A National Insult? Hardly

Great to see the country's "national newspaper" has taken on the task of being the propaganda arm for Jim Balsillie. Normally businessmen of that stature have to pay for such services.

The way that media outlet talks it is as though southern Ontario hockey fans are some great oppressed people straining under the rule of the tyrant Bettman, with the liberator Balsillie prepared to set them free. Guess the NHL commissioner's trips to Calgary and Edmonton in recent months to push for new arenas to support NHL teams in those cities was also about somehow denying Canadians their national birthright.

And here I was just thinking it was about the business of hockey.

Here's what's interesting. If Jim Balsillie had followed through on his original plans to buy the Nashville Predators back in 2007, right now he could be preparing to go to the NHL board of governors next month and make his case for relocating the team to Hamilton.

He could have spent the last two years building alliances with different NHL owners and gaining their trust. He could have been carefully courting the support of key league administrators and generally making himself known in the NHL community as something other than an unpredictable maverick.

Assuming the Preds had still not been able to flourish in Tennessee after two seasons under Balsillie's ownership, his fellow governors would have had to listen to his plea to move the team.

Theoretically, the Preds could have been in Hamilton by next fall. Of course, that would mean that all those people (15,000?) who put down season ticket deposits of $500 to $1,000 two years ago would be getting calls now to come up with the rest of the $8,000-$10,000 for a pair of tickets to see the Hamilton Predators.

Betcha a lot of people in this current economy would be thrilled to get that call, huh?

But Balsillie didn't have the patience for simply buying a team, getting into the club and then biding his time. He wants a team in Hamilton now, and on his terms. So to bankruptcy court in Phoenix today we go.

A couple of other points before we move on to today's mail bag.

-- Isn't it funny how those westerners who sarcastically ridicule Toronto as the "Centre of the Universe" are suddenly so impressed with us that they proclaim the GTA to be the logical place to place a second NHL club?

-- Got one comment saying Phoenix is a lousy hockey market because it has no history in the game. Fact is, the Phoenix Roadrunners of the WHL were the first pro sports team to ever plant roots in Arizona back in 1967.

-- The players union backs the relocation of Phoenix, but also wants the NHL to get off NBC and get back on ESPN. Well, where do you think ESPN would prefer a team? Phoenix or Hamilton?

-- Sorry, but 73,000 email communiques for Balsillie's website don't impress me. American Idol got 60 million votes for its competition on Tuesday. Now that impresses me.

Some questions for today:

Q: Hi Damien,
Quick turn from the NHL Playoffs to the AHL Playoffs for a moment. Do you find it odd that even under a new administration, the Toronto Marlies STILL played their backup over Pogge during the playoffs? (Game#6)

Jim G., St. Catharines

A: Odd? Not really, not this time. Last year it was about not giving Pogge a shot. This spring, well, Pogge got his shot in the NHL and was found wanting. I'd imagine there's a pretty good chance he won't be re-signed at all this summer. Maybe Adam Munro becomes the goalie of the future.

Q: Hey Damien,
Any news regarding the 'Monster' from Sweden? From what I've read he's been merely ok. Do you know if Burke still has interest or has things cooled off?
Thanks Damien,

Tom Bajusz, San Antonio, TX

A: They're still interested. But it sounds like Jonas (The Monster) Gustavsson is going to shop his services around. In Toronto he'd get a shot at being No. 1. Not sure which other NHL club can offer him that opportunity next fall.

Q: Hi Damien,
In one of you recent blogs you wrote about the in-game entertainment packages in the Verizon Centre, the Wachovia Centre and Madison Square Garden which put MLSE to shame.  Can you please provide more detail as to what these buildings are doing for their ticket paying public?

J. M., Toronto

A: Well, you have to go and decide for yourself if you find it appealing. It's just a livelier, more current show all around, less about performing skits designed to insult the other team and more about using music, video and atmosphere to create an environment in which customers feel inclined to participate, and not just when there's a simulated pair of clapping hands on the large screen. 

During the playoffs, Damien Cox is answering your questions on a regular basis. Click here to submit a question.
**Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Damien. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

Comments

[TB Hoss]

ok DC, you need to reread the everyones comments. You are wrong about the US and Canadian hockey markets. There should be 4 more teams in Canada now and 4 less in the US. It's simple fairness and common sense - ego is what keeps the teams in the US not profits. The US hockey market will never better than 5 or 6 in the US, after NASCAR, Soccer and bowling....

