Category Archives: Competition Bureau

Olsen: “When did the Constitution become negotiable?”

Posted on March 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

What does Charlie Sheen and “Winning” have to do with Canadians wanting more hockey? Read on my friends…..Dos Equis or not!

Gotta love it, eh?

Canada, you are getting a taste now why hockey in Glendale has always been a political battle. And my theory is that there are investors in Abu Dhabi that have become a nightmare for the City of Glendale. Attached to them are the names that put the investors in touch, so to speak, with “the deal”, and they are all hoping the big penalty doesn’t come in to play. And no, it’s not even close to a game misconduct, far worse in fact. The game misconduct is in not providing the game of usury debt streams.

If it were not a political battle then, as argued before, this case would have been over a long time ago.

My daughter likes to blurt regularly, “Get over yourself”, whenever someone seems a little self righteous. And when I hear people tell us they have “told us” something many times before I agree with her. That’s what will make this situation and the far out angle we have taken come home to roost. So, excuse me for rubbing it in here shortly.

If indeed this was a pure battle of what makes the most economic hockey sense from a pure profit angle, Jim Balsillie would be putting the finishing touches on the new state of the art arena. The only issue would probably have been what to name the arena. Do we change it from Copps to RIM, or something else? What a dilemma that would be. The problem du jour would be a whole lot different than where we are today. Canadians you could simply keep focused on what you always wanted to focus on coming to makeiteighteh.com – - talk on the Coyotes and giving you the trash on the corruption. You could come looking for any dirt that would suggest Hamilton, or Winnipeg, or Quebec might get hockey back.

And worst of all, you might still be thinking if we don’t piss off Gary Bettman, we may actually get him to see Canada as a deserving place to put more hockey. Be good fellow Canucks, Gary seems to be happy about Canada today! Don’t rock the boat. Phewie! Wake up! It’s time to tip the boat over because it has a leak caused by years of corruption. The same corruption that has taken over the U.S. government and is trashing that Constitution!

When Gary Bettman asked who the Goldwater Institute answers to, he might as well have said, “Didn’t they get the memo on the new economy?” Who do they answer to indeed! Wow! Some entity not in on the taxpayer wealth stripping party! Absurd!

I am going to insert a very loaded interview between Brahm Resnik who is a broadcaster in Phoenix, but first and foremost a Canadian. He is interviewing Darcy Olsen of the Goldwater Institute that has the Constitution of the United States of America on her side. And, in a country where the current White House Administration views the Constitution as a thorn in the side of the real agenda, she is a refreshing change of pace from Corruption Incorporated. You know Brahm as the man with the twitter account who, like a gracious Canadian, answers everybody!

He even answered a good friend of mine that wrote an article for this site way back when that showed some detail about the Jobing.com bond issue – - a bubble within a bubble. Eloquently put I would say. Unfortunately Resnik  at the outset commented to him that there didn’t seem to be a point. I wonder if he would care to reread it now and see if that opinion has changed, In fact why don’t you all read it again and see the points made that are suddenly becoming significant. The bubble within a bubble – - the economic sell out of Glendale.

What are the new sky is falling numbers out of Glendale’s City Hall – - $500 million and complete collapse? Why? Really? Forty home dates of hockey is going to impact a City putting in a Casino and can increase concerts? Something is not right. Where’s the real deal Glendale? Who is holding your City hostage? Why is Gary Bettman really bending over backward to spare an embarrassment that will make Jerry Moyes’ pale in comparison?

In this interview, I love the fact that Olsen points out to Resnik that although hockey is important to many, there is the case against pulling the plug on Grandma that they are involved with that is challenging the U.S. Healthcare reform. Sorry Canada, that is a little more important!  Here’s where I insert my own shameless plug, proving I am a hypocrite when I say that I hate self-promotion.

And where did my article end up? Infowars.com and the leader of the battle against the attack on that nasty Constitution.

That’s right, you may have heard of Alex Jones, if at no other time than on the View with Barbara Walters, as she was ready to blow a gasket. You see, Jones wanted to cram in as much stuff on the bad things that have been done to Americans and the Constitution that he took every opportunity to tell us all about “building 7″ in New York on 9/11, the killing of innocent Iraqis during the war on the weapons of mass destruction, and on and on. Whoopie Goldberg looked like she was taking downers for a change, trying to get Jones to slow down. It was a crazy few minutes, but a victory and a way to further the Charlie Sheen cause .

Is it any wonder Sheen is basking in the glory of destroying the New World Order and is as popular as ever for the campaign of “Winning”? The next time you watch Saturday Night Live try to separate the attack from the humor and you will see something far from funny. The system controlled by mainstream media is scared, and they are threatened.

You must excuse Charlie for looking disturbed and overcoming substance abuse. Anyone who has come from that place and is still effective at bringing attention to the issues of the day is brilliant. It is an interesting dilemma – - do you look at Charlie the man and say he is at this time a little off, or do you look at the bigger picture and agenda, and realize he truly is winning? And by winning, again, we mean drawing attention to supporting the Constitution, peoples’ rights, and freedom. Or, did you miss the whole point? He may come across as the madman across the water, but the point is the people across the water want to hear him.

When Whoopie Goldberg said she wanted to figure out what was happening with Charlie, they should have let Alex Jones have an hour to explain that Sheen’s problems happened when he wanted 20 minutes with the President. In fairness, if the system wanted to vilify you, you’d go a little nuts too!

So hockey, right?

Point is, hockey and politics, and the U.S. Constitution is all in focus. The Coyotes in Phoenix and the other NHL teams are all affected by corruption and taxpayer abuse by a sports league that is no different than the rest. John McCain has come forward to support the Coyotes because of political issues. We have seen a lot on this site, and we have shown a glimmer of those over time to you here. We have seen the politics, the ties to land developers, and we have seen the game within the game.

When we realize that the game of hockey has been held hostage to land developers and financiers, we will look at the next bubble within a bubble coming to Edmonton right now, and see it for what it really is. Edmonton is being held hostage by the “convenient excuse” that the taxpayers should own the arena, just like in Glendale. The real reason is because the taxes are guaranteed to those behind the financing, and they can score many times the value of the arena in interest payments over time.

Glendale saying that their economy will collapse makes no sense to anyone on the surface. It’s what you cannot see that is the issue. Will we let it become the issue in Edmonton too? Are they the replacement cash cow?

