Bettman versus Balsillie
Written by Mike Cheliak on May 17, 2009 – 8:39 am -I have been a ravenous hockey fan since I was a kid in the 60’s. Being a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, I have stayed the course for over 40 years since they last won the Stanley Cup. A lot of people I know have jumped on and off the Leafs band wagon but I like most true fans have kept the fire burning through good and bad. I have always voiced displeasure when things were bad but I have never given up. That isn’t what a true fan would do.
This brings me (not a very good segue) into my RANT. Gary Bettman. Those two words are enough to spark a very heated flurry of nasty words if mentioned around a true hockey fan and especially one from Canada these days.
For well over 10 years it has been obvious that the NHL has made some serious errors in placing franchises in “questionable” markets in the States. His dream of a US dominated sport has all but collapsed because he is trying to force feed people a sport that have no commonality with it. How can you possibly adopt hockey as “your sport” in the desert?
With failing or flailing franchises in places like Florida, Phoenix and Nashville, you would think that someone would clue in and suggest moving these losing causes to somewhere viable. After all, if a business continues to lose money year after year, it can’t be seen as anything but a failure.
Now we get to the most recent upheaval in Gary’s Dream World. This has been brought about by the backdoor move of one Jim Balsillie to circumvent some of the protectionist rules of the NHL. Don’t get me wrong; rules ARE needed, rules should be in place but rules should not be there to stop good business. The Phoenix Coyotes are a dead franchise if they stay. There is nowhere near enough support to make it a viable business.
Balsillie is one of those passionate, VERY rich and very motivated people that see what has been obvious for decades. The best and most viable hockey market in North America is Southern Ontario. There is more population, more ravenous hockey fans and more corporate support than anywhere else that is currently without an NHL team.
Balsillie has never hidden his intentions. He has wanted “IN” for a long time. He has tried previously with Pittsburgh and Nashville but was blocked by Bettman. It suffices to say that Gary Bettman does not like Jim Balsillie. His vehement opposition to all attempts by Balsillie are proof enough.
While I would prefer a cleaner attempt by Jim Balsillie to get a team and move it; he doesn’t have any choice but to do it this way. His whole case is now going to unveil the protectionist policies of the NHL, the poor business practices of the NHL under the guidance of Gary Bettman and the lack of common sense being displayed by Bettman and company.
Now it is in the hands of the bankruptcy court. Motions have been filed, counter motions have been filed and when the dust clears there will be one thing that happens that can’t be stopped by Bettman. His own demise. When someone comes with a proposal to rescue a failed business that will satisfy ALL the creditors, will locate the franchise to a place that is a guaranteed winner and has enough money, corporate support and sponsorship to do this right; You CAN’T ignore it.
35 million dollars of debt for the Coyotes belongs to the NHL and therefore is shared money from the other 29 teams. That really means that Bettman is holding back about 1.2 million dollars from those 29 franchises (many of which are not doing well either). I would likely think that THEY may have something to say in all this.
Balsillie has made his bid ($215 million) for the franchise and stipulates that it is under the condition that he be given the freedom to move it to Southern Ontario. He has now filed an amended motion stating that he would be willing to wait an additional year to move the team so as to make it a smooth transition.
The long and short of it is this. Rules are made to keep BAD things from happening in your business model. Rules are not made to keep GOOD things from happening in your business model. People with passion, vision, dreams and the money to make it successful shouldn’t be held out of the game; they should be welcomed with open arms.
If Gary Bettman can’t put aside his obvious dislike for Jim Balsillie to make a good business decision for everyone involved, then Gary Bettman has to go.
If you want to show your support for Jim Balsillie and his current campaign; visit http://www.makeitseven.ca and sign your name to a great movement.
in happiness and health as always…
Mike C.
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