Mavs One Win Away From Final (and One Loss Away From Ending Their Season)
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| Via |
Here are a few recaps of Game Six, and an article from the CHL site on the Berry Conference Champion Wichita Thunder. Game Seven is Thursday night in Fort Wayne at 6:30pm CT. Listen live for free on the Mavs site, or watch it live on CHL-TV (that costs money though).
Mavs Site: Mavs Fall To Komets In Game 6
KC Star: Mavs drop game on road
CHL Site: Thunder Advance to Presidents' Cup Finals
Explaining the Game: "Icing"
Welcome to a new feature I call "Explaining the Game," in which I transcribe conversations I have with members of my family who don't understand hockey. It's for all of you marginal Kansas City hockey fans who may have had similar convos in the past. Hopefully it will help you understand the game a little better using a vernacular familiar to you non-hockey fans. Today's topic of discussion: ICING
While watching the Bruins-Caps game yesterday with my uncle:
(The Capitals miss a pass in the neutral zone, and the puck bounds behind the Bruins net. A Bruins player touches up for icing.)
Uncle: So, what's that?
Me: Icing.
Uncle: Oh. So, what, the puck has to pass three lines?
Me: (thinking, and a bit surprised by his quick comprehension) Uh, well, yeah, actually. Well, two red lines, but, yeah, three or more lines works.
Uncle: Oh, okay.
Me: (trying to simplify it) Well, basically, it's just when they shoot it across the goal line from anywhere behind center ice.
Uncle: Hmmm....
Me: Unless that official determines it could have been played by a member of the opposing team.
Uncle: (nods)
Me: And, if the goalie has to play it, that's not icing.
Uncle: (no response)
Me: So...uh, yeah, that's about it. See, the faceoff goes to the other end. So, you shouldn't do it, unless you have to.
Uncle: (starts conversation with my cousin)
...Later...
(The Capitals are killing a penalty, and shoot the puck out of the zone behind the Bruins net)
Uncle: Why isn't that icing?
Me: You can do that if you are killing a penalty.
Uncle: Oh, so, it's legal to ice it if you are on the powerplay?
Me: Well, no. It's called "clearing" when you do it as the defensive team killing the powerplay, and it's called "icing" if the teams are at even strength. Clearing is fine, icing is not.
Uncle: So, if you shoot the puck down the ice when there is a penalty, it's not icing, but if you do it when there isn't a penalty, there is icing?
Me: Yeah...unless you are the team on the powerplay. Then you still can't clear it, because that's icing. You still have to go by the regular rule.
Uncle: Oh.
Me: Yeah.
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| Via |
While watching the Bruins-Caps game yesterday with my uncle:
(The Capitals miss a pass in the neutral zone, and the puck bounds behind the Bruins net. A Bruins player touches up for icing.)
Uncle: So, what's that?
Me: Icing.
Uncle: Oh. So, what, the puck has to pass three lines?
Me: (thinking, and a bit surprised by his quick comprehension) Uh, well, yeah, actually. Well, two red lines, but, yeah, three or more lines works.
Uncle: Oh, okay.
Me: (trying to simplify it) Well, basically, it's just when they shoot it across the goal line from anywhere behind center ice.
Uncle: Hmmm....
Me: Unless that official determines it could have been played by a member of the opposing team.
Uncle: (nods)
Me: And, if the goalie has to play it, that's not icing.
Uncle: (no response)
Me: So...uh, yeah, that's about it. See, the faceoff goes to the other end. So, you shouldn't do it, unless you have to.
Uncle: (starts conversation with my cousin)
...Later...
(The Capitals are killing a penalty, and shoot the puck out of the zone behind the Bruins net)
Uncle: Why isn't that icing?
Me: You can do that if you are killing a penalty.
Uncle: Oh, so, it's legal to ice it if you are on the powerplay?
Me: Well, no. It's called "clearing" when you do it as the defensive team killing the powerplay, and it's called "icing" if the teams are at even strength. Clearing is fine, icing is not.
Uncle: So, if you shoot the puck down the ice when there is a penalty, it's not icing, but if you do it when there isn't a penalty, there is icing?
Me: Yeah...unless you are the team on the powerplay. Then you still can't clear it, because that's icing. You still have to go by the regular rule.
Uncle: Oh.
Me: Yeah.