Will we, as Canadians think we are living in a protective bubble, where Stephen Harper is not part of the Club? We have looked at him too here on this site.

It’s time to realize hockey is politically driven. It’s time to join the party and start winning too.

When Resnik asked Olsen if Canadians were making contributions to the Goldwater Institute’s battle against the case for keeping the team in Glendale, it made me laugh.

It made Olsen laugh too.

As an issue for a Canadian like Resnik who really knows better because of his political analysis agenda, it shows that there has always been a more important mission. It has been a mission of human rights and freedoms. It’s all about a bigger issue of righteousness! It’s about people having rights. Like Jerry Moyes! Remember him? The man served proxies instead of compassion?

When are we going to understand there are bigger issues than hockey? And you can’t just throw money at that! In short, any Canadians who think throwing money at the Goldwater Institute will motivate them more to take on the NHL had better “get over themselves”!

It’s about WINNING!…. DUH! Winning the big picture not the little hockey picture!

While Darcy Olsen does it the politically correct way,  Charlie Sheen lets it all hang out – -  what’s the difference?  He is in essence saying the heck with all things politically correct because politics is corrupt people!  They built him up and gave him power and now he is turning the machine against themselves- – a stroke of brilliance!

Who does he need to answer to? Nobody! Who does Goldwater need to answer to — normal everyday people fed up with the system of taxpayer abuse. So, Mr. Bettman, I hope that clarifies things a little bit. After all, you did want to know who Goldwater is accountable to.

It’s all about loving the preserving of human rights! It’s about upholding the Constitution that represents those rights. And in Canada, we need to pay careful attention too.

A man’s actions define him. Sheen is overcoming all odds to show just how intelligent he is. Playing the nutbar to bring attention to himself to further the bigger issues.

If Lindsay Lohan’s drinking can bring her fame and attention, Sheen is getting more than 20 minutes with the world. Why bother trying to influence the President when you are more popular than Obama? Refreshing and fresh! Free and carefree! Liberated and fanciful!

So thank you Charlie Sheen for taking your popularity to a meaningful level, despite what they are trying to do to you! Oh, and Darcy and the Goldwater Institute: Many thanks as well.

And with Charlie Sheen’s popularity hitting an all-time high, there is something about him that attracts people. Perhaps it is the underlying truth! Maybe he should have this to say, being “the most popular man in the world”,

” Stay thirsty for the truth my friends!”

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Posted in 9/11, Afghanistan, Antitrust, Banking System, Bilderberg, Canada, Canadian Politics, Carlyle Group, Competition Bureau, Corruption, Health, Healthcare, Money, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Police State, Politics, Spirituality, Sports, Stephen Harper, US Politics

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Find us a replacement Cash Cow!

Posted on March 16, 2011 | Leave a comment

Who’s kidding who?

Daryl Katz has said that the tax base would provide revenue from the new Edmonton Arena into “perpetuity”.

Let’s go south, way south, and ask  Glendale, AZ  if they could do it all over again would they have taken ownership of the arena that has the bondholders holding them hostage? And, I know you are sick of this question, but we are going to keep asking it until we get an answer – - who the heck are the arena bondholders at Jobing.com?

The financing for the Edmonton Arena District is also a big question. The mayor wants to approve it, but has he and council been given enough details to make a real decision? To look at the opportunity and true costs? To consider how this affects their model for City growth?

Who the heck do these boys from the NHL think they are coming into town like gangsters looking for “protection money” and holding the Oilers fans hostage? The city is obviously hockey mad. And to add to the experience, the Rexall arena is apparently a great cozy place to take in the game.

If you want to compare a similar mistake, head over to the ACC in Toronto and compare the feeling you got at  Maple Leaf Gardens of old to the new, improved giant. Memories and Dreams has been replaced by, “wow, we are way up here aren’t we?”

But, despite it all, the Rexall Place lease is up in 2014, and they will not be renewing their lease. They will simply not be playing there, according to Gary Bettman. It’s too small potatoes for the vision of greatness and those confusing “revenue streams” that are so important. The big question remains who gets the biggest revenue streams? And, is the stream of cash going offshore?

For the 2009/10 season average attendance at Rexall was 16,839. With capacity at 17,100, we are close to filling the place, but not overburdened at Rexall. Gary Bettman sees it a problem that true hockey fans represent 60% of attendance – - individuals that is. I say where’s the problem? Hockey is for individuals. The Coyotes under the Gretzky Project could not find businesses to buy into the corporate game, and that was the telltale kiss of death. If there were enough individuals in love with hockey in Phoenix it might stand a chance.

How is it perceived that Edmonton will find more fans to pay even more than they are now?

Both the fans and residents will no doubt be paying large to fund the new digs.

There are examples of taxpayer nightmares all over the NHL wasteland, and the road show has now been taken north because the roadkill of the south is starting to stink in the heat.

In Columbus, the owners followed the lead of the NHL and built the private boxes and the new arena, and they still lost money. The answer from the NHL we will learn below, was to tap into the community as a whole.

Is it all about the big money surrounding financing?

Why pressure Edmonton now?

It’s easy to see the lure to exploit a city making some money, and where people have some pretty good jobs.

It’s time to take Alberta’s current economic boom and dip into the trough of dough of the City of Edmonton. But it should be understood they are a little tight, and in debt themselves. The City’s  AAA rating hasn’t been ravaged by the aggressive aspirations that ruined the City of Glendale. We all know they are now one of the most debt-burdened cities in the entire U.S.

Edmonton would be wise to ensure they don’t go down that road on promises backed by hot air.

Unfortunately we have seen that once the city takes on the gamble, the fiasco in the desert of Arizona has proven that the finance pitbulls aren’t going to release the death grip. They will call the shots, and the municipality and the league will have to react and keep them happy. Common sense and what is good for the game will not be at the control of those supposedly in charge of bringing a game for the benefit of the fans. Options, options and more options!

What else could be behind Bettman and the NHL dragging their heels and bending over backwards for a team that by merit needs to relocate?

Is it those pesky financiers of the Jobing.com arena? Yeah, it’s got to be a rhetorical question, n’est-ce pas?

