The Unknown Poster

Good point about the feds not providing Pan-Am expansion funding. There must be something in how it's being presented. it could also be that MLSE just isnt enthuesiastically persuing the feds money because they dont want to own the Argo's. If the Bills move to TO, maybe the league can move the Argos to Buffalo! US expansion! There has got to be some deep pockets in Canada that see the benefit in owning the Argos...anyone?

It's truly amazing. It's like they think the fans are completely unfamiliar with the CFL. Every time Flory speaks he pushes my loyalty further towards the owners. We need to keep in mind that firing coaches and management costs the Bombers money? Gee, thanks Flory. So you're suggesting that we should still have Kelly around? Go shove a pineapple up your arse. That does it. I honestly truly wanted the players to reap some benefits this time around but I'm done with them. Flory is an imbecile. For all I care they can continue to play under the exact same terms as the old CBA. Screw their raise. Flory can stop insulting our intelligence. He can stop trying to carefully shape crap into facts because he's terrible at it. All he ever needed to say is that many of the players are underpaid for the jobs they do because that's true. That might be the only true thing that's come out of his mouth in the last month. Jackass. I don't think I've grown quite as sour as you... yet.... but I do believe the players deserve a raise... maybe something along the lines of the very fair deal the CFL offered when they went public last week... a bigger initial bump in the cap would be ok too. I agree. And the thing is, since the CFL made that offer, they clearly assumed the PA would then counter it and they'd meet somewhere in the middle. It wasnt presented as a take it or leave it. So as reasonable as the offer was, the league was still willing to move a bit. The reason we dont have a deal right now is because of the PA. Period.

It seems the players want revenue sharing because they see their big brother sports getting revenue sharing so they think they should have it. And the fact they chose to de-link salaries from revenue when they thought it would benefit them and now want to re-link it because it will benefit them...thats just ridiculous. Im sure every other sports' PA would have told them during the last negotiations "dont de-link". I hope the CFL stands firm. If there is a hill to die on, it should be giving the PA the linkage they want. Dont give that back. The other sports are cash cows and even then, the linkage was a hinderance because it assumed an average revenue across the board when in fact, a minority of teams spiked the revenue up to an extent that the have-not teams had trouble with the percentage split (we see that in the NHL where some teams cant afford to get to the salary floor, let alone the cap). In the big sports, they can afford to get away with it or do team revenue sharing. We cant do that in the CFL. We could easily have teams on the brink if that was the case. For the CFL, a concrete salary cap makes more sense. And before this new TV deal, it made sense for the players too. Now they want their cake and to eat it too. Too bad. I also find it difficult to believe the PA can be this stupid. I realise it's a budget group but is there no players who took communications, labour relations, business admin etc in school who could be providing some advice? Did they not look at the other sports and see how those PA's handled the media, public and it's policy of communications as far as the players were concerned? Do some homework.

Im not even sure what his argument to keeping the name is. The team trots out some weird statistic that 80% of people want to keep the name. I read someone's response to that being there was a time when 80% of people would have supported slavery too but it doesnt make it right. If 20% of people find the name offensive, that's an enormous amount. I can only assume the main argument is "tradition" and the cost to change brands. I think the free publicity surrounding a name change would outweigh the cost of doing so. The team *did* change lyrics to their fight song in the 1980's so its not like this franchise isnt aware they were being derogatory in the past. Original lyrics: Hail to the Redskins! Hail, victory! Braves on the warpath! Fight for Old D.C.! Scalp 'em, swamp 'um We will take 'um big score Read 'um, Weep 'um, touchdown We want heap more Fight on, fight on, till you have won Sons of Washington Rah! Rah! Rah! I mean, really....