The Sprint Center an "Unintentional Experiment," and No New Expansion
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| The Kansas City model? |
Here are a few links to check out from over the past few days:
Sacramento Bee: Mayor Kevin Johnson still wants Sacramento railyard complex
KC Star: NBA, NHL commissioners rule out expansion
Newsday: NHL head Bettman: Islanders need new home
First thing's first. An interesting article from the Sacramento Bee of the arena situation in that city. If you don't know what is going on there by now, basically the Sacramento Kings are run a problematic ownership group that doesn't seem to want to sell the team, but they don't do much for the success of the franchise (the Maloofs -- I urge you to check out the "Maloofs' Key Issues" bullet points just to the right of the article). So, Sacramento mayor, Kevin Johnson, is taking matters into his own hand to build a new arena for the city, team or no team. How will they get this done? By following the "Kansas City model."
The Sacramento Kings had been expected to serve as tenant in a proposed $391 million arena in the downtown railyard before pulling out of the deal last week. Members of the Maloof family, which owns the team, have said they are committed to staying in Sacramento and have floated the idea of renovating Power Balance Pavilion.
Johnson said city officials should remain focused on a downtown arena and perhaps follow "the Kansas City model." That Midwestern city constructed the Sprint Center – one of the world's busiest arenas – without a professional sports franchise.Hey, that's cool, I guess. Until you see why that is such a bad idea. Bold added by me for emphasis:
If the sides remain apart, Johnson said the city should explore what was done in Kansas City.AEG, which had agreed to operate Sacramento's facility, contributed $53 million to the Kansas City project and operates Sprint Center.
The Kansas City model is likely to be a difficult one to emulate.
Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of Pollstar magazine, which follows the concert industry, said the Sprint Center was "an unintentional experiment." The city expected to lure an NBA or NHL franchise to the building after it opened in 2007, but that still has not happened.
"Until Kansas City did it, I'm not sure there was a major example of an arena being built without a sports team," Bongiovanni said. "It becomes a little iffier if you don't have a sports team."
Arenas with sports anchors generate more revenue from signage and naming rights – advertisers want to be in a building that will be on television broadcasts, Bongiovanni said. Nonetheless, the Sprint Center has succeeded without a sports team. In the first quarter of 2012, Pollstar ranked the arena the second busiest in the country and seventh busiest in the world based on ticket sales for non-sporting events. Power Balance Pavilion was not in the top 50.
While the Sprint Center is considered a success by industry experts, Bongiovanni said Sacramentocould not support a new downtown arena if Power Balance Pavilion continued to operate.
The key to the Sprint Center's success was the financial involvement of AEG, said Troy Schulte, the city manager of Kansas City.
"There's a vested financial stake (for) them to fill the arena," he said. "I doubt we would have been as successful as a standalone arena without AEG."
Johnson said the city would continue talking with AEG about a new arena. AEG officials declined comment Tuesday.It isn't fair to call the Sprint center an "unintentional experiment" because it's not like other cities have built successful arenas (or not arenas) in other cities without a major tenant (look at the top 20 US cities on that list). Arenas and other venues are built for specific entertainment purposes, and not necessarily for an anchor tenant. Now, maybe Kansas City's citizens were a part of an intricate social psychological experiment administered by AEG and city officials back in the mid-2000s when they were attempting to promote constructing the Sprint Center. If so, we are all entitled to monetary compensation for our part.
That second bolded section-- "advertisers want to be in a building that will be on television broadcasts"-- yeah, haven't we been told something else? Something along the lines of "an arena is sustainable, and even more profitable without an anchor tenant"? I don't know who this Bongiovanni is (great name), but I'm inclined to agree. Why wouldn't a venue seen around the world generate more revenue?
***
Moving on, apparently Gary Bettman (and NBA commissioner David Stern) have absolutely no intention of expanding their leagues, which really isn't anything new, but here is what Bettman said anyway.
“There’s interest,” he said. “I hear from a half a dozen cities on a regular basis that would like to have a team, but that’s not anything we’re focused on.”
While he stopped short of identifying those parties in Kansas City, Bettman was quick to trumpet the virtues of the Sprint Center as a venue amply capable of harboring a franchise.
“Without being specific,” he said, “because I’m not sure they want to be identified, we hear on a regular basis that there’s this wonderful arena there just waiting for a tenant.”
That's the Bettman statement ever. "I'm willing to talk about something, but I can't really go into any details so as to not have the media not to go nuts." Whatever, again, not anything all that new, but something that happened.