Important here is the  capacity of Edmonton to weather the storm of a potential similar mistake. Where do they stand financially going into this  critical, and ill-informed decision ?:

The City is projecting that the tax-supported debt burden grew by 60% in 2009 to $878 million, or $1,123 per capita, with ongoing capital projects pushing the burden to roughly $1,800 per capita by the end of 2011. Although this represents a significant increase and further squeezes the budget due to debt servicing requirements, DBRS views the burden as potentially manageable provided the City continues to exhibit fiscal discipline. However, Edmonton will have consumed most of its room to manoeuvre within the current rating category. Beyond 2011, the outlook for capital spending and debt is less certain. DBRS notes that any material increase beyond the current tax-supported debt forecast would likely apply notable downward pressure to the rating.

A decent credit rating and some room for more debt makes them a target for abuse.

Who are the real investors and bondholders and developers behind this mega project? Will they be hidden from public view and scrutiny as in the case in Glendale, AZ?

It’s my ball, and if you don’t play my way, I’m taking my ball home

Or, as Darcy Olsen would say, Gary Bettman is playing hide the ball.

I must apologize to Darcy Olsen of the Goldwater Institute, I didn’t realize she was a lady, and a sharp cookie at that!

She can be seen here discussing the issues of the Constitution with Judge Andrew Napolitano. I think Gary Bettman must wonder how the whole country wasn’t in on the taxpayer tapping party, and the Constitution it would seem is a roadblock, at least in Phoenix, to the sports leagues ability to squeeze the taxpayers more:

It’s almost too much research to do, but we don’t have to dig hard to scratch the evidence even at the surface.

When Ross Perot Jr. and Tom Hicks took on the Victory Park Project in Dallas, it wasn’t long before their vision of world-class venues and offices, and apartments went caflooey.

How about Columbus and their “arena district”. How have they done? Gone “world class?” Well:

Priest said he met with National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly more than a year ago and presented the team’s business plan, wondering how, despite decent ticket sales and corporate sponsorships, the team was still losing so much money. The league’s response: The team isn’t making as much money off the arena as other clubs.

It’s all about taxation folks. Quick, simple. Hockey doesn’t make money without taxing residents of a city. Is the verdict in that it brings in more than it takes away?

Perot and Hicks’ Victory Park – promises, promises

Read up on Dallas’ Victory Park and make your own decision. The game seems to be the same. Someone somewhere is making money, but it is not because the developments have been successful.

And why should they be when the coercion cart was put before the development horse?

The people making decisions were not experts in land use planning, but sales agents for sports leagues, and the NHL seems to be a driver. The real money is holding the debt that is backed by the city’s taxpayers.

Tom Hicks is losing or lost most sports teams so why is he still on the finance audit committee and Vice Chairman of the NHL ?

Where’s the real set of books when teams from all over are charging less for a nosebleed seat than most people can see a movie for?

A team is only “unsustainable” for as long as it takes to get them to build an arena.

And we haven’t gotten to the title of this article yet. Show me the new money.

How much you want to bet that Winnipeg sees hockey only if Edmonton builds the arena district? Otherwise, the NHL will “exercise” other options. And those options will include putting the Coyotes in a place where sooner or later an arena district will be needed.

Winnipeg, you made a mistake in having an arena all ready for the team.

The options the NHL is considering may have more to do with finding the replacement cash cow for a bunch of rich dudes in a place where sand is everywhere.

If Edmonton isn’t Glendale’s replacement opportunity for taxpayer- related revenue streams for those mystery financiers, then they may yet again shun Canada.

If you build it they will come. If you sold your league out to greedy financiers you may have to build it whether they come or not. And then, you will start looking stupid by all the excuses you have to make.

You might really get agitated when a group like the Goldwater Institute rains on the parade, and throws the plan off-course. And worse, it may expose the game surrounding the game.

If Edmonton doesn’t pay the price, the fans of Winnipeg may pay a price too.

In a league where it’s a new arena and development “or else”, the pure enjoyment of the sport is lost. And in the case of hockey for Canadians, it really is a shame, eh?

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Posted in Banking System, Competition Bureau, Corruption, Dallas Stars, Mubadala, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes

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Hulsizer: ” I don’t know why the NHL would cut its price. I don’t know about Glendale cutting the bond offering.”

Posted on March 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

Think back to how fast the Winnipeg team was swept out from under the feet of the good people of Winnipeg. And let’s be clear, I am not one of those good people. I am not from Winnipeg. But, after all this time, I feel like a brother. I feel like the moment I cross the border into Manitoba, it will feel like going to a friend’s house, where his mom asks if you would like to stay for dinner, and although it’s Canada, there’s “an apple pie in the oven”, and boy does it smell good.

Matthew Hulsizer caught wind it would seem that the NHL may have a further trick up its sleeve to sell to someone, anyone, at drastically reduced prices, because although they need revenue to cover losses, they may not want to admit what might be the bigger kettle of fish facing them.

It may not be about getting value for a franchise as the facade being displayed to the hockey world. Something tells me that if the powers that be say hockey will remain at Jobing.com arena, the gods have spoken. Hockey will remain!

Those encumbrances were not part of the picture for Winnipeg way back when in 1996 (it was then, wasn’t it?). You can look up some old video on YouTube where a lady in a bar is seen saying why should the team take tax dollars away from the City of Winnipeg when we have starving homeless people on the street?

That’s just it, isn’t it? Why should a sports league demand a situation where cities are held hostage? Well, one might consider this: Is it the NHL that has taken on more than it can chew in Glendale with whomever holds those nasty Jobing.com bonds? Worth repeating, the lawyers for the City of Glendale mentioned in court that if they lost the team, another hockey team would have to replace it.

Okay, search everyone, search. Where’s the legal arrangement that is holding everyone hostage? It’s so bad, that things will become even more obvious.

What if there are a bunch of rich dudes in Abu Dhabi that are jumping up and down, adamant that this get fixed, or else!

Hulsizer is scratching his head. Hey, wait a minute, why would the NHL sell this team for less than what it offered it to me?, he might be thinking. Would he be then getting ripped off? What’s up with that?

Well, Mr. H should remember Jim Balsillie’s offer that was but wasn’t $212.5 million. Or was it higher? Eh, doesn’t matter really, because unless it was a bajillion dollars it would not satisfy the “sales tax” hound investors likely!

According to the Bet man, the offsets and credits would make it a much lesser number, but it didn’t matter. Probably it didn’t matter because it wasn’t a bajillion “walk away” dollars. It was probably about 87.5 % shy of breaking even to break out of the deal. How much cash is in the NHL vaults? Uh oh!

