FanNation - The Republic of Sport

"In the court of public opinion, the deciding factor may be overtures from Balsillie to Gretzky that would turn the Great One into a very rich man."Yeah, he's so poor as it as. And in the court of public opinion isn't it Balsallie vs. Bettemen? Balsallie wins hands down.

Besides, Wayne Gretzky has no say in what goes on in this matter. It's entirely up to the courts. The NHL said, one week ago, that; "The NHL is not running the Phoenix Coyotes", and now... apperently they are, and have been since November? The lengths these guys will go to.

Did The Great One ever whine about fans getting excited and throwing hats onto the ice when an oppossing player scored a hat trick?

Hmmmm, well Cindy Crosby does.

Easiest solution....CONTRACTION! There are too many teams in markets that can't sustain them.

First off, isn't Gretzky really rich. Secondly, maybe the guy wants the team to stay in Arizona and if he does could he ever tell the fans of Canada he wants to stay in an area where it's 80 degrees year round, he can walk around the state without probably 75% of the people knowing/caring who he is, and let's face it he can have a bad team and isn't under the microscope of a Canadian market. I am not saying any of it is true, but he did choose to be with the Yotes organization.

Janet likely prefers it there as well.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:56 AM ET  05.08 by Vilgrain

First off, isn't Gretzky really rich. Secondly, maybe the guy wants the team to stay in Arizona and if he does could he ever tell the fans of Canada he wants to stay in an area where it's 80 degrees year round, he can walk around the state without probably 75% of the people knowing/caring who he is, and let's face it he can have a bad team and isn't under the microscope of a Canadian market. I am not saying any of it is true, but he did choose to be with the Yotes organization.

I don't know how bad a team they are going to be for the next 2 seasons.
And I'd bet that off the record, he'd rather be in Canada. I wouldn't think he would care if HE was known so much, but would want to be with a winning, or at least competitive team

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 08:04 AM ET  05.08 by Rex Ryan

Did The Great One ever whine about fans getting excited and throwing hats onto the ice when an oppossing player scored a hat trick?Hmmmm, well Cindy Crosby does.

ENVY - "occurs when a person lacks another???s [perceived] superior quality, achievement, or possession. It can also derive from a sense of low self-esteem that results from an upward social comparison threatening a person's self image"

Wikipedia definition

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 09:18 AM ET  05.08 by Sports_Fan_19

Janet likely prefers it there as well.

Thats what she said....

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 09:18 AM ET  05.08 by Sports_Fan_19

Janet likely prefers it there as well.

slam dunk alert....

well sure, it's a much quicker trip to Las Vegas....

Thank you, please tip your bartenders....

You gotta give it to Bettman. He helped keep the Pens in Pittsburgh and the Sabres in Buffalo and I don't think there is any way that he will let the Coyotes leave Phoenix... But I say... "THAT'S IT! BACK TO WINNIPEG!"

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:56 AM ET  05.08 by Vilgrain

First off, isn't Gretzky really rich. Secondly, maybe the guy wants the team to stay in Arizona and if he does could he ever tell the fans of Canada he wants to stay in an area where it's 80 degrees year round, he can walk around the state without probably 75% of the people knowing/caring who he is, and let's face it he can have a bad team and isn't under the microscope of a Canadian market. I am not saying any of it is true, but he did choose to be with the Yotes organization.

On the salary point: hockeyzoneplus.com indicates that Gretzky made $43 million between 1989-99 and 1998-99 (when he retired). He made $1.72 million for the '89 season and $6 million in his last season. He was a rookie in the 79-80 season, so presumably he made around $10 million between '79 and '88. Now, $53 million (plus I assume millions more in endorsements) isn't huge when you consider the mad money professional athletes get these days, but, still, it's a ton of cash. That's not to say that he wouldn't like another $22 million.

I agree with the rest of your post - his family life is in L.A. and I'd sure rather winter in Phoenix than Hamilton. Ever been to Hamilton? Ugh.