In the meantime, Bettman offers advice to Kansas Citians, and citizens of other cities seeking an NHL franchise:
“Get the outer market (premium broadcasting) package or watch NBC for the time being,” he said. “Look, I don’t like raising expectations. I don’t really think that’s fair.”Yeah, we'll get right on that.
Oh, also, the Islanders need a new building, but Bettman seems pretty dedicated to keeping the team there (because he is consistent). Kansas City is mentioned. That's about it.
My Contribution to the "Doughty Laughing" Meme
LA Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was caught laughing at the chaos going on behind him during a scuffle in Game 2 of the Vancouver Canucks-Kings series. This is important (as some people have pointed out) because it shows a more relaxed attitude than what the Kings had in their previous two playoff appearances. But you don't need to know that.
What you need to know:
- Here is the original photo (also the header pic)
- Here is the video of the original photo
- Here is a gallery using the Doughty laughing image in situations where it otherwise would not be seen.
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| Cross between Happy/Struting Leo and Laughing Doughy |
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| Doughty laughs at or laughs with Don Cherry |
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| Nice tan lines, Doughty! |
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| Doughty and Coach Dunlop have a revelation |
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| Laughing Doughty and Illegal Poke Checking Clowe tripping Castro mish-mash |
Gary Bettman Reveals the Potential Coyotes Mysterious International Ownership Group
Meanwhile, at NHL Headquarters...
(Charlie Brown teacher voice comes through the phone)
Gary Bettman (on phone): Yes, yes. I know, Mrs. Scraggs. And I keep telling you, it just doesn't work like that. Uh-huh. Yeah. Hey, look, I have another call coming in. How about this, when you can talk to me like an adult, call me back.
(Bettman clicks over to other line)
Bettman: Gary Bettman here, how may I help you?
Mysterious businessman: Hallo! I am a, err, businessman from Germania, and I am mucho interestante in owning your Phoenix franchise. Muy muy interestante!
Bettman: Um, okay. I didn't know we had any international ownership groups interested in purchasing the Coyotes.
Mysterious businessman: Oh oui. I have always wanted to own an NHL team, ever since I was a little mensch wearing my lederhosen on the frozen pond.
Bettman: Okay, do you have a name, by chance?
Mysterious businessman: All you need to know is that I represent a very importante investment group.
Bettman: And what is the name of your investment group?
Mysterious businessman: Um...its, uh...G....E...A. Uh...German....Engineering....um...Artichokes...or something.
Bettman: Oookay... well, let's get down to business. No BS. What are you willing to offer us to purchase the organization?
Mysterious businessman: Anything you want. We will do whatever it takes to make the Coyotes the most a la carte team in the league. A la mode, if you will.
Mysterious businessman: Mr. Leiweke. Sacrebleu! I know of no Monsieur Leiweke!
Bettman: Mr. Leiweke, I know it's you, and you already know you cannot own two NHL franchises. As the owner of the Kings, you are disqualified from the Coyotes...err...sweepstakes.
Tim Leiweke: Oh, well, haha. Sorry, Gar-bear. Just pullin' your leg. But, for reals, let me own another franchise.
Bettman: No.
Leiweke: Ah man, that's not fair!
Bettman: I know.
(Bettman hangs up phone)
(Charlie Brown teacher voice comes through the phone)
Gary Bettman (on phone): Yes, yes. I know, Mrs. Scraggs. And I keep telling you, it just doesn't work like that. Uh-huh. Yeah. Hey, look, I have another call coming in. How about this, when you can talk to me like an adult, call me back.
(Bettman clicks over to other line)
Bettman: Gary Bettman here, how may I help you?
Mysterious businessman: Hallo! I am a, err, businessman from Germania, and I am mucho interestante in owning your Phoenix franchise. Muy muy interestante!
Bettman: Um, okay. I didn't know we had any international ownership groups interested in purchasing the Coyotes.
Mysterious businessman: Oh oui. I have always wanted to own an NHL team, ever since I was a little mensch wearing my lederhosen on the frozen pond.
Bettman: Okay, do you have a name, by chance?
Mysterious businessman: All you need to know is that I represent a very importante investment group.
Bettman: And what is the name of your investment group?
Mysterious businessman: Um...its, uh...G....E...A. Uh...German....Engineering....um...Artichokes...or something.
