Do Argonauts Co-Owners Want To Move Coyotes To Toronto?
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Sokolowski Listed As Potential Bidder
For Coyotes With Partner Cynamon |
CFL Toronto Argonauts co-Owners Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon were listed in a filing Friday by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman as potential bidders for the Coyotes, but the pair has been “actively pursuing a very different agenda: Landing an NHL team that could be uprooted and relocated to a new arena in the Greater Toronto Area,” according to Stephen Brunt of the GLOBE & MAIL. Sokolowski and Cynamon have been “quietly fleshing out that plan for months now, and have discussed it, at least informally, with both the owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs and with the NHL commissioner.” A possible explanation of Sokolowski's and Cynamon's interest in the Coyotes is they “believe that by allowing their names to be placed before the bankruptcy court among those who ‘have indicated an interest in operating the franchise in Phoenix,’ they can curry favour with the league and gain the inside track on a second Toronto team.” If that is accurate, Bettman is “being at the very least misleading, if not disingenuous, by suggesting Cynamon and Sokolowski have any real interest in operating in Phoenix -- beyond perhaps swallowing losses for a season or two before being granted permission to move to Ontario” (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/8).
RODIER SPEAKS: RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie's attorney Richard Rodier, who “has generally avoided on-the-record interviews,” said the Coyotes case is an “important cause ... of millions of people.” Rodier: “Canadians have been reticent to speak up; we're overly polite. But this is something that people can participate in, and have a real effect on." The GLOBE & MAIL’s Michael Grange wrote Rodier's “determination has certainly helped get Balsillie this far, but some NHL insiders believe Rodier's door-crashing tactics may mean the day may never come when Balsillie is welcomed into the NHL lodge with backslaps, toasts and cigars.” Rodier: "You hear through the grapevine that there is a lot of animosity from the NHL toward me personally. But everyone has a job to do.” He said he has “no doubt” that NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and Bettman are “doing what they think is the right thing and really believe in what they're doing.” Rodier: “That doesn't make them bad people. I really believe in what I'm doing, and that doesn't make me a bad person” (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/6). Meanwhile, Daly yesterday said in an e-mail, “I’m not sure [Balsillie’s] application is complete. I understand [Balsillie attorney Susan] Freeman provided additional required information as recently as yesterday. As much as Ms. Freeman or Rodier or Mr. Balsillie may want us to ignore our ownership transfer procedures, we have no intention of doing so” (NATIONAL POST, 6/8).
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Oilers Exec Says A Coyotes Move To
Hamilton Would Set Terrible Precedent |
PRECEDENT-SETTING CASE: Oilers Alternate Gov. Cal Nichols said if the Coyotes are allowed to move to Hamilton, it may set a “terrible precedent, not only in sport but anywhere in business” (NATIONAL POST, 6/6). However, Marquette Univ. law professor Ralph Anzivino said U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Redfield Baum “doesn’t want to make a decision. He knows the whole world -- at least the hockey world, the NBA and everybody else -- is watching this. He wants them to resolve it, and not have to establish a precedent. Because then he’s got to do a lot of hard work, he might get appealed or reversed. It’s like a boil he’d like to go away” (NATIONAL POST, 6/8). Penn State Law professor Stephen Ross said if Baum is “focused on helping creditors, (it) means Balsillie should win. But many judges are reluctant to challenge the tradition of sports, which helps the NHL” (TORONTO STAR, 6/8).
DARK CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON? On Long Island, Arthur Staple wrote the Coyotes are “just the biggest problem in a league that has had trouble stabilizing small-market franchises and now has the economic woes felt by everyone around the world on top of that” (NEWSDAY, 6/7). In Toronto Damien Cox wrote the NHL “could not have imagined six or eight months ago” that the Stanley Cup Finals would “find itself being played out beneath the ominous cloud … that’s more troubling, or annoying, than destructive” (TORONTO STAR, 6/7).
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