Arizona folks claim Coyotes' demise all lies
By: Randy Turner | Winnipeg Free Prss - Jan. 21 - 2009
AN OPEN LETTER TO PHOENIX: First of all, congratulations on that Super Bowl business. And take good care of our boy, Steve Nash.
But we've got to set a few things straight for you Coyotes fans. We know that the local media there is doing the "Hear No Evil, See No Evil" thing lately when it's come to their NHL team. Not much in the papers about how the team could lose up to $45 million this year and has essentially given itself into hands of lenders.
Oh, there was a story recently in the Arizona Republic that began, "Some media types in Canada -- many who would probably like to see Original Six stay put and every other franchise move north of the border -- have been working themselves into a frenzy about the Coyotes. They seem convinced that the Coyotes are about to pull up stakes any day now."
The article was headlined, "Coyotes CEO chairman sets record straight" and quotes Coyotes boss Jeff Shumway saying, "Hockey will be a great sport in Phoenix and Glendale, probably way beyond my years."
While admitting that the Coyotes have suffered "significant financial losses, and that needs to be fixed," Shumway dismissed the "rumours" about the Coyotes not meeting payroll and being under league supervision. "A lot of this is coming from out of the state, out of the country," he said. "Rumours are rumours."
Anyway, we just wanted to set the record straight, too. By the way, is it Phoenixians? Phoenixites? Whatever, we just wanted to let you Arizona hockey fans know that whatever is happening to our... excuse me, your team has nothing to do with us in Winnipeg. We understand there are some Coyotes fans who think these media reports are some sort of conspiracy being dreamed up by bitter, twisted Jets fans.
"Those stupid Canadian journalists from podunk towns need to knock this crap off," said one thread posted with the handle, LetsGoCoyotes. "Winnipeg is NOT going to get another NHL franchise. Get over it."
Look, this stuff isn't even coming from Winnipeg. But you're right. There is somewhat of a conspiracy at play, but look no further than Toronto. That's where the leaks have been reported, and that's also -- coincidence? -- the home of a Leafs board of governors that writes a cheque of over $10 million every year to subsidize perennial money losers such as the Coyotes.
It's not about a bunch of shivering Jets mourners dredging up the past and pining for the NHL's return. There's some of that, of course, but let's just say we're much more realistic about the NHL in these parts than probably anywhere on the planet.
For the record, if the Coyotes were for sale, nobody in Winnipeg would buy them. That team is so mired in debt and a long-term arena lease that it would take a martini bar full of lawyers and accountants to sort out that mess. We're not sure if it's worth all that trouble to see Joakim Lindstrom take a regular shift.
Besides, we're not sure we could afford it, either. No, a team in Winnipeg probably wouldn't lose $45 million unless the ice was cut out of diamonds but there's no one around here that can write a blank cheque. That guy is named Jim Balsillie and he lives in Windsor, Ont., which is waaaaay east of here, just so you guys know.
Look, we know it hasn't been easy. I mean, you've had to pay to watch the Coyotes for, like, 12 years now. We feel your pain, dudes. That could have been us.
But, honest, we're not revelling in your misery. No, it doesn't exactly break our hearts -- after all, we didn't see any tears in Phoenix when Keith Tkachuk showed up -- but we're not dancing around our ice fishing holes, either.
Because it's not like you guys are stuck with the only sinking NHL ship. There's a whole armada out there now.
So, really, good luck with our... sorry again, that team. It's not your fault. You tried. It's just that nobody ever stopped to think that, "Hmmm. Maybe a hockey team in a desert might not be the greatest idea ever." Maybe not at first, but sometime after the $100-million loss mark. We're just sayin'.
Go Cardinals.
Randy Turner
Podunk, Canada