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We are all aware of the controversy surrounding the ‘Yotes ownership and the NHL’s insistence that the team stay in Glendale. But our mighty mousey Commish is doing double speak again and it’s time someone called him out on it. Now Mr. Jim and his $212 million bid has been rejected by Gary’s meager legal mind because, among other things, Jimmy was rejected by Gary’s homies; da board of governors. Now were this league a straight up fan-based sports league with years of ethical conduct one would accept the decision and respect the league’s findings. But…Whoa! We’re talking about the NHL. One must understand that Mr. Ballsillie was approved as an owner a few years back when the Pens were on the block. Of course, once Gary learned that JB wanted to eventually move the team to Canada, he put the brakes on that sale. Then when Jimmy wanted to buy the Preds, the mental midget stood (he has to stand or no one would see him) in again and made sure that “respectful” ownership was achieved with the sale to a group partnered with Boots Del Biaggio. Da BOG and Napoleonic numb-nuts consummated quite a deal for the Preds only to discover later that in fact Boots didn’t have any real money. Boots is now going to be making license plates for eight years and must find some way to pay back the $67 million in court ordered restitution. Now that’s the kind of owner the ‘Yotes need! Man, and here I was thinking the BOG and dim wit were just prejudice against Jimmy. They ain’t predjudice against JB; it’s just that he is too successful. Now if he could come up with a good Ponzi scheme, I bet dick weed would convince the board that he’s found the kind of owner the NHL needs. He would probably be enshrined in the HOF along with Samueli and Spano. Given the current situation in Phoenix, it would probably be a good idea to institute drug testing in the NHL, starting with the League offices, since it doesn’t appear shrimp dip is playing with a full deck.
Tag Archive for 'coyotes'
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We haven’t had a lot of time over the past few weeks to keep you all up to date. But here’s a quick summary of the latest happenings in the Phoenix Coyotes debacle…
The NHL Board of Governors rejected Jim Balsillie’s bid to purchase the Coyotes (suprise! hah), and gave positive responses to bids put forth by Ice Edge Holdings (a group of U.S. and Canadian investors) and Jerry Reinsdorf. Both bids were to purchase the team and keep them in Phoenix, with the Ice Edge Holdings groups also proposing that the team would play five game in Canada… in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan or Halifax, and Nova Scotia. Ice Edge is offering $150 million and Reinsdorf bid is for $148 million, both much less than Balsillie’s $212 million offer.
However, the most recent news is very good…Judge Baum has decided to let any and all interested parties be involved in the open auction for the team on September 10th, which means that Balsillie will be allowed to take part! The Judge said specifically that the offer from Balsillie would be considered. Balsille also got a little help yesterday… the largest creditor of the Coyotes (which is owned by Michael Dell of Dell Computer) said that they wanted to be paid in full and in cash, and that only Balsillie’s bid would fulfill their request. The Globe and Mail has a great article on all of the latest. Check it out.
Yes, there is still hope for Canada!!
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Will Jim Balsillie become a hero of hockey and the savior of the NHL later today? Both Balsillie and the NHL await the decision of Judge Redfield T. Baum on Mr. Balsillie’s $212.5-million US bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and relocate the franchise to Hamilton… with the ruling expected to come later today.
The Judge heard from both sides earlier in the week. The major outcome of the proceedings was that the NHL could probably charge Balsillie a relocation fee to move the team from Phoenix to Hamilton. This fee could be at least $100 million, which would create an easy $300+ million price tag for the desert team.
If this is the case and it’s as simple as this (which we highly doubt)… we say WRITE THE CHECK BALSILLIE!!! Just get the deal done and move on!! If he wants this team and wants this for Canada enough, he can and will do it.
In other news… Balsillie and his MakeItSeven movement have chosen June 19th as Make It Seven Day in Canada!
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5/19/09 Update: Bankruptcy judge Redfield T. Baum today ordered the NHL and Phoenix owner Jerry Moyes into mediation until the 27th of this May, pretty much making fun of the fact that the NHL could not handle this outside of his courtroom.
This is a good sign for Balsillie, for the fact that the judge didn’t simply (as many expected) side with the NHL. It could be bad news for Balsillie, however, as this delays the possible transfer of the team, especially with prior concerns by the NHL about it interfering with next year’s schedule.
It sounds to us like the judge just hasn’t researched and learned enough about this case to yet make a decision… but we definitely do like his sense of humor:
“To save the suspense, I’m not going to rule from the bench today,” he said.
Hopefully his decision ends up coming from a bench favored by Hamilton.
Gary Bettman might not want a new NHL team in Hamilton, but he might be willing to let a team move back to Winnipeg. Bettman says that Copps Coliseum (where the Hamilton team would play) is over 30 years old and too old, and that only an expansion team would be allowed in Hamilton (which we all know will never happen). Another reason Bettman has given for not allowing the sale/move of Phoenix to Hamilton this year is because it would interfere with the 2009-2010 NHL schedule… which we don’t believe has been released yet. Either way, Jim Balsillie stated over the weekend that he is willing to delay the move of Phoenix to Hamilton until the 2010-2011 season, if scheduling was such a problem.
While all of this goes on and Bettman and the NHL said they have also been in talks with Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, about buying the team for $130 million and keeping it in Phoenix… the bankruptcy court showdown between Moyes and the NHL should end tomorrow - Tuesday, May 19th - with a ruling expected.
We do like the fact that Bettman has brought up Winnipeg’s name in the move of the Coyotes to a new place… but doubt that he is serious about it at all, and it is more of a PR stunt. Furthermore, why is he trying to prevent a thriving NHL franchise from existing in Hamilton, when one in Winnipeg already failed??! Once again, little Napoleon won’t let his ego out of the way and do what’s best for this league and sport…
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