[Matt]

The Preds would be closer to moving to Hamilton if Balsillie had played by the rules two years ago? Somehow I doubt that. He'd be losing money at an alarming rate, but the NHL would stand by and say "nothing's wrong", like they have with the Coyotes for the PAST THREE YEARS!

Where would ESPN prefer a team? Read some ESPN articles: they think it's just as ridiculous as the rest of us that the NHL doesn't put a second team in Southern Ontario! I strongly believe ESPN would come back on board if the NHL showed it paid attention to strong NHL markets, either existing or potential, rather than keep it in places with no possibility of success.

You actually disagree with the claim that Southern Ontario hockey fans are "oppressed" and under-served?? So you agree that the Leafs should be allowed to have a monopoly on the hockey market in this area? Why would so many people be clamoring for a second NHL team here if it was felt that just having the Maple Leafs was enough? (73,000 'signatories' on the website may not be valid in any court proceeding, but you can't ignore that at the very least, it hints at the potential this market has).

[Andrew Wencer]

Wow. I guess we were all wrong. Phoenix had hockey roots that go a-l-l-l-l the way back ... to 1967! Well of course! They MUST keep a team there then, how silly of us. Hands down the weakest argument for keeping the team there. Unless that's your point?

[Rick Fry]

Well at least your not shy about expressing your opinion on the matter. Interesting to read differing ideas. I think that it is an unreal expectation to require an owner to maintain a team loosing tens of millions per year until the team wins and maybe fans show up.
As you said this is business and to me the league not loosing money, not having much presence on tv, with little prospect of gaining and showing games with arenas half full is bad business. If Jimbo should act differently perhaps Gary should too. He has presented himself very poorly in his dealings with Jim. dislike is not part of business. Perhaps a successful AHL team is the answer for Arizona.As you pointed out that league worked in the past.
The website thing is gimmicky but the fact that 73k have used it shows something. It would be interesting if the Yotes fans started a save the team website and how many signed it. I'm thinking not 73k.
I personally would love to have an alternative to the leafs. I am 2 hrs north of the city so Buffalo is a long haul. Hamilton much easier.

[nhlfan]

Bravo, Damien! You are absolutely correct in all that you have said here and it is nice to see someone in the Canadian media who isn't kissing Balsillie's butt when he doesn't deserve it.

[mark]

Damien, if you are going to right about this topic, maybe a bit of balance would be nice. Fact is, the NHL has a multi-billionaire who is passionate about hockey wanting to take a bankrupt team out of a lousy hockey market and put it into a market that will generate boat loads of cash. Fact is Mr. Bettman is stubbornly adhering to his vision (mirage?) of 'growing the game south of the border'. I'm sure Mr. Basillie feels he doesn't have a choice but to force his way into the boys club, since Mr. Bettman has shown him nothing but scorn, prefering to provide membership in his little club to criminal like 'Boots'. Only you, Damien, would attempt to spin this story another way and paint Mr. Basillie as unwise & predatory. Yes, oh wise Damien, you must be must shrewder than Jim Basillie... that's why you are an ink stained wretch and he's a respected multi-billionaire. Oh well, at least you know how to draw the ire of Southern Ontario hockey fans.

[Paul V]

Hi Damian,

I'm a longtime reader and I generally agree with your opinions but I have to part ways with you on this one. You can't very well lambaste people more basing the success of a two team scenario in Southern Ontario on mere assumption and then give a an equally presumptive plan on what could have happened if Balsillie had played the sheep. I agree that Balsillie's tactics are antagonistic and you may right that he could have relocated now but I think it is equally likely that Southern Ontario could support another hockey team - i mean a perennial non-playoff team can sellout in that region over years while even annually raising ticket prices, there's obviously a significant interest. I agree that expansion in the US market is key to the NHL growth but why not build that expansion on some strong foundational support we could find in the north. Plus can you really blame a guy who wants to own an NHL team in his hometown? Less than cordial tactics but you have to admire his daring.