Bettman: Oookay... well, let's get down to business. No BS. What are you willing to offer us to purchase the organization?
Mysterious businessman: Anything you want. We will do whatever it takes to make the Coyotes the most a la carte team in the league. A la mode, if you will.
Bettman: You know what, I don't think we will be using your services. Thanks for the offer, though.
Mysterious businessman: NEIN! NEIN! NEIN! Achtung, Senor Bettman! You need someone to own the sporting club, n'est-ce pas?
Bettman: Well, yes...
Mysterious businessman: Yes! Si! Da! You need me! You will amor me as an NHL owner!
Bettman: (heavy sigh) Mr. Leiweke, I know it's you, so please quit wasting my time. I have more important things to do. Plus, I'm meeting Shea Weber for dinner in twenty minutes.
Mysterious businessman: Mr. Leiweke. Sacrebleu! I know of no Monsieur Leiweke!
Bettman: Mr. Leiweke, I know it's you, and you already know you cannot own two NHL franchises. As the owner of the Kings, you are disqualified from the Coyotes...err...sweepstakes.
Tim Leiweke: Oh, well, haha. Sorry, Gar-bear. Just pullin' your leg. But, for reals, let me own another franchise.
Bettman: No.
Leiweke: Ah man, that's not fair!
Bettman: I know.
(Bettman hangs up phone)
I Wish I Had a Tallon Blueprint... :(
The NHL rolled out a new playoff ad campaign this year meant to attract the "casual fan," replacing their old, passive voiced "History Will Be Made" campaign of the previous two seasons. This new campaign is titled "Because of the Cup," and it encourages these "casual fans" to watch because...uh, I guess because it's the Cup, which is good enough for me and you, but maybe not for the random dude over at the KC basketball blog (as far as I can tell, no such blog exists...).
Anyway, the NHL has created many team specific spots, but only of most Eastern Conference playoff teams, Detroit, and Vancouver (fix this, NHL). One of the Eastern Conference teams featured in the ads are the upstart Florida Panthers. The Panthers won the Southeast Division this year after free-falling into that position the last month of the season or so. Oh, and don't forget GM Dale Tallon's wild 2011 free agency signing period. Basically, this team wasn't supposed to crack the top ten in the East, let alone win the division, but here we are. That's why they play the games, etc. That being said, here is the NHL's "Because It's the Cup" ad for the Panthers:
The "Tallon Blueprint"? You have to admit, his "blueprint" is an unconventional one, if not entirely different than the one that resembles Brian Burke's ass. But, basing a commercial around free agent acquisitions. Damn, that's really going to attract the casual fan... It's obvious the NHL wants to go away from pointing out specific players that maybe only semi-interested fans might know, but you can't talk about the GM and then show a bunch of the first year Panthers if that's the case. Point out the fact Florida hasn't been to the playoffs in forever. Or, if you will show players, maybe point out Jose Theodore's decent season, or Tomas Fleischmann's strong scoring year, or...or....wow, no one on this team stands out. Really. It's the truth. Go to the League Leaders page on NHL.com. No one leads the league in any scoring category or plus/minus category. Not even near the top. Theodore is the best goalie on the team, which is like mediocre compared to most of the league. How did they make the playoffs?
Dale Tallon, you are a special kind of genius.
Greg Jamison Selected By City of Glendale To Potentially, Maybe, Possibly Own Coyotes
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| Coyotes potential mystery owner? |
We already know why it's good for the "plan of the league" for the Coyotes to stay in Glendale (stability, spread the game, etc.), but we all know the problems that can and have caused problems in the past. It's a cautionary tale, to be sure. Just look past the first couple of lines from AZ Central's write-up at the chronology of the situation in Glendale.
From AZ Central:
Even Glendale's long-supportive mayor's faith is cracking as she stares down as much as a $30 million deficit in the city's budget for next year.Even if the framework of a deal is released this month, as Beasley says, finalizing a deal takes longer and in the past has proved elusive
The Coyotes' ownership has hung in limbo since 2009, when the National Hockey League bought the team at a bankruptcy auction. For three straight years, the team has battled in the playoffs and potential owners have come and gone.
Beasley's timeline offers a glimmer of hope, but the council in past years has approved preliminary agreements with at least three groups. Financing problems crippled two of the deals. Another bidder abandoned his deal.