And unlike the Military Industrial Complex that can raise bucks by telling us all that a guy in a beard hiding in a well-ventilated cave is a threat, the Sports Industrial Complex has to do it by creating a “fear war” that a franchise is not viable if you don’t go along with taxpayer-buck-sucking developments fronted often by owners coming across as “good generous guys“. Oh my, they are so nice to make our city world class! Hurrah for the big complex that the Mayor is just wondering why there aren’t any details for – -hurray!! Find the money quick – - keep those investment savages happy – - hurry !

To admit the team must, by some agreement somewhere be kept in Glendale would suggest there are investors behind the scenes that didn’t exist in Winnipeg.

Things happened a whole lot differently where there were no incumbrances, eh?

That huge sucking sound was the arena and the team draining down the bathtub hole – — squish shoomp – - good to the last drop, get over it Winnipeg, pretend we never were here! I think I could see Gary and Bill in their overalls on the back of the moving truck attaching the sticker “Phoenix or bust”.

Okay the verdicts in — it’s BUST!

The next rabbit up the sleeve might be even more telling and embarrassing for the embattled Commissioner: What if he has to sell at any price to keep the team in Glendale because those investors won’t budge? What if those investors are going to get that sales tax related revenue by cracky or it’s going to get Coyote ugly for the NHL, and all the good boys that put this stinkin‘ deal together? Ouch!

Might lead to a very weary Commissioner feeling a little less than happy to have his job right about now. The house of cards, she’s a shakin’ no?

The option is “whatever someone might pay, right Mr. B?:

“I will not say today when the end is and I will not set a deadline. But at some point, we may have no choice but to begin pursuing our other alternatives,” he said. “We have options but I’m not going to discuss them.”

A rock bottom price might be negative $40 million.

That’s right, pay us $40 million a year and we will put our name on the ownership papers, because wasn’t that what the team lost on pure hockey operations this year?

And, let’s look at the parking thing.

Goldwater says that the City has rights  to parking, and the City is saying the team does. Someone call Jerry Moyes…..“Jerry Moyes to the stand, the plaintiff calls Jerry Moyes”. “Mr. Moyes, did you know you had rights to parking even though you asked repeatedly, and the City of Glendale never returned your phone calls?”

That would mean Goldwater stayed awake during this two-year merry-go-round.

Let’s see, there was Jerry Moyes trying to hang on to the team asking for parking rights – - nope, City no talky to Jerry (Moyes that is, the other Jerry, different treatment).

Ellman wanted to dip into parking at some point too. Sorry Mr. E.

Reinsdorf came with concession list in hand like a kid at Christmas laying out the cookies and milk for Santa. Nope, not even the White Knight can pull it off. Bye Jerry, see ya buddy!

The “low-lying fruit” that Ice Edge had included in their thinking that would get this off the ground, including parking, we were not supposed to remember? Man, no wonder the NHL  was so quick to want to get this resolved in court, but as soon as the case was over – - they put the brakes on, and went back in the huddle for a year and a half or so. Problemo amigo!

And, the rabbit that Glendale hopes is in the hat to solidify their case is parking?

They were hoping the Goldwater Group would not remember the charade of parking concessions paraded up and down every single offer as crucial to make the deals fly?

Is it any wonder Goldwater wants to do a joint press conference with Gary Bettman, but Bettman will not fight the losing battle?

So, if the last rabbit from the hat is Glendale cutting the bond offer, and the NHL will have to give away the ship because of the men in Abu Dhabi it would be so sweet poetic justice wouldn’t it?

It would mean the NHL and Glendale’s only other option would be to maybe pay those mystery men $720 million  - – the lease break penalty and hope they go away. Then Glendale could sue the NHL, but then they would be up against every sport like football and basketball, and all other sports that tap into taxpayer dollars. Well maybe not basketball, Phoenix would have that problem.

Yeah, the Goldwater Group might just look at the Sports Industrial Complex and see it is just a means to separate people from their money. Is it a wonder so many hockey owners also run the horses and Casinos?

See – - nobody lies! They tell us exactly what it’s all about, we just choose not to see the monopoly of wealth suckers because they go by the title of sports owners, foreign investors, investment bankers, and on and on.

Don’t pay attention Goldwater to the fact that all the sports teams were behind keeping the Coyotes in Glendale. They were so nice to support a friend in the NHL. It makes us all warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it? Yeah, they had no reason to support the location of a franchise built on land and urban planning, no. It was all just the “principle of the thing”. Mmmmm hmmm.

So Mr. Hulsizer, if you can find even a little cash on your own, here’s a hint, forget the bond offer, do us a favor and help us show just how desperate and helpless the NHL really is on this one.

And at that point, the jig will officially be up!

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Posted in Banking System, bankruptcy, Canada, Canadian Politics, Competition Bureau, Corruption, Ice Edge Holdings, Money, Mubadala, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes

Bettman: “..the situation is far too serious for such game play”

Posted on March 9, 2011 | Leave a comment

Barry Goldwater can rest peacefully knowing his vision may expose the con of another hidden agenda, ulterior motive

It was a tough decision. Do I go with the above quote for the title of this article, or do I use the other equally interesting and loaded quote of Mr. Gary Bettman, ” I quite frankly don’t know who the people there report to or accountable to”.

Well, one thing is clear, they don’t answer to the same people Mr. Bettman answers to, and they aren’t concerned about anything other than making sure the taxpayers aren’t getting the shaft. I can see how that could get confusing for some people.

For Olsen of the Goldwater Group a private meeting wasn’t enough sweet battatas. Bettman  did  not want to do a joint press conference.

Darcy Olsen, head of the Goldwater Group, can probably see when a payoff is sweet. Come on to a press conference with me Mr. Bettman, she must be thinking to herself. Let’s tell the good people what’s really up. It’s probably like when you get to work in the morning, and the 60 Minutes news crew is waiting in your office. Oh, dang!

The issue he was addressing Tuesday night was the Goldwater Group’s insistence to stick to their principles; their mandate to protect the taxpaying public.

Uh oh! Can you see the wheels spinning folks? Do you think the “game” is being called by the Goldwater Group? Have the shenanigans of the NHL and their urban development deck of cards been met by the windstorm so to speak? Is it all ready to blow over, becoming exposed?

When Gary Bettman served Jerry Moyes proxies for the league’s assistance, he told Ron McLean on HNIC that it was to stop him from doing anything radical.

Let’s think for a moment. If this league had nothing to hide, why would there be need for proxies from the Commissioner to one of the “partners” in the club that supposedly should be privy to the privilege of deciding where arenas get built, etc, etc? Would the rules be have been different for Jerry Moyes because he wasn’t in on the “development pie”?