I cant imagine the Argo's folding. It seems like such small numbers we're talking about it. Looks like politics. Feds dont want to directly fund a stadium. MLSE doesnt want to own the Argos anyway. MLSE wants the NFL but the NFL wants a potential NFL team to also own the Argos. If the owner doesnt want to own the team, they wont support the team so I dont see the point in "forcing" MLSE to buy the Argos other than for the fact they are so rich they *might* convinced to hire a good person to run the franchise and then stay out of his way. The CFL tried to convince Vince McMahon to buy the Argos once. Maybe Vince would be interested again...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/argos-on-the-outs-in-bmo-field-dispute-between-mlse-and-federal-government/article18862832/ The future of the CFL in Toronto has been thrown into renewed turmoil after a backroom fight between Ottawa and the country’s largest sports concern. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment – owner of the Leafs, Raptors and Toronto FC – has cancelled plans to include the Toronto Argonauts in their renovation of BMO Field. As of 2018, this would leave one of the continent’s most historic sports franchises without a venue in which to play. Right now, they are caught in a next-level bargaining war between two much bigger players. As ever, the issue is money. MLSE had planned a phased, two-year renovation costing $120-million. They had hoped for financial help from all levels of government. That was to include a $10-million loan from the city, and $10-million grants from each of the provincial and federal governments. As part of that agreement, room would be made to accommodate the larger dimensions of the CFL playing surface, as well as a promise to buy the flagging football team. However, long after public announcements were made, Ottawa has yet to sign off on its part of the expenditure. Their apparent problem – the optics of funding sports stadiums. MLSE provided several fig leaves to give the government cover – including parceling the money into grants for expected big events like the Winter Classic and the Grey Cup, planned for BMO Field. MLSE argued that the construction taxes alone – an anticipated $18-million – made the deal watertight politically. The feds thought otherwise, and continued to delay. As Ottawa dithered, MLSE lost patience. They will now go ahead without the federal money and, as a direct result, without the Argos. There is an added element of urgency, as BMO Field must be ready to host rugby matches for next summer’s Pan-Am Games. New architectural plans have been drawn. A $120-million reno becomes a $100-million one. The arena will be rebuilt to its current dimensions, meaning there will be no north-south extension and no room for football end zones. Ground will be broken in September. The city is expected to sign off on the revised, soccer-only plan. MLSE has received assurances that the province will do likewise if the Liberal government of Kathleen Wynne survives a June 12th election. Wynne currently leads in the polls. The decision has several roll-on effects. Since there is no suitable alternative, it puts the Rogers Centre back in play as a football venue. That, in turn, creates a logistical problem for the arena’s plans to move to a grass field for baseball. The Argos were asked to leave at the end of the 2017 season because football is too hard on indoor grass. It also ends MLSE’s interest in buying the Argos, putting them back on the market. Within much of the MLSE hierarchy, buying the CFL team was seen as a favour being done in return for the opportunity to service the fans of Toronto FC. Without federal co-operation, no one feels the need to do any more favours. It goes deeper than that. There is the strong sense within MLSE that Ottawa has let them off the hook. Supporters of the soccer club were deeply opposed to lengthening the field to accommodate the CFL. MLSE now gets to serve its base without taking the blame for a failed plan. One voice within the corporation that will feel aggrieved is MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum. The minority owner is still on the hunt for an NFL franchise, possibly the Buffalo Bills. That team is in legal limbo following the death of founder Ralph Wilson, but is expected to hit the auction block in coming months. While intrigued by the north-of-49 possibilities, the NFL does not want to be seen as undermining Canadian football. The league has made it clear that, if they were to allow a move to Toronto, they would prefer the prospective new owner also be in control of the Argonauts. As they see it, one owner for both teams guarantees the CFL’s long-term survival in Canada’s largest market. Those are a great many reasons to find some sort of compromise, which MLSE has already provided on the back end. BMO Field Renovation 2.0 is reversible. The north section of the structure will remain open, using only temporary stands, meaning that the arena can be adapted for the CFL at some future point. That will now require the promised $10-million in federal money (easy to give) and a very public capitulation from Ottawa (somewhat more difficult). In the end, this is no end at all. Instead, it is a shotgun clause by alternate means. All this proving again that the business of sport is usually a good deal rougher than the playing of it.

You wont mind a team called the N-Bombs then right? because afterall, there is "something out there" that "offends someone". Thats the worst excuse for every bad thing anyone has ever done. I read a thread about this on another message board (American based) where it seemed most of the posters didnt want the name changed (or it was a pretty close split). The arguement against a name change was mainly similar to you - "too politically correct nowadays", "people are too sensitive". If someone you loved was subjected to slurs like "Redskin" on a regular basis, how would you feel? Someone in that other thread made the point "I've been called Redskin and no, it was never in an 'honourable' way". I actually think some of the Aboriginal based names are absolutely because of the honourable, fighting warriror spirit. But "Redskins" isn't one of them. I think it's possible that they intended to convey the fighting aspect of Native Americans using a word that was "acceptable" at the time. But it's not acceptable now nor has it been acceptable for a long time. Redskins is so clearly, obviously and completely ridiculously derogatory that the fact the NFL and their media partners and sponsors of the team havent censored it already is almost as mindblowing as the fact the owner wants to keep the name. If the franchise truly was all about honouring Native American's, they would work with Aboriginal groups to find a name that is more in line with that culture. If Snyder had half a brain he'd see the big bags of money just waiting for him to do the right thing. And right now today, I dont see any reason to change Blackhawks or Braves. "Indians" Im not sure about. It seems to be a derogatory term in Canada (though most Aboriginals I know refer to themselves as Indians) but is far more accepted in the US.