Mayor Elaine Scruggs, who has for years preached the benefits of keeping the Coyotes in Glendale, said Jamison's deal is the best the city has seen in its three-year search.But the group has struggled in the past to line up financing, she said.If the issues remain, a lack of funds could again trip up a deal.Tight finances are impacting Glendale, too. The city can't afford to buy more time with the Coyotes.The city has twice pledged $25 million to the NHL to keep the Coyotes in Glendale, the second bill coming due as soon as next month.The payouts have strained the city. Leaders now weigh staff furloughs, service cuts and a sales-tax hike amid a steep deficit in the upcoming year's budgets.
Along with the actual news reporting (i.e. Jamison chosen by Glendale), comes the stark reminder of the past, or a look into the future, as well. As promising as the other deals looked, they failed, and now we have a possible Jamison deal that might happen, or it might not.
A fascinating development to come from this situation are the parties interested in owning an NHL franchise. The city decided not to (possibly) go with Jim Treliving, part owner of the Boston Pizza chains, and who may or may not be the Canadian group that sought ownership of the franchise. He is a name with his hat in the ring, though, or he wouldn't be getting any press. They also spurned a mystery international investment group which I can only imagine is someone with access to Jim Balsillie's Swiss bank account (I certainly would like to know more about this international group, and I think we can all agree with Wyshynski on that front).
I would be surprised if we don't know how this will play out before June. If it lasts past that point, let's say until July 1st, that means the Coyotes have to remain in Glendale for another year (due to scheduling concerns, etc.) AND/OR the NHL either still owns them or Jamison's group owns them. The NHL wants the latter, of course.
Mavs Play Fort Wayne Tomorrow; Begin Conference Championship Series
The Mavericks will face the regular season Turner Conference champions, the Fort Wayne Komets, in the Conference Finals round of the CHL's Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Playoffs. Fort Wayne beat Rapid City in six games to advance to the next round.
Komets 3, Rush 6
Komets 3, Rush 1
Komets 3, Rush 1
Komets 5, Rush 3
Komets 1, Rush 4
Komets 4, Rush 3 OT
The Mavs haven't played since April 2nd, while the Komets last played this past Tuesday. What will prevail: rest or continuous play?
Series schedule:
Previous meetings:
Dec. 29th, Fort Wayne 4 -- Mavs 2
Jan. 15th, Mavs 4 -- Fort Wayne 3 in a shootout
Here is the Central Hockey League's preview of the series.
Here is the Mavericks series preview.
The CHL Playoffs: Just as Tough as the NHL Playoffs
Puck Daddy: Why wait? Hockey fight during ceremonial puck drop before CHL playoff game
Last week I posted the video of the Penguins-Flyers brawl and shouting match. With the bad blood between those two teams, their upcoming playoff series will be one of the most enjoyable to watch. Easily, one of the most enjoyable to watch.
Well, not to be outdone, an intense fight broke out this past friday between CHL rivals the Texas Brahmas and the Allen Americans during Game 4 of their opening round series. Observe:
Yes, that's a fight between Brett Clouthier of the Americans and Ryan Hand of the Brahmas DURING THE CEREMONIAL PUCK DROP!!!! Of course, the Mavs could very well play one of these teams, but it would not be until the Cup Finals.
Your move, NHL.
Last week I posted the video of the Penguins-Flyers brawl and shouting match. With the bad blood between those two teams, their upcoming playoff series will be one of the most enjoyable to watch. Easily, one of the most enjoyable to watch.
Well, not to be outdone, an intense fight broke out this past friday between CHL rivals the Texas Brahmas and the Allen Americans during Game 4 of their opening round series. Observe:
Yes, that's a fight between Brett Clouthier of the Americans and Ryan Hand of the Brahmas DURING THE CEREMONIAL PUCK DROP!!!! Of course, the Mavs could very well play one of these teams, but it would not be until the Cup Finals.
Your move, NHL.
Great Moments In Illegal Ryane Clowe Poke Checking History
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| Via |
Video of the play below:
After doing a little research, I found out this isn't the first time Ryane Clowe has been involved in illegally using his stick. Take a walk down memory lane, and see what else Clowe has done without the officials, or anyone, taking notice.
Ah yes, the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals. Everyone remembers Brett Hull's series winning goal where he skated through the crease, at the time against the NHL's "Crease Rule." Due to all of the crease hoopla, no one noticed Ryane Clowe STANDING IN THE GOAL poke checking the puck back onto Hull's stick after Hasek makes the initial save.
