A Lockout Poem, by Flubber McGee-Neruda

"Leaning Into the Crack of Dawn"

Leaning into the butt crack of dawn I cast my sad nets
towards your oceanic eyes.

There in the highest blaze my solitude lengthens and flames,
its arms turning like a drowning man's.

I send out red signals across your absent eyes
that move like the sea near a lighthouse.

You keep only darkness, my distant Scot Beckenbaugh
from your regard sometimes the coast of dread emerges.

Leaning into the Sunday morning I fling my sad nets
to that sea that beats on your marine eyes.

The birds of night peck at the first stars
that flash like my soul when I love you.

The night gallops on its shadowy mare
shedding blue tassels over the land.

Gary Bettman is a dick isn't he

I bet you called him a dick to his face.

I love you Scot Beckenbaugh.  Thanks.

Greg Jamison is a Diabolical Genius or Has No Idea What He's Doing

Via

Per Mike Sunnucks at the Phoenix Business Journal, prospective Coyotes buyer Greg Jamison may not have the funds or investors to purchase the Coyotes.  Per the NHL, and I paraphrase, "f*ck you, Mike Sunnucks."

From Phoenix Business Journal:

Several sources in Arizona familiar with the Coyotes machinations and supportive of Jamison’s bid are asking with concern why a deal hasn’t been finalized, where Jamison’s money is coming from and who his partners are.

Hanging over all of this is the fact that the $300 million Coyotes-friendly arena deal approved by the city of Glendale can’t be signed by Jamison until he buys the team.

Free agent Coyotes captain Shane Doan has given Jamison until Friday to show some significant progress or finality in buying the league-owned franchise. Otherwise, Doan will sign with another team as soon as next week, according to his agent Terry Bross. Doan has been waiting for the Coyotes’ three-year ownership saga to resolve itself.

Don't be fooled, Jamison's bid to buy the team is still happening despite the city of Glendale's best efforts to destroy itself into oblivion like the house from Poltergeist.  We will see, of course, but the demands of Shane Doan will definitely not speed the process since I don't think Jamison gives two chocolate starfishes what Shane Doan wants.  But, Coyotes fan are beginning to wonder what's up, as well, so it's not like Doan is just being a douche (this time).

One thing that has intrigued me, and apparently members of the media, is the identity of Jamison's "investors."  When asked, he nor the NHL will disclose the parties involved.  They are just people (maybe) with money.  It doesn't really matter, but then again it would be nice to have some kind of transparency or clarity and a sense that someone knows what the hell they are doing in all of this mess.  Sigh.....I guess we can't ask for miracles.

Anyway, I've gathered as much information available on the topic (none), so here's a list of Greg Jamison's top possible investors:

• Wayne Gretzky's brothers Brent and Keith
• Shea Weber
• Shane Doan's children – Awww you should have seen them with their little piggy banks.  Too cute.  It's a shame they'll have to starve.
• Bary Gettman
• Mike Tyson
• Owen Nolan – because what the hell else is he doing these days
• Matthew Hulsizer's left nut
• Dustin Brown's Screw You Fund
• Dan and Pam DeVos (hahaha terrible people)
• Pete Rose
• Totally not Pierre-Karl Péladeau, CEO of Québecor
• The Maloof brothers
• Charlie Sheen
• David Gla-hahahhah ahah haha I'm sorry I couldn't say it! hahahahaha haha haha

"Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward."

After what seemed to be fifteen hours of third graders regaling the Glendale City Council with their assessment of "Hop on Pop," it ended.  The council, in a 4-2 vote, agreed to hand over the keys of Jobing.com Arena and the Phoenix Coyotes to former San Jose Sharks owner Greg Jamison, and to squeeze their taxpayers for $325 million to fund the whole mess.  It doesn't matter, though, for you see, the Goldwater Institute, the conservative watchdog group that scuttled the Matthew Hulsizer deal, isn't happy.  Nope, not one bit.

Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs looked so weary when giving her address before the official vote.  Her exclamation of "sometimes you don't always get what you want" came straight from the heart, an exhausted heart, and it really hit close to home.  Her 'nay' vote was merely a formality, as she knew it would be, but in the end it didn't matter.  It doesn't matter.  At all.  Because, like Elaine, we know this isn't over.  Not by a long shot.  For one, Greg Jamison has not officially been approved by the NHL (what's the deal with him not disclosing his investors?  Are they freakin' crab people?).  And, obviously, for two, the Goldwater Institute has a lot of influence for a group constantly pissed off at local governments.  They will take this to court, and it will get drawn out.  Again.  And the NHL will continue to be annoyed, again.  But do nothing about it.  And, really, it doesn't matter what happens to the Coyotes.  Not anymore.  They have become an annoyance.  They may relocate, they may not.  Who cares anymore?  Just get something done.  It won't matter in a few years when the team is still losing money and the city is still in the crapper.  It's a hockey team, not oil.  But whatever.  All I know is that I'm not watching anymore public access television for a while.

When does the Mavs season start?

Gary Bettman Announces He Hopes to Have More Announcements

Original photo via : Norm Hall

Gary Bettman and Greg Jamison just finished speaking to the press in Glendale, and, booooyyyy howdy, did they say a whole lot of nothing.  Basically, the NHL, acting as the owners of the Coyotes and not the actual organization, have decided Greg Jamison has gone from "potential mystery owner" to "super sexy for reals potential owner."  In essence, Jamison is the NHL's pick as the next owner of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Oh, but if it only were so easy.  Bettman was quick to point out that they are merely in talks right now.  That is, the major announcement being that the NHL is in exclusive talks with Jamison.  Nothing has been decided, nothing is being put in front of the Glendale city council, nothing has been given to the Goldwater Institute to read, etc.  All we have is two dudes talking about how cool they are with each other.  Which is fine...who would guess any part of this process would be quick.  It's taken three years, what's another couple weeks/months?  It should be noted, though, that the city of Glendale would like to figure out a budget for next year by July 1st.  One has to imagine the NHL will want this deal to get done – one way or the other – by then, as well, so they can make the necessary arrangements (either for relocation or handing the team over to Jamison and his group).

So, elephant in the room... what does this mean for the future of the NHL in Kansas City?  Well, if you are a Kansas City hockey fan, you already know the answer to that question.  Nothing.  It means nothing one way or the other.  There was no sense in getting any hopes up over the Coyotes possibly moving.  Sure, they could and they still can, and I have nothing saying that it wouldn't except for common sense, but you know the deal.  No owner, no team.

As a fan of the league, as a fan of the sport, the Coyotes staying in the desert is the best thing that can happen right now, and their run to the Stanley Cup Finals is the best thing that can happen for the spread of the sport and its popularity.  You don't have to cheer for them, and you don't have to agree with that assessment ($20-25 million in annual losses is not good for anyone), but Bettman cannot afford to lose another one of his "non-traditional" markets, or a major television market, to the likes of a Quebec or *gasp* Saskatoon.  No, the Phoenix saga isn't over by any means, and IF this plan falls through, the Coyotes will not be in Phoenix much longer, but this reaffirms Bettman's dedication to keeping the Coyotes in Glendale, and thus, the American hockey landscape.  That's good.  That's good whether you live in Kansas City, or Miami, or Boston, or Seattle, or wherever.  Have pride in this map, Americans, just look at all of the American born players in the Southeast and Southwest.  That's encouraging, and you can at least give Bettman credit in that he wants to grow the sport, and he's at least consistent in the way that he does it.

For the "If not the Coyotes, then who?"crowd in KC, I can only offer two words of advice:  Patience, and enjoy.  We are, arguably, the most patient fan base in the country.  The Royals haven't won anything in forever.  The Chiefs can't win (consistently, and in the playoffs).  NHL and NBA exhibition games for the past forever years.  But, that's the thing.  Enjoy the exhibition games.  Enjoy the IceBreaker Tournament.  Enjoy the Mavs.  As pucKChaser put it, 2012 may be the best year for KC hockey fans ever.  It may be the best time to be a KC hockey fan since the Blades, or maybe even before that, since the mid-1970s.

