Rich

He was released a few months before his contract ended so he could sign in the NFL. Similar to what we did for Ian Wild this year.

For a lot of reasons, I don’t usually publically post or discuss site discipline. Wide Right has now been banned. This morning he used an IP address that was common to one that only Migs has used in the past. Of course this is never 100% proof that it is the same poster, it could mean that they simply work at the same company. But the other evidence that was posted made it compelling enough to ban him. And by posting this, he will know not to post from that IP address again in the future (one of the reasons I don’t usually disclose this stuff). As a rule, I don’t like to ban people. In the history of this site, there have been 4 people banned. 3 if you count Migs and Wide Right as one. Not something we do lightly. And being a Rider fan is not reason enough to ban people. But with Migs, he keeps coming back because there are a group of posters who fall for his schtick every time. He wants to derail threads, he wants to post silly arguments to get the replies from you. You will never win an argument with him, you will never get him to see the light, as he obviously has no interest in that. So when he does return the next time, the best thing you can really do is ignore him, and don’t give him what he wants. And seriously, “letting you at him”, will have no effect on him what so ever. Words can’t hurt people or put them in the hospital. Letting you at him is exactly what he wants and why he comes here.

Migs is gone from the site. No need to trash the guy when he isn't even around to defend himself. Posts have been deleted. Sometimes it is best to just take the high road. Please try to keep it classy.

He never really got a shot at receiver all year. Super bowl was really the first game they played him on offence. Got to think going into next year he will be given the opportunity to start next year, and if he shows well, he will be able to parlay that into a big pay cheque.

After two losses Jets need to win this game. Hutch gives them the best chance.

I will give him credit, he is a very good interviewer. Does his research and his interviews are typically very well done. But it is all that in between stuff that makes me literally yell at the radio until I need to change the station. Can't stand his call in segments either.

For anyone who has listened to Rome at least a half a dozen times, read this in his voice, and his intonations, and tell me I’m wrong.

I do believe that pretty much anyone can sign up and edit Wikipedia. It sometimes goes through an approval process if you are new or not known. That is the whole point of Wikipedia, is it is kept up to date by the community at large.

I have 1290 (sports radio) on most of the time when in the car, but I will only listen to the local content. The morning show on the drive in to work, Hustler & Lawless on the drive home. Some of their Saturday content isn’t bad either, either a recap of the week’s programming (hear stuff you missed) or the Illegal Curve guys who bring an interesting perspective to their shows. Yes, they are self-important media types, and can get caught up in some pretty silly things at times, but the content is primarily targeted to the Jets and Bombers. And that makes it interesting for me. I find their guests to usually be more informative then the hosts. Being part of TSN gives them access to a lot of the high profile analysts. Lawless is also fairly well-connected and can get some big names onto his show. I also like Shane Hnidy, being a former player, he always brings an interesting perspective to what is going on. For the Bombers, other than Bob Irving doing the play-by-play, I find TSN 1290’s pre and post-game shows better than CJOB (WAY too many commercials on CJOB, but it has been that way for years). As soon as the coach’s interview is done on CJOB, I switch back to TSN. Walby, Westwood, and Bauming (I believe), do a pretty good job. I have no patience for the syndicated shows like Jim Rome, or anything out of Toronto.

It isn't twisting words around when you are using this as an argument to support the statement that Bowman and TN are guilty or backroom deals and corruption if the deal happens ... with no other proof than conjecture and circumstance and “connecting the dots”. Or if you prefer, what you are really saying, is that corruption happens frequently or often in government and since there seems to be an illusion of backroom deals here, if this deal is signed, they are guilty. I really don’t know if there is corruption going on here one way or the other (I won't say there is 100% no corruption just as I won't say that there is), but I don’t think it is right to proclaim someone as guilty without fact or proof. Gut feeling doesn’t really cut it. If someone thinks something fishy is going on here, then investigate and find proof.

