Comments on: No Fat Lady Yet: Tidbits from the Balsillie/NHL Ruling

By: Spouse

Spouse — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:36:01 +0000

Yep. Sorry. Still too long and too much law stuff for me to read tonight. Maybe tomorrow. I like the photo of the fat lady, though. (although I’m not sure “she” is really a lady…)

By: junior

junior — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:14:41 +0000

@PPP/1967ers: I saw that bit about Balsillie’s OSC problems at On the Forecheck after I wrote my piece. I hadn’t considered it, but I think 1967ers is right that the NHL already tried to play that card in front of Judge Baum and it doesn’t sound like he’s buying it, probably for the reasons that 1967ers mentions – talking about SEC/OSC or other regulator problems faced by owners on a league wide basis could get embarrassing pretty quickly. Just off the top of my head, I seem to remember (besides the obvious Boots Del Biaggio situation) the Samuelis in Anaheim having some sort of similar problem late last year as well.

Thanks for sticking it out and reading the piece. When I finished it, even my wife said “That’s too long. I don’t want to read it.”

By: 1967ers

1967ers — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:58:43 +0000

There was a story a couple of days ago (Star) about the NHL interviewing former colleagues looking for any form of dirt they could make stick. The whole thing had a kind of GM/Ralph Nader feel to it.

By: Pension Plan Puppets

Pension Plan Puppets — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:35:28 +0000

Did they? Dammit. I missed it. I guess they could sell it as turning over a new leaf

By: 1967ers

1967ers — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:33:17 +0000

Very nicely done. This kind of work is where blogs are at their best.

PPP – the NHL went after that to no avail. It would also be a pretty tough sell given the number of other NHL owners that have played fast and loose with their own businesses….

By: Pension Plan Puppets

Pension Plan Puppets — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:48:04 +0000

Whew! That’s a lot of analysis. Thanks for that. One thing that Dirk at On The Forecheck brought up that was interesting was with regards to this:

The judge is telling the NHL, “You can’t say Mr. Balsillie is an unacceptable owner. You’ve already accepted him in principle into your club.”

Balsillie got dinged in 2006 for, surprise surprise, not playing by the rules with regard to his stock options. I wonder if that would be enough for the league to suggest that he is no longer suitable especially in light of the Boots’ scandal.

By: junior

junior — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:11:36 +0000

@furcifer: My pleasure. Thanks for dropping by!

By: furcifer

furcifer — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:04:36 +0000

Thanks for this