It will be fun as hell to watch a coach like Trotz who will demand responsible play relate to a player like AO. It might be over blown that Trotz is *only* a defensive guy since he had little choice but to implement a system like that in Nashville considering they had good goaltending and D and limited offensive prowress. Im sure he will use the talent in Washington differrently, but you have to expect he will demand responsible play.

So the PA wants to give the Bombers and Als etc advice on how better to manage their business? lol The Bombers can make their debt payments, run their team AND give the players a bunch of new money. How about the teams should be able to profit? Maybe the PA should buy the Argos if its so easy to run a profitable franchise. Then they can pay their players whatever they want. Its always "partnership" talk when the players want to dig into the owner's pockets. But it's "bad marketing" when the team doesnt make enough to pay the players more.

TSN.ca The Washington Capitals solidified their front office and coaching situations on Monday. Assistant general manager Brian MacLellan was promoted to the GM's office, while long-time Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz takes over as head coach. MacLellan is entering his third season with the club, spending the last two as assistant general manager after spending several years with the team's AHL-affiliate Hershey Bears. MacLellan spent 10 years in the NHL as a player, including winning the 1989 Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames. He becomes the sixth GM in team history. "We are extremely pleased to name Brian MacLellan the team's general manager and welcome Barry Trotz to Washington as the Capitals coach,” said owner Ted Leonsis in a release. “After conducting an extensive search for a general manager, we determined that Brian was the best candidate to help us reach our ultimate goal, winning the Stanley Cup. We have witnessed his abilities firsthand, and we have tremendous respect for how he manages people and situations. We feel he has relevant, in-depth knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of our franchise and will be forceful in addressing them. Brian always has displayed tremendous professionalism, passion and commitment to the Capitals. He has his own unique approach, and we are confident in his abilities to lead this organization to new heights." McLellan is also looking forward to assuming his new position. “I am extremely honored and excited about the opportunity I have been given with the Capitals,” said MacLellan in a release. “Over the course of my career I have worked in acquiring the necessary skills to excel in this position. We have built a solid foundation, and I look forward to implementing my ideas to get us back to competing for the Stanley Cup. Also, it is a great pleasure to welcome Barry to Washington as the new head coach of the Capitals. Barry's teams have always played with structure, discipline and intensity, and I look forward to him leading us to success for many years to come.” Trotz was fired by the Nashville Predators at the end of the season after 16 years as the only head coach in franchise history. Trotz coached 1,196 games with Nashville, second only to Gregg Popovich of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs for longest active coaching tenure in the four major sports. Trotz says he welcomes his new challenge. “I am very excited to join the Washington Capitals and want to thank Ted Leonsis, **** Patrick and Brian MacLellan for this opportunity,” said Trotz in the release. “This is a great organization with a strong foundation and a tremendous fan base. I look forward to working with this group of talented players and the quality front office staff this team has assembled.” Trotz is the only NHL coach to make the playoffs with the same team in seven of eight seasons between 2003-04 and 2011-12 and becomes the Capitals' 17th head coach. The Capitals fired head coach Adam Oates and did not renew the contract of general manager George McPhee at the end of the season after the team missed the playoffs with a record of 38-30-14.

She might do better as an intern

Yeah I don't recall hearing jokinen trade rumours though it wouldn't have surprised me that a team was interested in him. Problem was the Jets were still competing for a spot and wouldn't have traded their number three centre The Gooch rumours were him and Thorburn to San Jose for Burrish (I think) and someone else.

I have the same sentiment. its very close and convenient for me. But the last thing anyone would want to read would be my analysis of rookie camp. I would, as long as it didn't involve any full-page rants about milk... haha no it would just be very generic. Maybe but I would certainly be open to enjoying a Willie Wiener during practice.

Would it also not depend on the Salary floor? If the cap goes up, assuming the floor goes up, would that impact current contracts (ie. teams needing to renegotiate to actually reach the floor) or are teams in the position where they'd potentially over-pay lesser players just because thats the contract holes they have to fill? if I recall, the current floor and cap are about $200,000 apart...

I have the same sentiment. its very close and convenient for me. But the last thing anyone would want to read would be my analysis of rookie camp. I would, as long as it didn't involve any full-page rants about milk... haha no it would just be very generic.

