In a wide-ranging attack prepared by Balsillie's legal team, Balsillie's PSE Sports group fired darts at NHL executives from Ottawa owner Eugene Melnyk to New York Rangers co-owner Jim Dolan to Jerry Reinsdorf, the league's preferred purchaser of the Coyotes.
...Sens' owner Melnyk "recently reached a settlement with the Ontario Securities commission for alleged violations of the Canadian Securities Act." Melnyk, the document notes, was fined $1 million and ordered to cease being director of his company, Biovail, for one year.
It is true however that Melnyk's and Sameuli's run ins with the SEC happened after they were already owners whereas Balsillie being forced to pony up millions for back dating stock options is already on record before he becomes an owner, if he ever does.
It seems like a counter productive move at this time but perhaps it is becuase the sleazy manoueverings by Balsillie and Rodier in their dealings with Moyes that are coming to light with some of the emails being released now are casting a not so flattering light on Captain Canada.
I like how Buttman was on Hockey Night in Canada a few months back and kept telling the media that it is not personal. That it has nothing to do with Basillie as a person. I knew it was a farce then and now it has been confirmed with all of their attacks on his integrity.
I don't necessarily condone Jim's ways of going about trying to get in but it was pretty obvious in previous attempts that Bettman was going to do whatever it took to keep him out of the league. Jim is now responding to attacks levied against him...I see nothing wrong with it and to be fair Melnyk and other owners have f'd up in their business affairs. It's naive to think that Basillie would not respond as the NHL attacks his credibility as a person and businessman.
I like how Buttman was on Hockey Night in Canada a few months back and kept telling the media that it is not personal. That it has nothing to do with Basillie as a person. I knew it was a farce then and now it has been confirmed with all of their attacks on his integrity.
I don't necessarily condone Jim's ways of going about trying to get in but it was pretty obvious in previous attempts that Bettman was going to do whatever it took to keep him out of the league. Jim is now responding to attacks levied against him...I see nothing wrong with it and to be fair Melnyk and other owners have f'd up in their business affairs. It's naive to think that Basillie would not respond as the NHL attacks his credibility as a person and businessman.
Bettman and his self-righteous lot make me sick
This is all that matters in the end. The way he tried to get in was completely wrong, and now he's paying for it. Oh well, heres hoping he never sniffs a NHL team now.
Oh, and I went with the Palm Pre over the Blackberry so take THAT Balls.
There's not an endless supply of potential owners out there. Eventually, the right owner will need/want to sell and will now JB will pay a premium and something will be worked out. Money trumps all other issues - he'll eventually get his team (he just might not get to move it right away).
There's not an endless supply of potential owners out there. Eventually, the right owner will need/want to sell and will now JB will pay a premium and something will be worked out. Money trumps all other issues - he'll eventually get his team (he just might not get to move it right away).
I am not sure if i would say money trumps all other issues.The way he has gone about this is not the right way now with that said that is one thing.Now making remarks about owners is another thing and really not that good if its true he is saying these things.
Balsillie tried to play it there way twice now and was denied. Personally I think if he's got the money why can't he be afforded the chance to move a struggling franchise to a potentially more profitable market. No one in the board thought twice about moving teams out of Canada. The Canadian market is a much healthier place right now and the only reasons why he isn't being allowed to move the team is the Leafs and a misguided notion that hockey needs to be successful in "non traditional" markets to succeed against other major sports.
Personally I can't see Balsillie giving up, so eventually both sides are going to have to play nice. He'd be doing himself a huge favor if he agreed to do what the other offer is stated to be contingent upon and agree to buy the team on the condition that the lease is changed so that after X amount of years of non-profitability he is free to move the team without penalty. Phoenix isn't turning a profit and Balsillie has the money to wait it out, its just a question of is he has the patients.
He is starting to act like a bull in a china shop. I don't know enough to compare the RIM stock option backdating with Melnyk's actions, though.
But if a bunch of hypocrites shut me out of their club, I'd call a spade a spade, too. He shouldn't be denied an NHL club.
He referrences Menyk being removed from the board and being charged 1 million... Balsilllie was removed from the board for a year also and RIM was charged 77 million...so he is hardly in a position to throw stones at Melnyk.
But the main point is that he has never tied to enter from the front door, this whole buying a team out of bankruptcy and moving it to Hamilton is something that Rodier has been working at for an long time. It is his strategy that Balsillie has adopted from the start.
From an article about Rodier in the Globe a few weeks ago:
"He hatched his plan in late 2002, with the Ottawa Senators heading toward bankruptcy and the Buffalo Sabres not far behind. A life-long hockey fan, Rodier says something clicked during a quiet moment in court. The bankruptcy process, he reasoned, could be the way to trump NHL bylaws on which league governors lean to restrict franchise movement - and thus keep a second team out of Southern Ontario..... "It's just the application of very general bankruptcy principles to sports," Rodier says. "The Senators and the Sabres were in the news [in 2002] and I'm sitting in a CCAA filing process, and you wonder, well, gee, how can you apply x to y? It's not more interesting than that."
