The Unknown Poster

How is this move playing amongst Rider fans?

Media person on twitter saying this is also the Bombers creating more cap space. Is it wrong to to feel a sense of joy that Bombers trade with SK to create more cap space to make a big offer to Heenan?

When you're dealing with taxpayer dollars, politicians must ensure they are transparent and getting value for money. It really amazes me how some people just don't understand this concept. But that's fine, I'll continue to be the bad/unreasonable guy here. The problem is some people want the world to stop while the taxpayers are informed of every single step of every single decision ever made. Part of the responsibility of our system is we elect representatives to look after our interests and do whats best, which means X amount of people will always be upset with any decision made because you cant please all the people. I think Bowman is doing the right thing for this specific time following the corrupt former regime. But I also think he doesnt have to be *as* transparent as he is trying to be. SOD wanted to be released from their obligation long before CV and TN discussed a deal. How CV behaved, we can debate, but they did business in a way that was permitted under the old regime. Its not difficult to look at this as TN being convinced to expand their interest and in a way, *save* the project. Certainly TN isnt doing it out of the goodness of their heart but for a profitable venture. But if Bowman and Council looked at this and say gee, the deal CV and TN entered into is a good deal and above board, then I would have no issue with it being rubber stamped. What Bowman is essentially doing is saying "if anyone has a problem with this deal, make us an offer" and Im sure the belief is TN's deal will be the best one. And just you watch....if TN wins the bid, people will wonder why they wasted time and money and didnt rubber stand it.

I would think the jets have a pretty good idea of Burmi's status. So if they trade him so be it. But if he's willing to come back and work within Paul's system he could be a big contributor.

This is a Free Press editorial that was sent to me. It was sent to me by someone who I think was trying to push the idea that the editorial is wrong (hence the bolds) but I actually agree with it. Captain Bowman needs to get a grip By: Editorial Posted: 8:44 AM There is a risk Mayor Brian Bowman’s obsession with appearing to do the right thing will result in council doing the wrong thing today with regard to a landmark development proposal by True North Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Winnipeg Jets and the MTS Centre. The mayor’s desire to open the process to other potential suitors for land near the RBC Convention Centre is unlikely to produce a better deal. It will certainly delay the plan that is on the table and potentially even scuttle it, while opening new legal challenges. The delay will cost the city tax revenue, as well as hurt the convention centre. Here are the facts: Stuart Olson Construction, the company expanding the RBC Convention Centre, went to former mayor Sam Katz and senior civic officials last April saying it wanted out of its legal obligation to build a hotel near the convention centre because it couldn’t find a potential hotel owner. It was on the hook for $16 million, but offered the city a $3.75-million settlement. Mayor Katz then asked CentreVenture, the city’s downtown development agency, if it could develop a Plan B and find a hotel. The agency began working on the file and eventually convinced True North to do a more ambitious development involving the hotel site and an adjacent surface-parking lot. True North at that time was only planning on developing the surface-parking lot, but it invested in new architectural drawings and plans. A legal agreement was signed with True North last September. It involved not only a top hotel, which was not guaranteed in the original deal with Stuart Olson, and a mixed-use residential/commercial building, with a large public square near the MTS Centre. It would all be connected by skywalks to the convention centre. Mayor Bowman now wants to break that legal agreement and force CentreVenture to issue expressions of interest for the site of the former Carlton Inn, which the city paid $6.6 million to acquire. True North is unlikely to take legal action against the city, but the potential is there. Mayor Bowman only discovered these facts a couple of weeks ago, around the time he suspended Deepak Joshi, the city’s acting chief administrative officer. The rookie mayor seems to think that because he didn’t know about the previous agreements and negotiations, they are somehow invalid, null and void. Of course this is preposterous. Any newly elected leader will find dozens of important files he knows nothing about. That doesn’t mean they are all somehow tainted. Then-mayor Katz and some members of his inner circle had wanted the Stuart Olson matter placed on last September’s council agenda, but it never happened, probably because of the poisonous atmosphere at the time where every initiative was regarded with suspicion. Then an election was held, and the settlement and hotel issue was pushed back until now. Mayor Bowman promised to clean up city hall, but the crusader role is interfering with his judgment. There is no scandal here, only a good deal for taxpayers and for downtown redevelopment. If there is a perception of wrongdoing, it was created entirely by Mayor Bowman. CentreVenture did what it was asked to do by the city and did it very well. The image of the agency today, however, is it is out of control, suffering from mission creep and obsessively secretive. It is probably due for a review of its mandate, but it did not deserve to be treated as some rogue organization that needs to be cut down to size. Mayor Bowman’s commitment to transparency is admirable, but even a good thing can be carried too far. Editorials are the consensus view of the Winnipeg Free Press’ editorial board, comprising Catherine Mitchell, David O’Brien, Shannon Sampert, and Paul Samyn.