Every hockey fan has seen Bobby Orr's "The Goal" photo before, taken during the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals. The goal would give the Bruins their first Stanley Cup since 1941. But, have you really looked at it? Although this is an iconic photo, it would have never happened if Clowe didn't come off the bench and skate as the sixth man on the ice for A FULL MINUTE without the officials noticing. He also wore a helmet before it was required, and was colorized before it was cool. What a putz.
Remember when Kelsey Grammer (TV's Fraiser) fell off of a stage while giving a presentation? Ryan Clowe sure does.
This year's Wrestlemania was one that will live in the memories of wrestling fans everywhere. HHH vs Undertaker with Shawn Michaels as the ref, in an END OF AN ERA match. Rock vs Cena, the match to decide what was better: The Attitude Era or PG Era. And the quickest match in the history of Wrestlemania, Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus. As you know, Bryan's girlfriend AJ gave him a good luck kiss after the starting bell rang, allowing Sheamus to catch Bryan off guard, Brogue kick him, and end the match in 18 seconds. Well, if you look closely, AJ isn't the only one to blame. It appears someone tripped up Bryan before he could fully turn around to face his opponent. Also, Clowe wears a stupid pixelation suit, which really looks bad in HD.
I hate to break it to everyone, but, no, an iceberg didn't sink the Titanic. I guess that means if you pay to see Titanic 3D you are contributing to lies.
Ryane Clowe tripped Fidel Castro. Oh, I guess this one isn't so bad. Carry on.
Wow, That Was Fast
It only took six days, but the Mavs swept the Evansville IceMen in the first round of the Turner Conference bracket of the CHL playoffs. Here are links to the summaries of each game, and video highlights (if available).
Game One
Mavs Win 3-2
Game One Summary
Game One Video:
Game Two
Mavs Win 7-1
Game Two Summary
Game Three
Mavs Win 3-2 in OT
Game Three Summary
Game Four
Mavs Win 3-1
Game Four Summary
Game Four Video:
This is the third time in three years of existence that the Mavs have made it to the second round of the playoffs, but the first time they have made it to the Conference Finals (the previous two years the second round was a semi-final round).
The Mavericks are patiently waiting for the winner of the Fort Wayne and Rapid City matchup. Fort Wayne leads the series 3-1, and can wrap it up at home on Sunday. As mentioned before, the Mavs tied the season series with Fort Wayne (1-1), and a 4-1 record against Rapid City.
On the Berry Conference side of the bracket, Wichita leads Rio Grande Valley 3-1, with the next game this Saturday in Wichita. They will play the winner of Texas and Allen(, Texas...). Their next game is this Friday at (North Richland Hills,) Texas.
Grab some Conference Finals tickets over at the Mavs official site.
Hey, also, you should be reading any and all of the hockey coverage on Grantand. It's easy to avoid Bill Simmons if that's a problem for you. So, what are you waiting for? Go. GO!
s/t to Katie Baker
Game One
Mavs Win 3-2
Game One Summary
Game One Video:
Game Two
Mavs Win 7-1
Game Two Summary
Game Three
Mavs Win 3-2 in OT
Game Three Summary
Game Four
Mavs Win 3-1
Game Four Summary
Game Four Video:
This is the third time in three years of existence that the Mavs have made it to the second round of the playoffs, but the first time they have made it to the Conference Finals (the previous two years the second round was a semi-final round).
The Mavericks are patiently waiting for the winner of the Fort Wayne and Rapid City matchup. Fort Wayne leads the series 3-1, and can wrap it up at home on Sunday. As mentioned before, the Mavs tied the season series with Fort Wayne (1-1), and a 4-1 record against Rapid City.
On the Berry Conference side of the bracket, Wichita leads Rio Grande Valley 3-1, with the next game this Saturday in Wichita. They will play the winner of Texas and Allen(, Texas...). Their next game is this Friday at (North Richland Hills,) Texas.
Grab some Conference Finals tickets over at the Mavs official site.
Hey, also, you should be reading any and all of the hockey coverage on Grantand. It's easy to avoid Bill Simmons if that's a problem for you. So, what are you waiting for? Go. GO!
s/t to Katie Baker
Elaine of Glendale: The Misanthrope
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| I was going to put a picture of Mayor Scraggs here, but I don't want to look at her anymore after reading a bunch of stories on this whole mess, so enjoy this instead. |
Oh boy, it seems the Mayor of the City of Glendale, and she who borrowed millions upon million of dollars to build the sports complexes in Glendale, Elaine Scruggs had some harsh words for the totally-not-innocent-in-all-of-this-themselves Gary Bettman, Bill Daly, and NHL on the current state of the business-side of both parties' dealings with each other.
