Thrashers Rally More An Irish Wake

((HT: Rogers Sportsnet))

First and foremost, here's the video that FOSG Scott Singer shot in the Gulch and inside Philips Arena...

And here's Thrashers GM Rick Dudley discussing the idea at the Memorial Cup...

Dudley says he doesn't know and doesn't want to know- otherwise it's a distraction the team doesn't need...

But in Brother Phil's story, it was what it was...

The self-provided entertainment, whether liquid or soon-to-be-prepared meat by product, was more of the rule of the day. It was a cookout, a reminiscence, and a chance to vent.

For the folks at Atlanta Spirit to trot out Harry Hawk in the Gulch for the assembled wasn't only boorish, but it personified what is wrong with the situation. Spirit doesn't get it, and apparently, never will.

"Now he's trying to eat my girlfriend's head, which is disgusting," said Bryce McNeil, a 33-year-old professor at Georgia State. "Having Harry the Hawk here -- it's not that I have anything against the Hawks, but it's the Atlanta Spirit shoving their other asset in our face, which is just deplorable."

But what McNeil didn't tell you was that he's from Nova Scotia... he gets it. It's not a US versus Canada-thing, his thoughts are more turned toward what was going down in Glendale. THAT, he thinks is more criminal than anything else.

Most folks bore no grudge against their northern neighbors soon to grab a franchise. Some did under the guise of liquid courage. But most of the blame went to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the owners who dared not show their face when signs like "Owning a hockey team isn't a hobby, Gearon!" were hanging from tent stakes.

Fans thought that the acts of ASG were criminal and one guy went as far as to tell the HQ that if Spirit ever owned a third hockey team and were to play a side from the Taliban that the guy would root for the Taliban or even go as far as buy a sheet and root for the KKK if they could get a side together.

Complete with doctored sheet overhead...

There were sweaters from every era- marginally successful or otherwise- from the team's history: Stefan, Bogosian, Pavelec, Hossa, Ladd, Stewart, Hedberg. And they're all moving on if they haven't already...

Here's FOSG Ken Rodriguez giving the HQ props for the breaking news when it went down last week...
((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))

No Deal Yet on Thrashers Search for Owner: MyFoxATLANTA.com

At the time, we were flipping what Brunt was telling us... but being the local beacon is never a problem...

Listen...

Does this suck...? Yep...
Is there anything that can be done about it right now...??? Nope...

Unless you want to make a point to Spirit and tell them to stick it for their hubris, deception, and all out lack of respect for the Atlanta sports fan...

Either that or make a point not to support the other properties they currently own and are trying to get rid of...

((ed. note- OSG Sports caught up with Jay Clemons to discuss "The Balkan." Clemons said that JB Smith and his backers are waiting for everything to pan out with or without True North. Then, they'll make a play if all three properties are still for the taking. Otherwise, it's "thanks but no thanks."))

And may their Lord help them if they have the hubris to hold an exit presser like Richard Adler did when the IHL Knights left town in 1995. It better be with one of those chicken wire guards or bulletproof glass.

Spirit has screwed the pooch and there is no emotional capital left for them to play with. You really feel for the people on staff that we've come to know over the years. Good people who, probably, now have to find work in a difficult environment because of the stupidity of others.

It was attributed to Michael Gearon, Junior once that he said part of his attraction to be an owner was that he was a fan of the local sides...

This is Lesson Number One: Fans do not, and will never make, good owners.
Business comes first...

That and if you don't have the cash, don't check out with more groceries than you can afford.