Friday, January 21, 2011

So... You Weren't Trying To Sell... But You Were...

The story released Friday night on the main page disclosing that the main cadre of Atlanta Spirit, LLC owners are suing their ex-lawyers for lost revenue and reclaiming legal fees proves one thing...

They were trying to sell the team they maintained to everyone from every mountaintop, village, and farm that they "weren't" for years...

As far back as 2005-2006 when the lockout was unlocked...

Gee, thanks for all the honesty...
All along...

If there was ever the personification of an individual or group of individuals setting fire to every bridge available to burn, then this was it...

One team is struggling for the 8th and final playoff spot in their conference with a salary figure US$17-million under a league-imposed cap. For the record, only the Colorado Avalanche (who are rebuilding), and the New York Islanders (who are trying to move as far away from Uniondale as possible) are spending even less. This is a traditional position for the Thrash as they've been the red-headed stepchild of the Spirit properties as long as the Thrash have been under ASG control.

The other team under the ASG books just got blown out by a New Orleans team and scored the least amount of points in team history- ever- with 59.

In the NBA...

The arena they own has a title sponsor that has been trying to get out of the deal and can once they find a substitute name to put on the marquee.

Yeah, this "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" approach has completely, finally, and irrevocably blown up in their faces.

Section 53: Furthermore, Plaintiffs' inability to buy out Belkin's interest in a timely manner and the resulting cloud on their title created by the Maryland litigation interfered with operation of the franchises and spefically prevented Plaintiffs from selling the Atlanta Thrashers.

Section 54: Plaintiffs expected that once the new labor agreement was finalized there would be substantial interest from potential buyers and that they would be able to sell the franchise.

On numerous occasions, Atlanta Spirit has tried to convey an interest of keeping the Thrashers in Atlanta. Apparently, they weren't conveying well enough...

Just check the message board after FOSG Jeff Schultz's rant and rave about the whole thing... the fan base feels like they were played again...

There was never really an "again"
It was consistent...

Spirit has just gone all in...
We all have the cameras seeing what their hand is, and they're about to go bust...

For the record, here's the last home playoff game in Thrashers history to date...
And, maybe, longer than that...
((HT: NBC/NHL Video))

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