Basically, the mayor is not too happy that the NHL and the CoG hammered out a deal a while back that required the the city to pay the NHL $25 million to cover losses of the Coyotes this season. The problem is, Glendale agreed to do this, and now the mayor is as mad as heck, and she ain't gonna take it anymore! Read on, as we dissect what the mayor has to say.
“We have $20 million plugged in for next year. I will not support a budget that has $20 million plugged in for arena management… and I’m not just going to end it right there. I’m gonna tell you. I have been asking for information (regarding arena management fee) since June. I have repeatedly done this in every way, shape or form possible and have gotten nothing.”
"Yes, Elaine. You pay us...
“Last time at our meeting of February 28th 2012, everyone agreed we would get it on March 20th. I watched, listened to the meeting on March 20th, not one word about it. So I’m going to come up with my own number. This is what I’m gonna do. If the team leaves, we still have to run that arena. So you cannot wipe out $20 million. You have to put in some amount of money to manage the activities that are going to be left there. Pay a management company to manage and keep the place running so forth and so on.
This is all very true. You do have to put in some amount of money, and the most responsible thing to do at this point would be to rid yourself of the burden of operating Jobing.com Arena by allowing a private company to do so instead. That still does not excuse you from not paying the NHL the amount of money you agreed upon... oh, what's that? You don't care, you say? Okay, then...
Now, I have some figures. These are annual expenses to operate the Jobing.com arena as reported by the arena management group financial statements.”
“I think,instead of $20M, I keep going back and forth between $10M and $12M. I’m looking at what it is going to cost to run the arena for all the other events, and hopefully, we will have more events. We are going to give up a lot of revenues that we get because of the hockey team being there and we are going to have to pay somebody to manage the arena. I’m going to say $11M because I cannot decide between $10M and $12M. So for me, when I look at a budget, if I see $20M there for arena management? That is not a budget that I am going to approve.”
Does it really work that way? Can you just rearrange the budget now that a major financial deadline looms? The NHL might like you to pay them their money BEFORE you start talking about the team moving and hiring a company to run the arena.
“The reason why we approved that second payment of $25M to the NHL. Why 5 of us voted for this, was because we were told that we were just this close to a deal being done. Mr. Daly stood right in front of us and he told us that. “We have never been closer… There was a deal that was going to be done so we should never have to pay that $25M and the NHL wouldn’t go move the team off some place. So, here we are now, a year later, two months from having to pay this. No Mr. Hulsizer… No Mr. Anybody Else. No Deals, No Nothing. So we have a problem.”
First, Daly could have told you that chicken sh*t was chocolate, but you don't have to believe him. You have that right as a people, and as a governing body. But, it's understandable that the City of Glendale had no reason not to believe the NHL on this matter, but it is also true a few of the potential owners of the Coyotes have almost jumped every hurdle to become THE owner. Also, if you look at the situation as a whole, who would have thought this situation would have played out this long? This just does not happen in North American professional sports, where the sport's governing body takes over a franchise and can't find an owner for this period of time. It's hard to blame the NHL for saying they were close to an owner, and it's hard to blame the CoG for believing the NHL.
Second, if we look into the past and see what happen with you and Mr. Hulsizer, we will find that it was YOU who had trouble locking him up because the Goldwater Institute called YOU out on possibly breaking Arizona state bond laws. Again, YOU couldn't approve him, so the NHL owners could not approve him. Saying "we have a problem" is correct, but definitely not in the context you use it.
“My solution and my suggestion is that Mr. Beasley (City Manager representing Glendale in negotiations with the NHL) start talking to the NHL about what a great partner we have been with them. We have stuck to this. We have helped them get the TV rights for the west coast.
West coast??? I guess she is talking about the NHL double-headers on NBC Sports Network that are more prevalent under the current television rights. Which is great and all (seriously, though, the league has 30 teams, so it only makes sense to show more than just eight of them), but Glendale is doing that for their benefit, as well. It's like if Sporting KC or the Royals didn't agree to a local television partnership. You can't grow a fanbase without providing those possible fans with exposure to your product. Thus, Mrs. Scruggs, don't think that the NHL owes you a favor for helping them expose their product to more possible fans, especially to those in your region, those people you need the most for your local product to survive.