Balsille played by the league rules in his first two attempts, just to get squashed by the ole boys club. I think by now Basille knows he'll never get a franchise so he's going out in a blaze of glory, and all the power to him.
This league is turning into a disgrace over the past 20+ years with so many crooks owning teams, crooks running the NHLPA, back-door shenanigans, etc. The NHL needs a total cleanup and fast.
He referrences Menyk being removed from the board and being charged 1 million... Balsilllie was removed from the board for a year also and RIM was charged 77 million...so he is hardly in a position to throw stones at Melnyk.
But the main point is that he has never tied to enter from the front door, this whole buying a team out of bankruptcy and moving it to Hamilton is something that Rodier has been working at for an long time. It is his strategy that Balsillie has adopted from the start.
From an article about Rodier in the Globe a few weeks ago:
"He hatched his plan in late 2002, with the Ottawa Senators heading toward bankruptcy and the Buffalo Sabres not far behind. A life-long hockey fan, Rodier says something clicked during a quiet moment in court. The bankruptcy process, he reasoned, could be the way to trump NHL bylaws on which league governors lean to restrict franchise movement - and thus keep a second team out of Southern Ontario..... "It's just the application of very general bankruptcy principles to sports," Rodier says. "The Senators and the Sabres were in the news [in 2002] and I'm sitting in a CCAA filing process, and you wonder, well, gee, how can you apply x to y? It's not more interesting than that."
I don't think he's throwing stones at Melnyk. He's just saying (and rightfully so) "These guys are in and did something similar, so why is this being used against me".
I think it's a little ridiculous that the NHL won't give him a franchise. As mentionned, they were quick to move teams out of Canada. It would be better for all parties to have healthy franchises across the board. If Bettman wants to play The Sims with hockey and non-traditional markets, put AHL teams there.
His campain to add a Canadian team on the backs of Canadian tax payers by him buying the team and then have the Cdn gvt help fund the reno's of the arena in Hamilton is the real crime...
I don't think he's throwing stones at Melnyk. He's just saying (and rightfully so) "These guys are in and did something similar, so why is this being used against me".
I think it's a little ridiculous that the NHL won't give him a franchise. As mentionned, they were quick to move teams out of Canada. It would be better for all parties to have healthy franchises across the board. If Bettman wants to play The Sims with hockey and non-traditional markets, put AHL teams there.
First of all, this sort of implies a sense of malicious anti-Canadianism among the league brass, which simply doesn't exist (remember they were quick to move Hartford too). I think the fact that the league is unwilling to sell to someone who is intent on abandoning a current market shows that the league learned something from letting the Nords/Jets/Whale move without much interference.
Just because they learned the lesson 15 years too late doesn't mean they should keep making that mistake, even if it does 'right a past wrong'.
Balsille played by the league rules in his first two attempts, just to get squashed by the ole boys club. I think by now Basille knows he'll never get a franchise so he's going out in a blaze of glory, and all the power to him.
This league is turning into a disgrace over the past 20+ years with so many crooks owning teams, crooks running the NHLPA, back-door shenanigans, etc. The NHL needs a total cleanup and fast.
Seriously, or it's going to lose all of it's noble, charismatic, law-abiding fans!
I just don't understand why people have a hard time understanding the leagues motives in and around another team in Canada. The league's mandate is to continue to grow the game - rightly or wrongly they've focused on the southern states as the target market. Having another Canadian does nothing to grow the interest in the game because quite frankly whether a team is in Hamilton, Halifax, Quebec or Winnipeg or in none of them the people of those cities will continue to be fans of the game and will follow it closely. The economic impact of improved fortunes in one city is merely a drop in the bucket where the league is concerned. There focus is simple, solidify the teams in place in an attempt to let a generation of fans grow up following a team in hopes that will lead to strong community base of support.
Is it the right approach? I think it is...grow the game in places where it currently doesn't exist...that's how you'll make the game better. I think the leagues mistake was expanding far to quickly - but that was driven by greed. In time another team will end up in Canada but only when it's clear that there is no long term viability in the existing city.
It terms of Balsilly...he's gone about this wrong right from the beginning. If he wasn't such an arrogant ***** and if he at least pretended for a little while that he wanted to keep teams in place he may already be an owner...but waltzing in throwing his money around and declaring he wants to move the teams (Pittsburgh, Nashville and Phoenix) to Canada before even taking control is naturally going to rub people the wrong way. For a smart business man he's pretty stupid...I mean seriously...selling ticket packages before even owning the team? Ridiculous.
