Allsports on the Ruling of the Phoenix Fiasco

If you have been paying attention to sports on the web or sports news on TV or in the print media, you will be aware by now that Jim Basillie’s  proposed purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes and subsequent move to Hamilton has be rejected by Judge Redfield T. Baum. Here is a quote from Judge Baum’s 21 page report ” No cases have been found that precisely or even closely fit this scenario,” Then  later in the ruling, he wrote that there are no reported bankruptcy court decisions that “order a relocation of the magnitude proposed here.” You can bet Judge Baum did not want anything to do with being the first.

The payment and move were not what Judge Baum took issue with in the case. For him it was the question on the time frame that Basillie’s legal team gave to have a verdict. The cutoff date given was June 29th and Justice Baum did not feel that was an adequate amount of time considering the weight and ramifications of the decision to be made.

For his part you have to admire Jim Basillie’s dogged determination here, for he has said that there no way the decision will keep him from pursuing the franchise and moving them.

The NHL may feel that Basillie has had his third strike and he is out but as far as the question of another southern Ontario franchise goes, how long can the NHL continue to ignore the economic landscape of another team there. To ignore it is not good business sense. Besides the way Bettman considers franchise locations, they need another viable one to help pay the week sisters in the revenue share. For that matter, how long can they ignore the money that Basillie is willing to spend to get a team. It looks to Allsports like Mr. Bettman would cut off his nose despite his face.

“No Guts No Glory”

Walt Webb

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