Given the stress that our budget is under, that there be a payment plan developed so that we don’t pay $25 million on May 2, 2012 or any other date. We structure a payment plan that fits within our budget.”
“What I have been told is ‘No that we won’t have any leverage with the NHL if we talk about that’. Then I was told, ‘Well, I proposed it to the NHL and they have taken it under advisement.”
“We have never been allowed to be part of any of these negotiations, and so I’m going to ask you; Are you willing to sign your name to a letter, to Mr. Gary Bettman, Commissioner of the NHL and say “This is what is happening to the City of Glendale?”I think Gary Bettman knows as much as he needs/wants/cares to know about what is happening in Glendale. Bettman cares that his product is working with people in the region of Glendale (more or less, it is). Bettman cares that he is not losing money in Glendale (he is, definitely). Thus, Bettman will want the money owed repaid in full. I'm sure he might feel some pity taking money from a city whose budget is shot, but then again, he's the commissioner of a major North American business. He will get his money one way or another, Glendale be damned.
“The NHL have been in control of this process the entire time. Everything had to start with them. We couldn’t do anything until they said that we could talk to somebody. The NHL have been in control of this and they have led us to this terrible point that we are at today.”
The NHL owns the franchise that operates within your arena at least 41 times per year that YOU allow them to play in. All possible owners up to this point have been pretty much crap (Jim Ballsillie, Ice Edge) or disinterested (Matt Hulsizer, mostly due to the fact that you were trying to circumvent the state constitution and didn't provide the courts with necessary paperwork to say otherwise). The NHL is under no obligations to you. They didn't lead you anywhere. If anything, they led you right where you are, which in a sense makes you right. But, the difference is that they knew what they were doing all along, they just had their best interest in mind. Thus, as the more powerful entity, they will play the villain once again.
“If we don’t pay that $20 million that is in escrow, which I have been told by our city attorney, we can’t get out without the NHL’s permission. It was put in an escrow account that we cannot terminate. If we get that out of the escrow account and we pay them $5M instead of $20M, our problems and everything that our employees are fearful of will pretty much go away.”
“In terms of the extra $5 million to meet the $25 million that we never could come up with, I better not see it in any budget. If it is in a budget? I’m not voting for it, because they don’t have it locked up in escrow yet. That is my answer to the $20M. You can’t wipe it out entirely, but you can sure take a huge chunk out of it. I’m saying take $9 million out and we talk to the NHL.”
“It is their problem they made. They misled us and they can’t do this to our city.”
Mayor Scruggs speaks as if business transactions are just as simple as borrowing money from a buddy for rent or whatever. "They misled us and they can't do this to our city." Yes, yes they can, because you gave them the right to operate in your arena AND you agreed to cover usage and overage fees. These aren't costs that are new or hidden, you just don't want to pay because you don't have the money and you don't have full access to the money you believe is rightfully yours. Sure, Bettman and Daly and whoever you have spoken to with the NHL can be hateful dicks and maybe even shystered you into accepting a deal they knew would only benefit them in the end, but you can't call BS when the NHL comes looking for their money. It makes a bad situation worse, and that what this was from the start when the franchise was losing millions of dollars per year, and soon thereafter when no real ownership group stepped in to help both sides.
...
Sheeeesh. On the outside, this all looks like a terrible relationship gone worse. Like, in 2009 the NHL moved in with this chick (Glendale) it was dating for about twelve years, and at first they had a hard time agreeing on matching furniture, but now Glendale just screams at the NHL, but he's all like "whateves, dude."
We see now how this has turned out poorly for Glendale, and it does not appear things will get much better from here. On the other end of the spectrum, the NHL leaves itself open to scrutiny and bad PR by owning the team, and they are now in the situation where they can't even sell it to someone they trust. Even to someone who will move it! They are losing money, the city is losing money, no one is happy...
Coyotes fans, I hate to say it, but the situation is not good when your mayor starts to talk sh*t on the NHL. This could be the beginning of the end of the Coyotes saga, one that could get very messy, and reflect poorly on the NHL as a whole. It may not all be the NHL's fault, of course, but they definitely had to know this might be a possible conclusion when they bought the franchise in 2009.