Was Quebec City and Winnipeg told to build new arenas or we’ll send one of the teams to Phoenix where they were never sure hockey in 105 degree heat would really heat up? Why take hockey away from hockey-crazed Canadians and see if it works in the deep south, for no better reason that I can think of, than to look for the City willing to sell out to urban development?

There’s a sucker born every minute you know. The real sales job was finding that sucker, and they did in the City of Glendale. The NHL has contributed to building a deck of cards, and the only way to keep everyone happy is to continue to build.

They may have lost focus on the fans.

It would sure explain why hockey went where hockey is not popular. Why the bottom teams have to suck off the fat of where true profits lie — in the great White North (cu-loo-coo-cu-cu-coo-cu-coo!). Why the teams in the south will always need approved welfare. Where it made no sense to most of us, it makes perfect sense, in the sense, that it may never have been about hockey operations making a profit on pure hockey operations.

Where owners were truly not happy with just getting in the green because ticket sales were greater than player salaries. The salary cap is a joke.

And so, Tuesday night, Commissioner Bettman had his bluff called. The Goldwater Group wants to air to the world, without ability to read well-written speeches, that they believe this sports league has overstepped its bounds and is taking advantage of the residents and taxpayers of a City.

The Goldwater Group knows exactly what it has here.

Ironically, we laughed at the City of Glendale’s seemingly feeble legal team and argument in court. Glendale likely laughed at Goldwater.

Who’s laughing now?

To close, let’s watch the low-key Mr. Bettman tell Edmonton why they need to cough up the big tax bucks. And for God’s sake, is he trying the “sustainability as a franchise” garbage still in Canada – - the home of hockey? Surely Mr. Bettman is aware that argument is wearing thin! And Bettman has the gall to hold the card that he will pull the plug on the Oilers if a new arena is not built??! Not a threat, eh?

So where does he propose to build the next white elephant instead?!

Where is the priority? Putting hockey where market demands, or is the real money in land and urban development? It’s time we take that to a “press conference” of the NHL. The sooner the better, for the sake of the fans and the game!

It’s quite baffling how he admits the truth, but in a way that has most of us buying into the con. Is he ready to air to the world all the evidence to show who holds bonds behind the scenes, and open up the books to the profits that surround the game? Didn’t think so!

We could look at the comment that the Coyotes were never in jeopardy, and the notion was silly, when you factor in the true source of revenues. Silly us – - the taxpayers were going to pay the freight for the true “revenue streams”, right Mr. B? Masterful means to tell us the truth while we were sleeping. A marvel!

Game over Gary! Game on Canada!

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Posted in Canada, Competition Bureau, Corruption, Money, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Politics, US Politics

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The NHL: The common denominator in City Development

Posted on March 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

Did you know the NHL is also great at Urban Development? And we thought the problem was unique to Glendale. How silly of us!

Are there more opportunities to tap into tax dollars that have investors and owners thinking outside the box?

Oopsie! The U.S. is suffering. They’ve done all the damage they can down south, so it’s time to take the roadshow north to Canada! Rumour has it there is a good economy and plenty of tax dollars, especially in Alberta.

Doesn’t it seem a little odd that the Mayor of Edmonton, Stephen Mandel feels held hostage by a sports league trying to dictate how the development of the city will come off? At least in Glendale, you had a Mayor in Elaine Scruggs that bought the plan hook, line and sinker, and “sink” is the operative word at this point. She sold her taxpaying residents down the river.

When we studied the Phoenix Coyotes case we uncovered the City of Glendale’s desire to use the Coyotes to build their tax base, and develop their economy. We knew about the Westgate Arena Development but thought it unique. We even overlooked the link in Dallas, and the white elephant project that was more to do about urban planning, than just to bring in a good sized arena for the Stars.

It was only when we started to see the issue move north into our Canadian turf that the bell went off, and we are discovering who the common denominator of urban planning really is.

So, it’s time to work a little. Who are the private investors ready to build the Edmonton Arena District? Sounds way too familiar, doesn’t it?

We will be looking into the link between taxpayer funded sports, area development and the strange link a hockey league has to building infrastructure in not only America, it is now affecting  Canada.

We will likely all need to heed the words of David Zirin, of Edge of Sports, to find out how bad owners are ruining the sport, and interestingly fitting here is how to tap the taxpayers dry with pricey development financing. Will Edmonton go the way of the Dodo bird, as Dallas and Glendale did? Canada is not as populated as these areas, so the tax  base is smaller. Yikes!

How will the financing be obtained for the infrastructure of the Edmonton Arena District? In the video below of Daryl Katz, substitute Elaine Scruggs of Glendale and an eery picture starts to form.

What about the white elephant of Dallas? Was that all about development of many varieties all stemming from the hockey league too? The Victory Park Project was anything but a victory. Did Tom Hicks hold favour with the NHL when he was supported as he ran into financial trouble, while Moyes was left with proxy in hand because of the ties to land? Because, if land development was the goal, Hicks had it down:

Hicks Holdings is a partner with Hillwood Development Company in the Victory Park project in downtown Dallas.  Hicks Holdings is a developer of a 75-acre urban town center /multi-use development on the land adjacent to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington; and of Champions Park, a 40-acre office/retail development in Frisco

Is the NHL now trying frantically to help the bond issue in Glendale to preserve the development pie? If this is remotely true, how would the conflict of interest have shaped the handling of Jerry Moyes?

Yeah, every situation is different alright. It may vary by who is working the development, and who are the underlying investors. What remains the same is the taxpayers getting the raw end of the deal. And in Canada, what better way to hit the heart strings than wave the hockey carrot. Those Canucks will pay anything to get hockey, muhahahaha! Front man, coming up!

If a hockey league needed to keep investors happy (how’s it going Mubadala and Goldman Sachs?), then would the need for Glendale to keep a hockey team be substituted with a different opportunity – - maybe where the economy is better, and hockey is actually popular?

Would the investors  be calling the shots behind the scenes, and the residents and taxpayers  held hostage? And why should all taxpayers pay for a sport if they aren’t interested? More importantly, why should sports owners reap profits to entire “districts” of development? What happened to the business of hockey alone?

When Gary Bettman eluded to the bankers building arenas in his interview with Ron McLean on HNIC, we might look upon the dialogue a little differently depending on the underlying circumstances.