[chris]

Bill Lurie attempted to buy the NBA Grizzlies, when they were in Vancouver, and admitted he wanted to relocate them to St. Louis. NBA commissioner David Stern wanted Lurie to commit to Vancouver, if he was going to get leage approval to buy the team. Lurie walked away from the Grizzlies and soon were bought by Michael Heisley, who vowed the team would remain in Vancouver. The league approved, and one year later, Heisley moved the Grizzlies to Memphis. And Stern could do nothing about it.

One wonders if moving the Grizzlies out of Vancouver had been Heisley plan all along.

If Jim Balsillie were as smart as he and all his acolytes say he is, he would have taken a page out of Heisley's playbook, buy the Predators, put up with a year or two of losses (he could afford the losses), and relocate them to Hamilton. And Gary Bettman and friends would have been unable to stop him.

Instead, Balsillie turns this into an us vs. them scenario. Canada versus the United States, with him wraped in the Canadian flag playing the superhero, and Bettman and the NHL offices in New York as the Death Star. And Balsillie is winning the PR battle in Canada with little or no effort.

But if this were any other sport, and it was just a battle between city versus city, Jim Balsillie's actions would make him look like a vulture. If he's successful, perhaps that's what he could rename his team.

[Tree]

Pretty weak arguments here Damien. "Assuming ...", "Theoretically ..." - what a convincing way to make an argument. Bettman made clear that Nashville would not move, to the extent that he orchestrated a pretty shady deal to keep them there. He won't let Phoenix leave - no matter how much sense it makes - so why in the world would you "assume" he'd allow it for Nashville. This is personal for Bettman - he's guided more by hubris and ego than by logic. No matter what, this will not end well for the league or Bettman.

Also, are you the official propaganda arm for the NHL? Your story this morning read like it was written by a PR hack from the NHL offices, this one is just weak assumptions. What we have here, with your first paragraph, is the pot calling the kettle black. I've always liked your work, but today's submissions have stunned me.

[DamienCox]

Damien here. . .responding to mark. . .nowhere did I say Basillie was "unwise and predatory". . I have no idea whether he'd be a great owner or a poor one. I just wonder why people like you assume he'd be so perfect.
But according to you, nobody should even ask that question.

[DamienCox]

Damien here. . .responding to Paul V. . .I actually do, in a sense, admire Balsillie's aggressiveness and daring in going after he wants. That's undoubtedly why he's become the extraordinary business success story that he has become.
But look at it from the perspective of an NHL owner. Balsillie says he wants to buy into your business, one in which more than half the teams are more profitable today than they were five years ago because of the salary cap that your employee, Gary Bettman, was able to get for you.
Balsillie, however, won't go by the rules your business has set down, ignores the constitution, and has twice been unable to close deals to buy existing teams. You tell me - would you want him as a partner just because he's rich?

[Alex James]

What a load.

So, if I have this right, Damien is advocating that Balsillie should have kept his motivation for buying a team secret. The people of Phoenix or Nashville should have got up one day to find that their team had left in the middle of the night a la, the Supersonics. In this day and age, where's the fun in having your intentions in the open. For any young readers out there, duplicity is the way to go through life.

Maybe you should ask some of your ESPN colleagues about the positive effect that Mark Cubin has had on the NBA. David Stern hates him, and THAT IS A GOOD THING!.

An owner that makes headlines in the United States... who would want that?

"Balsillie says league needs to crack down on head shots"

"Balsillie says officiating not good enough"

"Balsillie says league needs commissioner that cares about the game"

Also, gotta love that cheap and irrelevant shot at Western Canada. Last time I checked, Canadians want strong franchises in markets that care about hockey. This goes anyone from Charlottetown to Victoria, but I guess you have your finger on the pulse of the country.

[Jonathan Wilson]

Damien I completely agree with you 100%. It refreshing to read someone who's willing to report the TRUE story as oppose to opinions from Basillie's propaganda machine. Hang in there. Not everyone is intelligent enough to understand the real issues.

[Bryan M]

There's ample blame for Balsillie and Bettman to share. Balsillie shouldn't be trying to throw himself into the league, and has stepped on a lot of toes doing so. But Bettman seems inclined to not budge one bit in his direction. Let's be frank - Phoenix, regardless of how far its roots go back, is a lousy hockey market. Bettman's NHL will continue to lose money trying to keep a team there.

Will losing Southern hockey teams make a difference to landing an ESPN contract? Perhaps, so I guess there's a cost-benefit analysis to be done, and perhaps it has already which is why the NHL is trying so hard to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix.

