The Balsillie-Bettman war heats up again!

[SPTO]

Man, the more I hear about Bettman trying to block Balsilie buying an NHL team the more the league loses credibility IMO.

In case you don't read the article the basic story is this, "Boots" Del Biaggio who owns 27% of the Predators (he's basically the money man behind the ownership group) is facing fraud charges and investigations from 3 different sources. Two weeks ago Del Biaggio offered to sell his shares of the Preds to Balsillie but guess what? Bettman nixed it.

What really galls me about this is that Del Biaggio was Bettman's handpicked guy to save the Preds yet he's an economic slimeball. Balsillie has offered to buy the Preds numerous times for way above market value. Add in the recent story that at least 8 other teams have contacted or been contacted by Balsillie to be bought out and this story just looks plain bad for Bettman.

There was a recent report that the NHL commissioned that more or less stated that the league's increase in revenue is being made off of the backs of the Canadian teams (the only US team at the top of the revenue charts are the Rangers) yet Bettman stubbornly won't allow a new owner or any owner for that matter move a struggling franchise to Canada where they'll be making money hand over fist.


National Post article

[bad_philanthropy]

You know, Bettman is an idiot, he is intent on growing the league in the U.S. and simply does not want Balsillie to move a team to Canada.

Man I wish this guy could make the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan an offer they couldn't refuse and buy their 58% stake in MLSE. He would clean out all the crap and politics of the business end of things for the Leafs and put an end to the three ring circus management style.

[Psyblast]

Seriously, someone just throw a molotov through Bettman's window GTA style.

[Spear]

Did anybody watch/listen this Wednesdays Primetime Sports with Balsillie's attorney as one of the in studio guests?

He seems like a real character but was very professional. It was funny to listen to him and McCown interact. Anyways, he didn't give away too much information but did say that around 8-9 teams have contacted Balsillie. While they don't have one team singled out to make an offer, he was confident in saying that its quite possible Balsillie will have one together by September.

[bad_philanthropy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Spear

Did anybody watch/listen this Wednesdays Primetime Sports with Balsillie's attorney as one of the in studio guests? He seems like a real character but was very professional. It was funny to listen to him and McCown interact. Anyways, he didn't give away too much information but did say that around 8-9 teams have contacted Balsillie. While they don't have one team singled out to make an offer, he was confident in saying that its quite possible Balsillie will have one together by September.

Good, the sooner they can get him in the league the better.

[SPTO]

Quote: Originally Posted by bad_philanthropy

Good, the sooner they can get him in the league the better.

The thing is Bettman is determined come hell or high water to barr Balsillie from ever owning a team. If Canadian fans needed proof that Bettman doesn't give a damn about the real fans then this is it.

[Spear]

Balsillie's attorney kept mentioning how they want to turn things into more of a political battle. I can't remember if that was in regards to the territorial issue that would develop with Buffalo and Toronto, or Bettman's zero tolerance on relocation to Canada. I do recommend listening to the segment.

Here it is:

http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media...04_191759_7372

[bad_philanthropy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Spear

Balsillie's attorney kept mentioning how they want to turn things into more of a political battle. I can't remember if that was in regards to the territorial issue that would develop with Buffalo and Toronto, or Bettman's zero tolerance on relocation to Canada. I do recommend listening to the segment. Here it is: http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media...04_191759_7372

Thanks for providing that. It's interesting the point the guy is making about if Canadians are wanting a team then they should have it regardless of what the NHL clubs want. I'm not sure if Canadians want a team in Hamilton, and that was the guy's main point that he wants Canadians to feel political about it. I think Canadians would be in greater support of a Winnipeg team, or about ten other destinations before Hamilton, including Kitchener-Waterloo.

[Vince]

Winnipeg or Quebec City FTW.

[SPTO]

Quote: Originally Posted by bad_philanthropy

Thanks for providing that. It's interesting the point the guy is making about if Canadians are wanting a team then they should have it regardless of what the NHL clubs want. I'm not sure if Canadians want a team in Hamilton, and that was the guy's main point that he wants Canadians to feel political about it. I think Canadians would be in greater support of a Winnipeg team, or about ten other destinations before Hamilton, including Kitchener-Waterloo.

Canadians would support ANY team in Canada the way Bettman treats us. Besides, there's no real ownership group in either Winnipeg or Quebec (Quebec needs a new building badly too) so it's not like we have much choice in the matter. I'd rather see a team anywhere in Canada rather then seeing struggling American teams withering on the vine.