I wonder if the people defending Balsille would have a change of opinion if he was around during our bankruptcy period and decided he wanted to go the same exact route as he did previously ,but w/ the Sens, and even held a season ticket Hamilton day before he even owned the team. I wonder........
I wonder if the people defending Balsille would have a change of opinion if he was around during our bankruptcy period and decided he wanted to go the same exact route as he did previously ,but w/ the Sens, and even held a season ticket Hamilton day before he even owned the team. I wonder........
Probably would...I don't know why people assume this is an anti Canada stand by the NHL.
I just don't understand why people have a hard time understanding the leagues motives in and around another team in Canada. The league's mandate is to continue to grow the game - rightly or wrongly they've focused on the southern states as the target market. Having another Canadian does nothing to grow the interest in the game because quite frankly whether a team is in Hamilton, Halifax, Quebec or Winnipeg or in none of them the people of those cities will continue to be fans of the game and will follow it closely. The economic impact of improved fortunes in one city is merely a drop in the bucket where the league is concerned. There focus is simple, solidify the teams in place in an attempt to let a generation of fans grow up following a team in hopes that will lead to strong community base of support.
Is it the right approach? I think it is...grow the game in places where it currently doesn't exist...that's how you'll make the game better. I think the leagues mistake was expanding far to quickly - but that was driven by greed. In time another team will end up in Canada but only when it's clear that there is no long term viability in the existing city.
It terms of Balsilly...he's gone about this wrong right from the beginning. If he wasn't such an arrogant ***** and if he at least pretended for a little while that he wanted to keep teams in place he may already be an owner...but waltzing in throwing his money around and declaring he wants to move the teams (Pittsburgh, Nashville and Phoenix) to Canada before even taking control is naturally going to rub people the wrong way. For a smart business man he's pretty stupid...I mean seriously...selling ticket packages before even owning the team? Ridiculous.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haymaker
First of all, this sort of implies a sense of malicious anti-Canadianism among the league brass, which simply doesn't exist (remember they were quick to move Hartford too). I think the fact that the league is unwilling to sell to someone who is intent on abandoning a current market shows that the league learned something from letting the Nords/Jets/Whale move without much interference.
Just because they learned the lesson 15 years too late doesn't mean they should keep making that mistake, even if it does 'right a past wrong'.
Sakic and Haymayker, do you guys give out frankincense and myrrh at Christmas?
I'm all for growing the game but a loser is a loser. My piss poor analogy.
Waiting for the girl to grow up and become attractive. Well she is 85 now (13 consecutive years of failure in Phoenix); eventually you have to admit no matter how many years you give her, how much lipstick you put on her, she will never be a pretty girl.
I'm all for growing the game but a loser is a loser. My piss poor analogy.
Waiting for the girl to grow up and become attractive. Well she is 85 now (13 consecutive years of failure in Phoenix); eventually you have to admit no matter how many years you give her, how much lipstick you put on her, she will never be a pretty girl.
Insert moral of story here...
She's an ugly girl because she's had an ******* father/owner who refused to let her wear make up and gave away her best clothes.
Get an owner in who will invest properly in the team, put a product on the ice that at least plays 4 games in mid-April for a few years. If she's still ugly after that, I agree with you.
But let's try and make a GOOD run at the market before pulling the plug.
I'm all for growing the game but a loser is a loser. My piss poor analogy.
Waiting for the girl to grow up and become attractive. Well she is 85 now (13 consecutive years of failure in Phoenix); eventually you have to admit no matter how many years you give her, how much lipstick you put on her, she will never be a pretty girl.
Insert moral of story here...
You have to look at the factors involved when examining everything that's transpired in Phoenix. Has it been a successfully run franchise since moving from Winnipeg? The team has been losing money for 13 years since moving to Phoenix - at least according to ownership. Well here's a question for Mr. Moyes...why did you buy a team that wasn't making any money before you? What did he think he was going to bring to the table that was going to turn the financial fortunes of the team around? Hiring Wayne Gretzky and giving him ownership stake in the team wasn't going to attract the fans because quite frankly Wayne wasn't going to be playing night in and night out.
This Phoenix losing money claim reminds me of the Rod Bryden days in Ottawa where the team was bleeding him dry...but no one barely talked about how well the arena business was doing. Creative accounting and the right number of legal entities will ensure that you make just your hockey team a perennial financial loser...in most cases that's exactly what these rich owners need - a tax right off. Is it an apples to apples comparison, obviously not, but ask yourself this before you buy into the propaganda of a man trying to reclaim as much as he can from an asset he put in bankruptcy (a nice ruse btw so he could sell to Mr. Silly), why would an obviously successful business man buy a team with apparently no hope at succeeding? For the love of the game?