Last question, can the NHL keep all of the Southern teams intact (if that's a goal)? I doubt it. If losing a Southern team is inevitable, they should be trying to bring Balsillie's money to the table (it will help) and see if they can relocate a team to a better market (I'd favour Winnipeg over Hamilton, but that's another post). I think Bettman is letting his ego trump his responsibilities by trying to shut Balsillie out. But Balsillie needs to knock off the antics too.

[BC]

Of course Canadian hockey fans would rather Balsillie had already been successful in getting an NHL franchise into S. Ontario instead of going through this process again. But where else can we turn? MLSE tries to price us out and will fight to the death to prevent another team, Bettman and the US networks that pay nothing for the tv contracts would love to have more teams drawing 10 000 fans in the South instead of in Canada, and who else has the cojones to try to move one of the failing US franchises north where they more rightly belong? Balsillie is our only white knight, so of course we support him again, even though this isn't a sure thing and we could get our hopes dashed again.

Perhaps Westerners are Canadians first who support other Canadian hockey fans over sun-addled Americans? Naw, let's be cynical instead.

[Stephen]

I find it funny how so many fans are decrying the NHL's reluctance to move franchsies, when if that hadn't been in place Hamilton would have had a franchise a decade ago... at the expense of Edmonton. Or do people not remember when the NHL basically did the same thing they're doing now to Balsillie to Peter Pocklington when he attempted to hijack the Oilers?

The larger point - that the failure may be more due to incompetence on the part of management rather than the market itself - is also valid. Phoenix has been sloppily run from day one, from the horrible original uniforms to the bad arena choices to the on-ice product. That they can't draw in the desert isn't really an indictment of the fans as of the team itself; it's like complaining that the Hamilton's a bad football market because the Ticats can't sell tickets.

The bottom line is that winning hockey sells, as previously "hopeless" teams like Chicago, Washington and the Pens have shown in recent years. Heck, even the Isles have no problems selling seats when they're playing well; the problem with that team is obviously the arena. And people writing off Dallas as a failure strikes me as just plain ignorant, as that was one of the most profitable franchises in the NHL for years, and has been the model of developing hockey in the community to the point where players are now being drafted from Texas.

It also isn't shocking that the Globe would go into full-fledged cheerleader mode... because if the team DOES move to Canada, that means another local TV contract that's suddenly in play. You'd better believe that they're not going to paint Balsillie with a bad brush and send him running off to Rogers if and when the team does move.

[Tree]

Responding to Damien's response: you do remember the way Bettman came in at the last minute - after the deal was agreed upon by both sides - to insert new clauses that weren't previously discussed, right? Why is Balsillie the only person acting inappriately here? Bettman's shenanigans in the Pittsburgh deal set the rules for Balsillie to get a franchise. I think, based on Bettman's conduct the first time, Balsillie has every reason to distrust Bettman and his intentions. You seem to be ignoring the shady things that Bettman and the NHL have done because they undermine your argument.

[MBR]

No offense Damien, but quite clearly you are towing the party line with the NHL on these piece. Did Bill Daly or Bettman request you print this so that you keep your insider status and cozy ESPN and TSN gigs?

[Rick T]

From a fans prospective, I do appreciate the honesty of Balsillie's approach. New owners pretending to keep a team in a market, like what recently happened to the Seattle Supersonics (and many other professional sports teams) creates false expectations and makes the process of losing a team that much worse. I would rather them be truthful about their intentions then to have them play by the rules only to later move the team by using the lack of fan support or the governments refusal to help pay for a new arena/stadium as an excuse. It would be nice if Balsillie found a better way to do things, but at least he is not stringing the fans along.

[robguy]

Hi Damien,

I usually agree with your comments and see your points but>>>
Bettman is saying there are rules. How about those rules where due diligence is performed and potential owners have their finances examined? Boots was only the latest in a long succession of misses. Were the rules conveniently ignored or was the NHL imcompetent in their analysis. I will let you decide which one.
There were no local buyers for Winnipeg and Quebec, just like Phoenix. Difference is Phoenix already has a new arena. Does this mean the NHL only keeps teams in markets who have quickly provided arena?
Where was the NHL all these years to protect the interests of Phoenix fans? As many have said, a badly managed franchise in many respects and the NHL now gets involved to save it? after all these years?
I think fans and Balsillie know the yardstick gets moved by Bettman (I am not one of those anti-Bettman ventors...). It seems that the rules Gary talks about are always changing to suit his (or the governors) needs. the fans are not foolish - they justifiably feel rooked.