I think the same can be said for the CBC and especially David Suzuki. If Suzuki said tomorrow that everyone should drink cyanide-laced Kool-Aid you'd have around 1 million people dead by sunset in this country. It's amazing to me that no matter how hare-brained, stupid and impractical the words tumbling out of that clown's mouth, how many people just swallow it wholesale. And you know if Suzuki caused one million people to drink cyanide, he wouldn't do it, as he never practices what he preaches. He'd fly off in a private jet to one of his four houses instead. I think its because there is a segment of the population that feels guilty about everything and they want to feel better about themselves, so this is the segment that wants to give to everyone. If you're rich, it makes them feel guilty that they allowed you to be rich while others go hungry so they want to take your money and give it to others. Many of these people are attracted to jobs in media because it gives them an audience for what they believe to be a "better way". There's no point in feeling guilty and trying to change the world if no one is listening. So people Suzuki feed this desire in these people. He says we are killing our world and the guilty feel bad and use him as their 'expert' to prove the guilt is real. Im all for being kind to the planet but I agree, this guy is a bonafide clown. 100%. Its like the mainstream media that reports global warming as fact when there are many, many scientists that dispute it.

I have the same sentiment. its very close and convenient for me. But the last thing anyone would want to read would be my analysis of rookie camp.

This is an interesting subject that dovetails with the Sterling news. You can google for all the different detailed news stories. But House Majority leader Harry Reid and several members of congress signed a petition asking Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to change the team name as it is derogatory towards Aboriginals. I listened to TSN1290 discuss this last week and Troy Westwood was very passionate about the idea it should changed. Question is, at what point are names like this racist and derogatory and after Redskins is changed, will attention be turned to names like Blackhawks, Indians, Braves etc?

The rookies arent part of the PA though, correct?

I agree mrbrg. I think Buff has significant value. He's a "new age" hybrid player. You cant even define him anymore as a D or O player. When they moved him to forward, he still played plenty of minutes on D special teams. Any team that is a playoff team and thinks it has a chance should be interested in Buff and that should result in significant pieces coming back. Legit contenders should have the depth to make the deal too. A team like the Flyers have a lot of peices and might see Buff as that big body, puck moving D, scorer they need. I'd also be okay with Jokinen coming back around $2m. But It doesnt excite me, just sort of ho hum. Id be more excited about Burmi's return. Apparently, though, Jokinen is a mentor to Kane (not sure if that is a factor either way).

MTSC has the Jetsdog. IGF should have the Willy Wiener. The hilarious and inappropriate marketing just writes itself.

Thanks for posting the transcript. What I had heard played leaned a lot more to "crazy old man" than "raging racist" but the transcript paints it in a clearer light. Although I do think (and this might be unpopular) that Sterling is very much a product of his time and upbringing. Im not sure I get the sense he has legitimate hate in his heart for anyone. He seems to think black people are "lesser" and feels good about himself for "providing" food and clothing by way of employing black people. In his warped mind he is being charitable to a downtrodden group of people. That comes across in his CNN interview also when he criticised Magic for not doing enough for black people (and presumable in comparison to what he himself has done). Its actually quite interesting from a pysch standpoint. And clearly, his views regardless of the reason why he has those views are unacceptable. With Michael Sam, you hold out hope that perhaps the backlash leads to a scenario where he sits down and examins beliefs and perhaps opens his mind to change. Perhaps there is an opportunity for that to happen with Sterling. Though at his age, he likely has no desire to change.

Im not sure the opportunity has truly presented itself for the Jets to make a blockbuster. They told us they wanted to model themselves after the Predators. They said they wanted to take a slow and steady, build throught the draft approach. I recall an interview with Chipman where he said the Jets would never really be a cap team but he was prepared to spend money if he felt the team was 'close' to a legitimate run. And yet, they did spend a lot closer to the cap then a lot of people thought they would. They signed the "core" guys, used the waiver and minor deals to try and improve the bottom six and used the draft to get a future #1 D man and #1 centre. They explored options for Parise (and I think there was another big name UFA they looked at but I cant recall). Chevy has stated some deals discussed at the deadline were significant and required ownership-level approval. I really think Chevy is comfortable trading a core guy but only if it benefits the Jets now and in the future and isnt just a shake-up deal. I think the Jets are very "careful" and likely see no reason not to be careful. You see it even in Chevy's decision not to trade any of his UFA's at the deadline even though it likely made little to no difference to us...also, his refusal to panic when Scheif went down. They stayed the course. But I wouldnt be surprised to see a blockbuster deal if another team offered something significant. For example, Buff to the Flyers. Supposedly the flyers offered Briere but the Jets wanted much more. You keep hearing talk of Buff to the Flyers so one wonders if both teams keep circling back to it with the Jets likely maintaining their position of a minimum standard they want back.

What are you talking about? You made a statement that was 100% incorrect. If you want To discuss the effectiveness of Chevy's stint as GM by all means do so but he has made trades. And since you've admitted that now yes I agree with you he has made trades to tweak the line up. Trading for Frolik was a very good deal. No digs man. Just discussion.

Every effort you make to justify homophobia is laughable.