Could Edmonton be the “replacement opportunity” as Glendale fades away? Interesting possibilities, eh?

Would this explain why a land developer, Vieste LLC, the NHL head office, and the City of Glendale all wanted to see the article on Moyes being the victim of a squeeze play – -Vieste and the NHL, totally unconnected right?

And, try not to freak out when you think of Scruggs in her speech that the hockey district would create a world class area to help the City of Glendale, when you watch the similarity to Katz and his talking points. But, whatever you do, don’t envision  Katz in a skirt.

But think of the common denominator and the possibilities.

How does a hockey league continue to be involved in area land development that extends beyond hockey? And, would that explain why they would not want to move a franchise like the Coyotes at all cost – - because they have gotten involved in development of land, not just sticking to hockey? And for God’s sake, don’t do a google search like this! It might just get you mad thinking back on the McLean – Bettman interview that might mean the reason was income from development as  the real issue Winnipeg and Quebec City were shunned!

It would make Bryden’s exit ramp pale in comparison to the money attached to not just arena development but urban development. Sales tax related funding coupled with property tax and income tax funding would effectively put pressure on already debt ridden Canadians that cannot afford the current cash flow crisis. The theme is a common one : The few rich making tons of money off the sweat of the many (taxpayers).

It has the Mayor of Edmonton concerned, just as the Mayor of New York wasn’t going to go for the big idea of Related Companies. He had sense, thank goodness.

Since when has Daryl Katz been a sales agent for land use causes? Starting to stink again, and this time it’s personal. Is Katz the next Tom Hicks? When you buy an NHL franchise you become a “partner” in the club. Not a consortium Mr. (Ron) McLean, remember Gary said it was a “partnership”, and the partners get to decide who joins the club, and where arenas get built.

I suppose the partners in Toronto didn’t want land developed by the outsider, Mr. (Jim) Balsillie. There might be a second set of books that Jimmy B. would be too honest to go for.

Would it explain why a new Commissioner wouldn’t be on the table at regular intervals? Imagine the conversation:  “Okay new Commish, this is how the owners and investors make extra money – - they build mega projects at the expense of the taxpayers, and so your job is to make sure you keep track of all these investors and deals, ’cause we gotta keep ‘em all happy. What? Yeah, the hockey operations are an excuse to get at the real bucks, so what’s your point?”

Or, it could also explain why a guy like Balsillie would not be a good fit. “He actually cares about the fans!! Get him outta here. It’s not about the fans, it’s about taxation and profit taking. The partners allowed in this group have got to be well-picked, seasoned, and must know the real score”.

As Dave Zirin points out, the long term good of the game is sacrificed by owners’ greed.

Yes, what if it’s  all about land development beyond Phoenix – - extending to everywhere? It might suggest that “free financing” was not the goal, but expensive financing might be. You know, the sales tax financing like in Glendale –  the “gift” that keeps on giving!

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Posted in Canada, Canadian Politics, Competition Bureau, Corruption, Money, Mubadala, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Politics, Sports, US Politics

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Get rid of these guys and make the fans the owners: How the NHL franchises cannot afford to survive on a few people’s money

Posted on February 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

Bullet:

  • The NHL is having trouble keeping teams where they are. Thrashers or Coyotes destined for Winnipeg. Hyperinflation in the U.S. might make the NHLPA receptive to more “Canadian” destinations

Story:

Winnipeg has been assured a franchise by the NHL?

Oh, really?

Forget the old days where it was taboo to disrupt the fans and the viability, vitality, or whatever “V” word Bill Daly felt good about that day, the time to suck the money dry of deep pockets might be over.

Take this picture of a group of guys that might as well be three times as many….the owners of the conglomerate of the Atlanta Thrashers.

Click the pic to see why the “Atlanta Spirit LLC” is running out of resources to keep the spirit alive in Atlanta.

The fans, it is claimed, are discerning on how they want to spend their money.

More like, the fans are broke, the State is broke, and the U.S. is broke.

U.S. unemployment is jokingly and pathetically posted at 9. (something) %. Want the truth, things are so bad people have given up looking for work — they aren’t part of the numbers. True unemployment is conservatively well over 20%.

Discerning fans may be choosing food or overpriced NHL hockey….hmmmm let’s think -  – Food wins!

The days of overpriced athletics is going quickly by way of the DoDo bird.

In the short run, Canada will be the newfound hero, where suddenly, with the Canadian buck priced over the U.S. greenback, there will not be the argument that the players are paid in U.S. dollars. Soon the NHLPA will be negotiating the players be paid in Yuan or Renminbi, or how about gold or silver coins? Players in the NHL may be looking at how much their pay is worth, similar to the way we look at how gas prices look ’cause the tank is low, and well, can I hang on ’till tomorrow?

Gary Bettman perhaps saw the future a long time ago. Those deep pocketed guys that were easy to abuse like Jerry Moyes are long gone. The groups of 10, 12, heck 25 won’t cut it either.

Perhaps they should sell shares of the NHL teams at the arena by the same vendors that sell programs. I can hear it now, Programs, shares, get your ownership here!

Tony Tavares’ pockets weren’t deep enough not long ago….my my, how things change quickly!

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Posted in bankruptcy, Canada, Canadian Politics, Competition Bureau, Corruption, Money, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, US Politics

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First comes Sachs (love), then comes Mubadala (marriage), then comes the United Nations (that would be the baby in the baby carriage)

Posted on May 23, 2010 | Leave a comment

The debt that will not allow us to part!

 

For better or worse, this baby seems to be Glendale's

Bear with me for a moment, won’t you?

These are strange days indeed aren’t they? And our Phoenix Coyotes hockey drama is no exception.

As you know, we have been following the Coyotes case for several months, and we have been bombarded with evidence of “special interests” that have come around to see what’s being said, by who and why.

There have been visits to this site over time from some very key players in my opinion (no not hockey players) that have helped paint an albeit circumstantial but thought-provoking case to suggest there is a story to tell of who is pulling the strings in the battle of this NHL franchise.

So, again, please bear with me on this one a bit longer. Something has occurred to me based on recent and past activity that might shed some interesting light on the circumstances and reason we are still talking about Glendale and their ability to hold onto this team.

This case we have argued has transcended sport and has touched on the political realm in many ways.