Be patient, and enjoy the opportunities we get.  If you don't agree with me, just ask Coyotes fans.

The Distinguished Sports Observer's Guide to Avoiding the Words "Classless" and "Dirty"

Via ESPN

I hate to start anything with a “Webster’s Dictionary states...” style definition, but it has a point, so bear with me:

class*less
adjective
1. (of a society) not divided into social classes.

 Wait a minute, that’s not right.  Okay, maybe this is closer.

2. characterized by the absence of economic and social distinctions

 Not really, but kind of...wait, okay here we go:

class  

adjective 

informal: showing stylish excellence

Classless.  Without class.  Having no class.  Sans class.  The inability to show stylish excellence.  These are all ideas of classlessness.  In the sports world, classless relates to a direct and wiling attack against the rules with the intent of harming another player or the laws of the game.  Playing the game with a reckless disregard for all things good and just in the sport.  Playing outside of the box, in effect, is not allowed in the sports world.  Walter Sobchak would have made a great commissioner with the motto, “Am I the only one around here who gives a sh*t about the rules?”  But, if a player does this enough, or in a gloriously reckless way, they are labeled by the fans of that sports as a “cheat”, “dirty”, or “classless”.  In hockey it can range from anything from playing the puck from the bench, to making direct intentional contact with another player for the sake of injuring that player or to seek retribution, to sucker punching an opponent in the back of the head.  The NHL’s most recent talking point revolves around intent to injure, most notably, headshots and removing dangerous collisions. 

One hopes that Brendan Shanahan and the rest of the NHL rules people are doing their best to get rid of the dirty plays much like those hot beats off of Raffi Torres’s Greatest Hits Album.  But, to call someone like Torres dirty is missing the point: his style of play is no longer tolerated in the NHL.  He must serve a 25 game suspension, and if he doesn’t straighten up and fly right after serving his suspension, he will be socially ostracized, he will be awarded no points, and may God have mercy on his soul.

But, what does it mean to be a classless, dirty, goon, punk, no-good dirty rotten rebel hotshot who plays by no one else’s rules but his own?  Well, by playing outside of the box, they essentially play outside of the established rules.  Thus not playing the game hard, fast, clean, and with “stylish excellence”, right?  How about playing without “integrity”, which literally means just playing within the rules.  It’s when players play outside of the established rules, jeopardizing the “integrity of the game”, that commissioner Gary Bettman or Shanahan step in.

Recently, the hard part for the League is defining “integrity”, a continuously fluid idea in a violent sport like hockey.  A hit legal in the year 2000 is not legal now, for obvious reasons, but it does not mean that players avoided making that hit then.  The role of the goon, like–albeit a fictional example–the Hanson brothers from the movie Slapshot, a reckless abandon style of player on most lineups through the early to mid-2000s, has all but disappeared from most teams in an effort to implement more offense and skill to the game.

Sometimes the League's definition of this fluid idea causes confusion among players and coaches.  Applying this idea to the recent Pens–Flyers series and final meetings in the regular season, one sees how team personnel and the League can interpret the idea of “integrity” differently.  Take Flyers coach Peter Laviolette’s argument with Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, calling him “gutless” for playing his fourth line with less than two minutes left in a decided game a week before the playoffs.  Yes, hard hits were had, and fighting ensued, but the Penguins players did not do anything outside of the established rules.  Unexpected, yes, but not enough to say that they jeopardized the integrity of the game.  Conversely, look at the Pens-Flyers playoff Game 3, when Penguins Arron Asham, Craig Adams, and James Neal went outside of the rules with their excessive violence.  The league stepped in and suspended all three players.  How about, for fun, we label them as “classless” players, you know, just to get a row out of those journalistic types.  What does that mean?  It means they are players that take the rules into their own hands; players that the league will look at much closer in the future.  The league knows who to watch, especially those “repeat offenders” that Shanahan talks about.  Yeah, maybe we as fans don’t agree with every decision (*cough* Shea Weber *cough*), but be sure precedent has been set and will be set for the future with every dangerous hit.  The beauty of modern sport lies in the ability to fluctuate and change as needed.

