When I woke this morning, I was already a touch behind in my anger management skills. Lack of sleep, (even for a non-sleeper!) will do that. Then when the morning news came on the radio and the lead Sports story was about the NHL making an offer for the Phoenix Coyotes, I hit 212 Fahrenheit almost instantly.
WANT SICK? Look at the reasoning!
'We need to expedite things to help out the flailing franchise?'
Why then was Mr. Balsillie's previous offer of much more than anything offered to date, not taken way back when?
Oh right! "Not enough."
It was nearly twice the cash Jerry Reinsdorf put on the table before he came to his senses, and realized dick-nosed Bettman was just dragging him deeper into a losing battle.
So now we get, 'we need to hurry and boy's I promise, we can get a lot more casholas's for a team losing merely $20 million a season!'
So it reads like this. 'In good faith of course, we The NHL will offer you just about half of what successful Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner Mr. Reinsdorf had put out on the table. We know that it's just over a quarter of what that moron Mr. Ballsillie's was offering up for the team, but it's a sweet deal for you, the fans and all of the creditor's hanging around for their piece of the cake.'
'So...... DEAL?'
To my friends I say, I realize that the above reads as if it was spat with the venom of a 1000 snakes, it's because it was. The guy has got to be taken out of power and cut loose like the useless piece of shit he is. He took a position as 3rd. in command of a successful league in the NBA. He made a few moves to over commercialize it and develop a soft salary cap. The owners made a few bucks from the rush and then, right back to status-quo.
Their move at that point?
"We've come a long way with Gary, but he needs to move on and develop himself as a leader in the sports & entertainment field." was the press release.
"We dumped the money grubbing weasel before we went broke!" was the general consensus around the league.
So recapping a few facts here, let's see what the NHL has to work with.
A strong bid for the team by a hugely successful business man... check.
A location that can't wait for a team... check.
An arena complex project that will create jobs.... check.
A fan base draw like nowhere else on the continent... check.
6 TV networks ready to fight over broadcast rights... check.
VS.
The NHL bids 1/4 of the above bid... check.
The team WILL loose $20 mill. again this year... check.
The team stays where no one goes to a game... check.
The owners share in profit loss and keep status-quo... check.
Nothing changes until Bettman gives in or is gone... check.
Oh and just as an aside. After dealing directly with Bettman on all things he'd been offered, one of the most successful team owners with two franchises in two separate leagues asks the rest of the owners WTF! And then walks away.
After further review the play as called on the ice stands!
Gary Bettman is an idiot and should be tossed aside by the NHL, just as he was with the NBA. Of course that's just one man's humble opinion isn't it Gary.
In old school Hockey, guy's like Bettman would've been taken care of either on the ice or out back of the arena. I can't help but wonder if Bobby Clarke and Valeri Kharlamov aren't thinking the exact same thing right now?
From one kid in a Nation and a quarter that love the game of Hockey, Fuck you Bettman! Leave our game AND the owners business the fuck alone!
My sincerest thanks for dropping by....