If you are still here despite my apparent losing it, you might fall into one of three categories – one that just picks out the hockey stories. Or, you might have been intrigued by the Global world issues and how it may tie in with sports. Or, you may be interested in  a combination of the two; that either came originally for the hockey discussion, or later when we got into the globalist issues, and  perhaps you decided both had relative merit. Whatever the reason, thank you for being with us.

I may be able to bring more closure to the many questions that remain. Could it be that world powers that have investment in the United States and it’s municipalities are truly running the show? Let’s see what’s old and what’s new.

Jim Balsillie and his team were baffled when  the City of Glendale didn’t take his $50 million offer seriously in court, an offer that would have covered off approximately four years of bond obligations on the arena lease. The Balsillie legal team was  also leaning their case in the direction of pinning hope on the Goldwater case against concessions, and also there was a tremendous emphasis on the Toronto Maple Leafs apparent (no make that “obvious”) veto rights. The NHL Constitution was on the forefront, but there was something very strange by the way Judge Redfield T. Baum disregarded the Veto issue. Could he have been tipped off that it was not going to be a factor? With so much reflection and thought, Baum made an abrupt ruling that I would assume he was not too proud of. I am sure given the circumstances, he would have preferred to send a clear message that the creditors should come first in bankruptcy court, but it would appear there was influences that he was not necessarily in control of. His ruling left us hanging and feeling let down. It just didn’t seem in keeping with his character and his credentials. Politics may have played a role. I believe Baum himself felt disappointed by the direction he had to proceed in. Justice was surely not served to the man who was set up by the colluding parties in this case. The bankruptcy trustee,  Lashinsky came with a bark, but left with no bite.

For Glendale, we must remember that hockey was a means to an end – a way of attracting residents, business, and tax dollars, and it was part of the bigger infrastructure aspirations of the Glendale City Hall. They made the decision, as did Phoenix to go for broke in the method of financing when they took on the very iffy demand for hockey, that did not match the very concrete lease and bond obligations. It would appear by their desperation, they were not being let off the hook by whoever controlled the bonds for the arena. One comment that stands out in memory from the court case, was Glendale’s urgency that if they lost the Coyotes, the would have to replace the loss with another hockey team. There did not seem to be an option.

While Jerry Moyes gave free advice that made sense, which emphasized that concert venues would be more lucrative, he was backed up by the same advice from the experts at Beacon Sports – bring in more concerts in a year. Seemed obvious, no? Obvious to everyone except Glendale. Or maybe it was obvious, just not allowed! Remember the comment that they would have to replace the lost Coyotes with another hockey team. Oh yeah, says who?

 We had Michael Dell investing in land and land deals in Glendale and Phoenix, and famous of these was CityNorth, which was challenged in court for violation of Gift Laws. He shared that space with Related Companies, and in the mix was Mubadala. Mubadala and Dell are no strangers in other areas, with Mubadala suppliers of the AMD chip for Dell Computer, and we can go on from there.

The relationships seemed to intertwine in this case, which shares that space with the Glenn Beck show’s direction these days. Not to say I trust Glenn Beck, but what truth he brings, albeit contrived and in a questionable manner, it remains the truth. His recent tying in of all kinds of lo and behold friends in Crime Inc. reminds me of this hockey story.

So here we are. The NHL has apparently come to terms with Glendale City Hall on keeping the Coyotes in Glendale for one more year, as the City has guaranteed $25 million in losses.

That would not be as big a deal under other circumstances, but it is the timing that is suspect in this case.

Here’s what I am getting at.

Within the last couple of days, I reported on Goldman Sachs visiting the site, checking out Ice Edge. Sachs is implicated in several global issues of corruption and is also implicated in the derivative scandals in Europe. Their reputation – not so good.

Then, we had Mubadala come back to our site, they too interested in Ice Edge. Mubadala, having interest in Phoenix (CityNorth) was suspected by past visits to be a strong candidate to be bond holders for the Jobing.com arena. And equally important, the nature of Mubadala investment is “secretive”, where they do not want to be known as investing anywhere. That is just their nature. Bear this in mind.

Then, we had the “mystery bidders” that have come on the scene that do not want to be disclosed. Coincidence? Could it be our friends Mubadala that all of a sudden have come to the rescue of their investment? Could they have pressured the City of Glendale to ensure that a “hockey team” occupies that arena? Would it explain much?

And if Mubadala was an international influence to the United States, would any court action be dampened by controlling powers within government to ensure they are kept happy?

What of the past visits by Mubadala checking out Ice Edge? Was Ice Edge put in place to be a potential solution?

As Daryl Jones pointed out it was a “business decision” to come to the rescue of the Coyotes. And, Keith McCullough thought that nobody in Phoenix wanted to go to a game anyways, so what was the attraction to the Coyotes? Where exactly was the “business reason for Ice Edge? Could they have been, as suspected, either a diversion or a prop put into place by the powers that be? After all, lots of government past relationships with this group, wouldn’t you say? Possible at the very least.

And now, the coup de gras, the icing on the cake.

We have said for a while that visits to the site could be a coincidence. That is always possible. It is always possible. The question remains, under the circumstances,are they all just coincidences?

Could this visit by the United Nations beaming to the category of Mubadala also be a fluke? 

21 May 13:19:12 Safari 3.1 MacOSX unknown United States New York,
United States		 Ci2/united Nations (IP removed)
makeiteighteh.com/category/mubadala/
No referring link

I suppose we should all make sure they stay happy now!  Would they be the bankers that Gary Bettman alluded to in his interview with Ron McLean that seemed a lifetime ago?

We had asked the question with bad grammer, Who is them?

Perhaps Gary was right all along – don’t get your hopes up Canada. There is more to this than meets the eye. It’s damage control and not personal. The NHL dirty laundry was just the casualty of dashed hopes when a country sells itself out, and anything remotely fair becomes far from  possible. For that,  I can see whyBettman would have wished this  never happened.

It was perhaps the most relative 20 minutes from finding a new owner sports will ever know.

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Posted in Carlyle Group, Competition Bureau, Corruption, Ice Edge Holdings, Mubadala, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Politics, Related Companies, Sports, US Politics

“People in Phoenix don’t want to go to a game anyway” – Keith McCullough (July 2009)

Posted on May 14, 2010 | 1 Comment

Hint: Don't let Gary know you feel no one in Phoenix wants to go to a game anyhow - not good for marketing your group

It would appear the Bettman way of running sports leagues is rubbing off on Major League Baseball. Keeping the club exclusive seems to be more important than keeping the creditors happy.