Bettman needs to be fired or resign. His job is to make the LEAGUE stronger. Placing teams in non-hockey markets is inept leadership. Under ol' Gary the league has expanded beyond its means. In 1991, there were 21 NHL teams. In 2009, there are 30 NHL teams. That means there are NINE teams worth of players who would be in the AHL or IHL in 1991. Yes, that is NINE folks. As much as I love the guy, Byron Bitz, who is a fourth line guy for the Bruins, wouldn't sniff the NHL in 1991.

All Bettman sees are US dollars. He saw it with the expansion teams. Most of those teams have struggled over the years. Not on the ice, but in the seats. Atlanta, who had a team before called the Flames, gets another team because Ted Turner was the owner. Brand new arena? Check. Crazy and insanely rich owner? CHECK! A place where no one cares about hockey? (Gary's favorite) TRIPLE CHECK! Great we have a team. Oh crap! They aren't drawing. Must be the weak Canadian dollar eh, Gary.

All in all, put the team in Winnipeg. They should have never left.

News alert...Wayne says that if the team moves to S. Ontario he will not be joining them...
Follow up...
Baun-Hello, is this Janet?
Janet- Why yes it is, how are you Baun-ded.
Baun-Great and you?
Janet-Busy, as usual...you know, travel and such...Life can be such a roulette wheel you know...
Baun-Yes, I'm sure it is for you...Anyways Janet, I was wondering what your thoughts were on Waynes statement that after he receives his 22 million that he would not move with the team to Southern Ontario close to his home town and into his Fathers Arena?
Janet- Well, all I can really say about that is...Don't bet on it.
Baun- Okay, thanks Janet, can I quote you on that?
Janet- No, sorry Baun...if you do that, I will of course be forced to deny it....;)

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:14 AM ET  05.08 by The Duke of Awesome

You gotta give it to Bettman. He helped keep the Pens in Pittsburgh and the Sabres in Buffalo and I don't think there is any way that he will let the Coyotes leave Phoenix... But I say... "THAT'S IT! BACK TO WINNIPEG!"

How, by your estimation, did he help keep the Pens in Pittsburgh?

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 11:30 AM ET  05.08 by PensFan-DWI

How, by your estimation, did he help keep the Pens in Pittsburgh?

By changing the terms of the sale (to Baldsillie) at the 11th hour, making it so untenable that Balsille had to walk away. Balsille was willing to keep the Pens in the Burgh if a new arena got built, but if it didn't happen he was going to move them. Bettman (sucks!) basically changed the deal, which was already signed and accepted by both parties, in many ways (37 by exact count), one of which was that the Pens were not allowed to move. Ever.

Balsillie subsequently retracted his offer.

QUOTE(#18):

Originally posted 11:41 AM ET  05.08 by Otto1973

By changing the terms of the sale (to Baldsillie) at the 11th hour, making it so untenable that Balsille had to walk away. Balsille was willing to keep the Pens in the Burgh if a new arena got built, but if it didn't happen he was going to move them. Bettman (sucks!) basically changed the deal, which was already signed and accepted by both parties, in many ways (37 by exact count), one of which was that the Pens were not allowed to move. Ever.Balsillie subsequently retracted his offer.

I understand the snag he put in that deal. However, the chapters kept going. The city kept giving ML and Ron Burkle hell about the new arena, and they told Bettman they would be looking into possibly relocating the team (ML sent the letter to Bettman). Yes, he stuck his nose in the situation, but ML still had the choice of moving the team. No new arena, no team (ML threatened). We all know the ending, but I don't credit Bettman for keeping the Pens in the Burgh. Others may have a different point of view, but I don't. As far as I am concerned, Mario had every intention of keeping this team in this city, by his own admission. He strong-armed as much as he could City Officials, by even having "dinner meetings, nothing more" not verbatim in Kansas City/Vegas, but had no intention of moving them.

Wayne turned his back on canada a long time ago. he'll always be the great one in my mind, but he's pretty much a US citizen now to me.

I can think of at least 5 cities better suited to house an NHL team than Phoenix.....and Vegas ain't one of them Buttman!

The team should go to Kansas City.