I just don't understand why people have a hard time understanding the leagues motives in and around another team in Canada. The league's mandate is to continue to grow the game - rightly or wrongly they've focused on the southern states as the target market. Having another Canadian does nothing to grow the interest in the game because quite frankly whether a team is in Hamilton, Halifax, Quebec or Winnipeg or in none of them the people of those cities will continue to be fans of the game and will follow it closely. <snip>
Is it the right approach? I think it is...grow the game in places where it currently doesn't exist...that's how you'll make the game better. I think the leagues mistake was expanding far to quickly - but that was driven by greed. In time another team will end up in Canada but only when it's clear that there is no long term viability in the existing city.
It terms of Balsilly...he's gone about this wrong right from the beginning. If he wasn't such an arrogant ***** and if he at least pretended for a little while that he wanted to keep teams in place he may already be an owner...but waltzing in throwing his money around and declaring he wants to move the teams (Pittsburgh, Nashville and Phoenix) to Canada before even taking control is naturally going to rub people the wrong way. For a smart business man he's pretty stupid...I mean seriously...selling ticket packages before even owning the team? Ridiculous.
A lot of the arrogant and presumptuous moves by Balsille have been to prove wrong the general b.s. Bettman serves up as justification for "due dilligence" barriers that shut down Canadian teams. edit: sorry, not shut down Canadian teams -- shut down Balsille's ownership bids.
How can you expect him not to respond in kind after the NHL declares him an undesirable character. Complete hypocricy by a lot of the owners.
Granted, it's undesirable to uproot a team. But this extends beyond just moving the Coyotes.
And I think a new franchise in Hamilton does grow the game. A lot more live games for kids in S.O., where immigration rules population growth, and enrollment in minor hockey is dropping.
You have to look at the factors involved when examining everything that's transpired in Phoenix. Has it been a successfully run franchise since moving from Winnipeg? The team has been losing money for 13 years since moving to Phoenix - at least according to ownership. Well here's a question for Mr. Moyes...why did you buy a team that wasn't making any money before you? What did he think he was going to bring to the table that was going to turn the financial fortunes of the team around? Hiring Wayne Gretzky and giving him ownership stake in the team wasn't going to attract the fans because quite frankly Wayne wasn't going to be playing night in and night out.
This Phoenix losing money claim reminds me of the Rod Bryden days in Ottawa where the team was bleeding him dry...but no one barely talked about how well the arena business was doing. Creative accounting and the right number of legal entities will ensure that you make just your hockey team a perennial financial loser...in most cases that's exactly what these rich owners need - a tax right off. Is it an apples to apples comparison, obviously not, but ask yourself this before you buy into the propaganda of a man trying to reclaim as much as he can from an asset he put in bankruptcy (a nice ruse btw so he could sell to Mr. Silly), why would an obviously successful business man buy a team with apparently no hope at succeeding? For the love of the game?
Spin goes both ways. I don't believe everything Moyes says nor do I believe the propaganda machine of the NHL. I can only assume 'truth' based on what I read and hear and how I interpret it; just like you.
Obviously there are black and white cases like Toronto where you can field a losing team and still be profitable but many teams are in the gray and some in the red. Accounting aside, I believe that some owners have other motives besides profit when buying into professional sports. I'm not naive to think they don't want to make a profit (there is 'losing' money and then there is LOSING money), however it is reported in their diverse portfolio.
Anyhoo...I agree with your rationale of why growth in the U.S > status quo in Canada but perhaps differ on whether and when to call a spade a spade or .
A lot of the arrogant and presumptuous moves by Balsille have been to prove wrong the general b.s. Bettman serves up as justification for "due dilligence" barriers that shut down Canadian teams. edit: sorry, not shut down Canadian teams -- shut down Balsille's ownership bids.
How can you expect him not to respond in kind after the NHL declares him an undesirable character. Complete hypocricy by a lot of the owners.
Granted, it's undesirable to uproot a team. But this extends beyond just moving the Coyotes.
And I think a new franchise in Hamilton does grow the game. A lot more live games for kids in S.O., where immigration rules population growth, and enrollment in minor hockey is dropping.
That growth toward the game is inevitable for those immigrants since they're inundated with the game be it at a local level (in schools, etc), at a provincial/national level and at the professional level. I've got family in the Hamilton area and they're inundated with TML information and for those who seek it Buffalo information as well. Eventually they will get sucked into the game because that's the passion we show for the game...I know because I was an immigrant child and yes my father isn't a huge fan of the game but Lord knows I am as is the rest of my family.
That doesn't happen in places like Phoenix and that's what the league is trying to build...a successful franchise in a market that can grow into a passionate base.