Could this be the reason Ice Edge is having trouble? Is Reinsdorf the chosen one, and Ice Edge not?

Or, could it be how Ice Edge views the market in hockey in Glendale?

Thanks to the Globe & Mail for researching this video  (go to the 3:26 mark).

Keith McCullough in July 2009, discussing the Phoenix Coyotes as a “distressed asset”, and like a good hedge man, McCullough figured it was a good time to buy the “distressed asset”, and with tender loving care and ” good marketing” bringing it back to life, with Wayne Gretzky, yada, yada, yada.

That was July 2009.

When asked why five games in Saskatoon, the response was the title.

Whaaa!

If folks don’t want to go to a hockey game in Phoenix, how are you supposed to nurture the market exactly? Weird. If I didn’t know better I’d have to say the original thought of real estate as a distressed asset held more merit. You know, that other video we played a long time ago with McCullough talking about the real estate market ready to make a turnaround.

I really wonder what the thinking is now though.

The Globe’s article is all about Gary Bettman really giving Jerry Moyes the gears, and squeezing him for all the money he can. In Bettman’s eye’s, the idea of the team to be in bankruptcy at all was just, yes I will say it again, silly.

And remember Dallas and good ‘ol Tom Hicks? Remember when Bettman gave him extensions and protections as a league when he defaulted on payments, while the MLB was ready to pull the plug?

Well, it would seem this time it is the creditors of the Texas Rangers may be  next to challenge the status quo and challenge a sports league to the rights to sell to the highest bidder. Check this out!

As we reported late last month, the sale of the Rangers from owner Tom Hicks to a group led by Pepper’s Chuck Greenberg and pitching legend Nolan Ryan for somewhere just north of $500 million is in limbo, because creditors holding about $500 million in Hicks debt–on which Hicks has defaulted–don’t support the sale. Why not? We’ve talked to sources on all sides, and the consensus seems to be that the Hicks lenders believe the Rangers could have fetched more value from another bidder–perhaps one of the two finalists the Greenberg/Ryan group beat out for the Rangers.

Imagine that – a buddy of Bettman who at least remains consistent. MLB does not want to sell to the highest bidder, and it would appear it is no skin off Hick’s nose. Perhaps Hicks wouldn’t stand to come out in the same net position as Moyes would have ($100 million plus recouped). Perhaps Hicks owes way more than he would get for the team anyhow, so the sense of wanting to sell to the highest bidder is not as big an issue as it was for Moyes. Obviously, the creditors of Hicks want to get more than pennies on the dollar.

It really is pathetic though, when creditors have to fight with a league. Why is it so important to control who joins the club?

At this rate, like General Motors, we are going to end up with nobody willing to own a team, because at the end of the day, you appear to have the privilege of renting it. The Garyworld turkey no matter what sport or league.

At least this would be in keeping with the Global Government agenda – One world government, one world bank, and state run sports to keep the surfs happy. It would explain the exclusivity of why they would want to control who owns what, now wouldn’t it?

Let’s hope Mr. Hicks doesn’t find himself  in the same shoes as Mr. Moyes. I hear Gary Betttman is a pit bull when it comes time to collect. Don’t get him on your bad side.

Oh so much fun in Garyworld!

As far as ownership of the Coyotes go, would the real Global Government sweeties please stand up!

Are we witnessing a show? Or, are we witnessing how a City can be mistreated along with everyone else who stands to lose in the new version of professional, we don’t care who we screw sports.

Oh, and by the way, kinda hard to try to sell the fans of Glendale on the “we are here for the long haul” idea when you don’t think they really want to watch hockeyanyways.  Keith McCullough had it half right – Saskatoon sure is where the money is. But trying to convince those not interested in watching hockey – I don’t think so.

Where in the marketing guru handbook for hockey is it written to force feed hockey where there is little interest? Wayne Gretzky, market analysis, and anything else you can conjure up will not save the Coyotes in Glendale.

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Posted in Canada, Canadian Politics, Competition Bureau, Corruption, Ice Edge Holdings, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Sports, US Politics

Hello Goldwater, bye bye “deal”

Posted on May 13, 2010 | Leave a comment

The legal troops are doing a fine job in honor of the memory of Barry Goldwater

In keeping with what counts, the Goldwater Group will sue for the arrogance of Glendale taking on $25 million of potential losses of the hockey team that most residents could care less about.

Interestingly, it was the lawyers for Glendale that originally looked inept and insignificant in court. They turned out to be for real, and when the dust settled were powerful enough to flex their muscles.

Now, in the deeper background, the Goldwater Group continues to surface to put roadblocks up to the attempted concessions that the City of Glendale continues to attempt.

And the dance continues, as the City refuses or ignores Goldwater in a similar way they ignored Jerry Moyes.

Something tells me at the end of the day, it will be Goldwater who will have the last laugh.

The only question at this point would seem to be if Gary Bettman will honor the idea of returning the team to Winnipeg, or is he planning another “fast one”, with Reinsdorf and another location.

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Posted in Canada, Competition Bureau, Corruption, Ice Edge Holdings, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Sports, US Politics

Reinsdorf out, Ice Edge longshot, and Thomson looking better: How to have the NHL smell like a rose again

Posted on May 7, 2010 | 1 Comment

Interesting news after all these months. Jerry Reinsdorf has yet again exited stage left with the five-year out clause in his purchase offer.

The Ice Edge deal is contingent on the City of Glendale being able to cover operating losses for the Coyotes next season, which may be the kiss of death with the Goldwater Group no doubt on the “edge” of their seats. The Reinsdorf deal-breaker may end up being the Ice Edge demise – a concession of any kind is a blow that may never be recovered from in Arizona.

How fitting if Winnipeg gets the team they unjustly lost. It is a come full circle story, that began in Winnipeg, and may end up back where it started.

From the point of view of PR the NHL will stand the best chance of changing their image and smell like a rose.

And, with the perilous economy on the brink in the U.S., Canada’s relative stability may be the beginning of bringing home more of what Canada claims is their game.

After all, it is Canada’s game.

And, this was and is Winnipeg’s team!

By the way, I will be behind Jim Balsillie, and will gladly turn this blog address over to him in his campaign to makeiteight, eh? in Hamilton!

More:

See this article from the Hockey Writers from A YEAR AGO :)

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Posted in Canada, Competition Bureau, Corruption, Ice Edge Holdings, National Hockey League, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Politics, Sports, US Politics