[Clark aitken]

Switching gears for a moment.

Really, Damien?? You really think that the Leafs won't even bother to re-sign Pogge? When he's only 22 years old, when he's a restricted free agent, when he still hasn't been given a legitimate shot in the NHL (4 random games is not "a shot"), and when he made just $550K this year? It's not worth the (minimal) risk to sign him to a qualifying offer and see what they've got in him for less than $750K a year?

Let's be clear, Damien. Until Gustavsson signs, and not a moment sooner, Justin Pogge is the best goaltending prospect in the Maple Leafs organization. Adam Munro is an AHLer at best, and I don't have high hopes for James Reimer. It makes zero sense to simply release a young goaltender with promise. Argue all you want about whether Pogge will ever realize that promise and succeed in the NHL, but that's kind of the whole point of the AHL.

We all know that your opinion is influenced by the fact that you're just setting the table for two years from now, when you'll slag the Leafs for not having the foresight to keep hold of their young players. Of course, there'll be no mention of the fact that you were first in line to push Pugge out, since that will hurt your case in that specific moment.

Wake up Cox. We all know your routine by now, and you have been found wanting.

[RDB]

All this talk of rules and constitutions is admirable, but they're rather meaningless when Bettman merely changes the rules when the current ones don't suit his fancy. The NHL in a lot of ways is under Bettman's thumb and Balsillie has to play dirty and aggressive to get what he wants.

Frankly I don't particularly symphathize with either and I'm mystified why Damien's picking sides in a fight which clearly has no (powerful) good guy?

[Buck]

Damien, you seem to think we Westerners thinking that Toronto believes they are the Centre of The Universe and acknowledging that GTA could support another team are conflicting. They aren't and both statements are true.
As much as I support another team in S.ON, Balsillie will never get one. He seems to think throwing his money around will bypass the process. He is a rogue who wants to do his own thing and obviously hasn't learned from his past NHL dealings. Bill Wirtz and Harold Ballard were not good for hockey, we don't need another!

[Dave]

Damien,

I don't always agree with your comments, but have generally respected what you have to say, however, struggle to do this now.

I am a "Westerner", however, am originally from Toronto, and am a very passionate Canadian Hockey fan. I don't hold any of the sterotypes you mention above about all us "Westerners", and find it quite insulting that the relevance of anyone's personal opinion is somehow validated by where they live.

No one knows how perfect an owner Jim Basillie will be, but my guess is a strong willed Canadian, with a boatload of money and a passion for the game, would be more willing and able to stick with it when the going gets tough. Any team will survive when they are doing well (eg San Jose, Anaheim), however, not all teams can always win, so I think the real test is when they are struggling.

I know that not all us Basillie supporters truly believe he has done everything right, but believe the chances of him being able to provide a stable franchise in tough times, is much greater than any other current prospective owner.

But then again, what would I know, I'm just a "Westerner" with no idea about whats going on in the center of the universe....

[2nd Guess]

Damien's suggestion for Balsillie mirrors almost exactly how Peter Karmanos moved the Whalers to Carolina. He came on board with overtures about how dedicated he was to Hartford, then after a few years threw up his arms, said "What more can I do?" and hustled off to the burgeoning metropolis of Raleigh.

While my heart would like to see the Coyotes return to Winnipeg (talk about an "un-served market"), the head says they would be better off in Hamilton, which has access to a much larger corporate base -- but where they would still be the biggest game in town. I believe, though, that the Leafs are less of an obstacle than the Sabres, who say about 20 per cent of their ticket base comes from Southern Ontario.

From the NHL's point of view, I can see the reluctance to give up on Phoenix, a major market by anyone's definition. But if you're guaranteed to lose tens of millions every year, well, maybe it's time to get outta Dodge. What escapes me is the league's attachment to middling markets like the aforementioned Raleigh, Nashville, Tampa Bay and even Long Island/New Jersey (there's one team too many in the New York City area -- a cautionary note to a prospective Toronto-Hamilton-Buffalo triumvirate).