So, applying this idea to something semi-local, the “classless”, “dirty”, “goon” mantra has officially started in the Kings-Blues series.  This same dialogue went on during the Kings-Canucks series with numerous accusations of diving, headshots, and aggressive play through the first three games.  You see this to a lesser extent in the Blues-Sharks series, notably with the fight at the end of Game 2 – the beginning of the end for the Sharks.

Game 1 of the Kings-Blues series saw a questionable hit by the Kings’ Dwight King on Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.  Immediately, two opposing sides form on whether or not this hit is a malicious and dangerous, and thus suspendable, play.  Ultimately, the league decided not to punish King any further (he got 2 minutes for boarding for the hit).  Then, Game 2 gave us the crazy physical play by the Blues after the Kings’ fifth goal, and the borderline hit by Kings d-man Willie Mitchell (past concussion victim) on Jamie Langenbrunner.  Otherwise, you’re just talking about two tough teams beating the crap out of each other for about 38 minutes.  As NBC Sports commentator Brian Engblom stated in roundabout fashion numerous times during the third period (and I’m paraphrasing) “This is the playoffs.”  Alas, Mr. Engblom's assertion aside, the conversation in the comments section gets ugly or non compos mentis and strong opinions form among the fans of the two sides, and, as stated in the Internet Guide to Civil Conversation and Open Dialogue Vol. III, that does not follow the modern conventions of cordial hockey debates.

When in doubt about the physicality of an NHL playoff series, ask this question:  Has either team gone out of their way to be malicious or make a mockery of the game?  I don’t think so.  It’s hard hitting.  It’s a battle.  It’s going to be rough at times because neither team wants to give up an inch.  And, in that same vain, no player wants to cost their team by sitting out or become the primary focus of the referees.

Is Dustin Brown classless for his aggressive board play and whiplash effect?  How about Carlo Colaiacovo for rabbit punching Brown?  If you answer 'yes' in either case, then there are many other current and former players you can lump in the dirty pile with them.

So, the point of all this is that the Reactionary Internet Community doesn’t mean “classless” when they say “classless,” nor do they understand that when they say “dirty” they actually mean “classless,” which, if you were just paying attention, is not the word they actually mean.  They mean “belittling the integrity of the game,” but, as mentioned, the integrity of the game is a fluid idea, which it should be in a progressive society like this one.  The Reactionary Internet Community (as well as the Ignorant Internet Folks) will say what they want to say, and there is nothing you or I or anyone can do about it.  You can troll as much as anyone else can troll, and that’s about it, and that solves nothing (except being incredibly hilarious sometimes).

But, my main point: Always question things.  Question the League.  Question the motivations of the players, for they are in fact human beings.  But, have confidence that the League will handle things in an appropriate way, and that players will play the game right.  And, dammit, above all else, just enjoy yourself.  I mean, it’s the freakin’ Stanley Cup playoffs! 

***

Oh, hey, I’m on that Twitter contraption now!  Shhhh, don’t tell me how 2009 turns out, I haven’t gotten all the way through yet.

For all Kansas City-area related hockey news and links to other cool stuff (and links to articles on this blog), follow @FlubberMcGee

The Sprint Center an "Unintentional Experiment," and No New Expansion

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.”

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/20/3567294/nba-nhl-commissioners-rule-out.html#storylink=cpy

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.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/20/3567294/nba-nhl-commissioners-rule-out.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/18/4422311/mayor-kevin-johnson-still-wants.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/18/4422311/mayor-kevin-johnson-still-wants.html#storylink=cpy

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.

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)

Elaine of Glendale: The Misanthrope

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.”

/The NHL stares at Mayor Scruggs confused

"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.