] You're accusing two people of criminal behavior in this thread. He's taking a break from accusing people of doping. Yes, I guess no athletes dope and politicians are always honest. Amazing how some of you guys are living in a fantasy world. Only problem is that Mark Chipman publicly endorsed Brian Bowman for mayor. My instincts tell me that Chipman expected something in return for that endorsement and that mayor Bowman will cave and allow TNSE to develop the land. I suspect Mr Bowman and Mr Chipman have spoken several times over the past couple weeks on this matter. We will see what kind of backbone our mayor has this week. RFP and he's got a backbone (although TNSE could still win the bid through the RFP), or council decides to give the contract directly to TNSE means Bowman is paying back a favour to Chipman. Will be interesting...Absolutely nonsense. This is the "dirty" aspect of politics. Someone endorses a politician and must be expecting a favour? Give me a break. There is absolutely nothing to indicate Chipman traded his endorsement for a favour. What it seems like is CV has a deal for a hotel project there. SOD claims they have a deal too. Let them both submit bids and let council pick one. Done and done. Supposedly SOD was having trouble finding a hotel partner and let CV know that. If CV turned around and did their own search and made a deal with TN and then SOD said hey wait we think we have a partner now, I can understand if CV was reluctant to throw away their work. Especially if SOd's partner isn't local like TN Not that I am defending CV at all. They got way too far away from their original mandate. Bowman will clean it up. If anything bowman will be tougher on Chipman to dissuade anyone from accusing him of a conflict. I see nothing that indicates bowman is Sammy. You are being very naive here. Election support from business in exchange for political favors happens ALL the time. But I sure hope you're right about Bowman treating Chipman tougher. Sure seems like that is what you've been implying.

I really have no problem with what Wade said, I don’t think it is bush league at all. The truth is what Wade said wasn’t a pissing match back at Gary Bettman, I’m sure Gary doesn’t care what Wade said if he was even told of the quote at all. What Wade did was because of the Winnipeg sports fan backlash at the Bombers. The Bombers were coming off looking like the bad guys in this, and as CEO he needed to move to change that perception. Let’s look at the two quotes from the Winnipeg Free Press article . Bettman: Miller: Sure Wade could have left the first part out taking a shot at Bettman, but if what Wade is saying is true (and I have no reason to believe it isn’t since February was what the rumors have been saying for a long time), then there was an agreement, but the NHL changed its mind. Maybe Bettman himself didn’t rubber stamp it, but someone in the NHL did, and they were going by those dates. If the November date was being bandied about a year ago when these talks first started, then Miller could have said no, lets delay a year back then. News of this wouldn’t have leaked out, and the Winnipeg sports fan wouldn’t have been up in arms at losing something they never had or knew about. Wade has a right to be mad at the fact that the date was changed on him two weeks ago, and he is the one who is being blamed by the Winnipeg sports fan anger. Your proposed statement wouldn't have addressed that at all. And that is really what Wade's words are about ... not about pulling out a ruler.

I think in November the NHL and NHLPA agree to treat Voynov's salary the same as a long term injury. He is being paid, but it doesn't count against the cap.

Yeah, I found more details on his contract after I posted that (miss capgeek). 2018/2019 is 3M. But there are still 2 years after this season where you are pretty much paying him at par to his cap hit. If I am team who is at the cap floor, I can’t afford to be playing a player with his production levels that kind of money. The only way he is moved is if the Kings eat some salary, and you would have to think if teams could have come up with a deal where they do that, a trade would have been made already. I believe the Kings do eat a portion of his salary (half maybe?) if he is claimed on his way back up. So maybe they want to send him down, then call him up and see if there are any takers.

Total value might be less then the cap hit but he still has some high priced years in there. 14/15 - 7 M (would have to eat just under half of it) 15/16 - 6 M 16/17 - 5.5 M 17/18 - 4.5M 18/19 - 3M You only really see savings in the last 3 years and even then, it isn't a lot of savings as compared to the cap hit of 5.75M You can make that argument in the last 2 years, but there is this season and 2 more before you get there.

That is a lot of money to tie up over the next 5 years. IMO the only way the Jets pick him up would have been a trade where the Kings retain part of his salary.

Pardy has an interesting history. In 2011/12 he signed a 2 year $4M contract with Dallas but didn’t live up to expectations (partly because of injury problems). And they traded him to Buffalo, where he did end up spending some time in the AHL. The Jets signed him as a free agent after that deal at $600,000 (one year). They did send him down to the minors after training camp in 2013, where he did clear waivers, but a lot of players clear waivers at that time of the year due to roster restrictions, and he was coming off a couple of troubled seasons prior to that. Pardy re-signed with the Jets last summer for another 1 year deal at $700,000 (they signed him right before free agency hit). So, Pardy was once thought of highly enough to get a $4 Million dollar contract (2M per season). Ran into injury problems and has really kind of revitalized his career with the Jets. He has a very reasonable 1 year contract as playoff depth for a team and is a really good fit as a 7th defenseman who can play on your third pairing if needed. I think there is a good chance that a team does take a flyer on him if he is waived. No long term contract, and gives you some playoff insurance.

Had to really think about this ... does this mean you think he will clear?

Agreed on Frolik. No way you can trade him. A lot of people (media) say that you can't lose Frolik for nothing, but then go on to talk about how the Jets are likely to be in a playoff hunt this year and may be buyers at the deadline. If you could get a Frolik for a 3rd or 4th round pick at the deadline, would you do it? Of course you would. Well then why would you trade him when you could keep him without giving anything up. Yes you are losing out on potential assets coming back, but this playoff push is more important then that. You look at the assets the Jets do have coming up in the pipeline, and Frolik is more valuable for the rest of this year then adding to that list. Even if you do lose him in free agency.

From an NHL perspective, I can see them not wanting to do this in March because it would cost an extra $500k - $1M (depending what reports you want to believe) to keep IGF open that long. That is an extra $500k - $1M in your pocket if you do it earlier in the year. From a Bomber perspective, I can understand them being worried about ticket sales. Not sure I agree with it entirely myself, but can the Bombers really can't afford the risk of a screw up on the Grey Cup. This whole kerfuffle proves that most of the sports fan in this city has the Jets #1 and everything else after that, so there may be some just cause for their concern. They get this event once a decade, and this has to be a cash cow to sustain them. They can’t mess up this Grey Cup. (Despite the Twitter outrage, I highly doubt the “delaying” of the classic will cause people to boycott the Bombers or Grey Cup, at least not in material numbers) Lawless made a good point last night, that ALL organizations dropped the ball on this. That a marketing strategy where the option to buy both a Grey Cup ticket and Outdoor Classic ticket as a package would have been a great sell. However, this would have had to been negotiated months ago as the Bomber Season ticket renewals (which include buying Grey Cup tickets) went out in the fall after the season was over. The CFL would also have to be involved and approve the co-marketing of the event. This doesn’t seem to work for the NHL because they weren’t in a position to announce the Winter Classics at that time. Who knows if this was delayed due to the Bomber negotiations or other stadium negotiations, or simply the NHL’s time frame on when they make these announcements. The fans seem to be making more of this then there really is. Reports from Lawless (who is very connected to both organizations) has said that there is no animosity between the Bombers, the Jets, and the NHL in this. No one has left the table in a huff. They tried to negotiate this event, and they couldn’t find a solution that worked for all parties involved. This isn’t about Wade trying to flex his muscles with the big boys. This is about 3 different organizations, with different priorities and interests, wanting what is best for them and the only solution that all could agree to was delaying for a year. The NHL loves these classics, and Winnipeg is a prime location to host one due to interest the fan base here would have in selling it out. This will happen, just not this year.

Remember the Bombers were pushing or under the impression to have the event in February. Banjo Bowl is in September, Grey Cup in November. September to November is 3 months. Now extend that out to February. That means having the seats in place for 6 months. Doubling the time the seats would have to be rented. Therefore the cost is split half. I don't know how rental agreements work on those seats, but I can't imagine it is by the event, since those seats could be used elsewhere if they weren't up at IGF. If the outdoor classic was to be in December, sure maybe the cost would be less. But that was a deal breaker for the Bombers, so that wouldn't have been the terms they were negotiating under.

Why should the Bombers pay the entire amount if they were going to be used by the NHL too. Why should the NHL pay half the cost for something the bombers are using twice and using regardless of the NHL game? Why should the NHL profit on an extra 8000 seats that wouldn't otherwise be there? There is a cost to keeping those seats longer, they are rented. The cost share would be a fraction of what those seats would bring in with ticket sales and concession sales. This was negotiated as part of the "deal". The NHL saw a benefit and was fine with this part of the deal. The contentious part was the dates. When you rent a venue, isn't the price often based on its size. This was the cost of renting a 41k seat venue as compared to 33k. Also, the original plan was for the game to be played in February. An extra 2 - 3 months of keeping the seats.

You don't need the extra seats for the classic. If the cost of putting them back up is more then projected revenue the you go without the extra 8k seats

Tom Anselmi (born c. 1956) is a Canadian sports executive who most recently served as the President and COO for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Anselmi is an alumnus of Ryerson University and University of Saskatchewan. Not sure what qualifications an investment banker would have to be commissioner of the CFL.