I dont want to trade Postma for a rental. How about Chris Stewart. Big body. Scored 18 goals just a couple years ago in 48 games. Might look good with Lowry and Kane banging and crashing.

There are some people that just automatically hate the wealthy. Like how dare Chipman be wealthy and how dare he continue to work hard to be even more wealthy. I dont know him personally but I have never seen or heard anything that would make be think he's anything less in private then his public persona indicates. But end result is there will be an RFP. True North will have the same chance as anyone to bid and if they are the right fit, they will win. Its not just about money either.

Pavs was awful, no doubt. Can we talk about the stellar play of much maligned Chris Thorburn?

Not good.

Not needed and carries a hefty contract. 4th liner at best. 2.5 million Yikes. He'll clear too.

Richards Clears. Colin Greening on waivers. I have no clue about him but he's a big Left Winger and 28 years old.

Media drumming up a story that isnt really the one they are telling. I dont see this as Bowman throwing stones at Chipman. Here's the thing. To me (and Im not expert), the issues all lay with CV and their over-reach. My understanding is SOD had zero success in luring a hotel development and let CV know that. Chipman would have been privy to that information ofcourse as he sat on the BOD of CV. True North then said 'hey look if they cant find a development, maybe the land suits our needs'. Is this conflict? I dont see it that way. Is it wrong? I dont see it that way either. If Chipman becomes aware of a piece of land being available that he covets is he supposed to say "nah, pass"? The ONLY issue I see is that once SOD let CV know they werent having success in finding a hotel development, CV should have opened it up to anyone to pitch an idea. Instead, they signed a deal with TN. The thing about that is, how many other developers were sitting around waiting for SOD's deal with CV to expire? If SOD was actively looking for a developer, then surely anyone wanting to develop the property would have made their intentions known. If True North did anything, it was saying to CV "we will develop the land but we dont want to work with SOD, we want to work with out own people." I suppose CV *should* have said to TN, hey if you want to develop it, great, lets sit you down with SOD and you guys make a deal. Instead CV said 'well SOD isnt able to develop it anyway so we'll hand it over to TN." Once that happened, SOD claims they DID find a willing partner but CV now was in bed with TN and blocked SOD from working their option. The way I see it, CV should have released SOD from their obligation first (thus releasing them from paying any penalty) and then offered the land up to any pitches from any developers. At that point, the only one might have been TN and everything would have APPEARED above board. I dont see this is a back room deal in the general Sammy/Shindico sense. I see it as CV desperately wanting to develop that land, feeling SOD couldnt do it and making a deal with TN to get it done. If SOD never was able to entice anyone and no one was interested, wouldnt the CV/TN deal have really looked like great news? Mark Chipman clearly wanted to avoid the appearance of a conflict by resigning from CV. There is ZERO evidence that Chipman did anything wrong. Bowman wasnt even aware of the deal so any insinuation that this was a quid pro quo between Chipman and Bowman is ludicrous. Bowman is doing the right thing by stepping back and saying screw everyone...here is land, if you want it, pitch us. Personally I hope TN's bid wins in the end and if they make the best proposal it will. I think CV was wrong. I dont think TN or Bowman were.

Is Hornqvist back in? I hope he is back NEXT game. have him in my pool and he was lighting it up until his injury. Pens are decimated and the Jets are healthy for the first time since November. Should be an ahem easy two points for the Jets.

Your example isnt even close to a fair comparison and the humour is a 5 out of 10 at best. But good try!

The Big Show guys were playing a game called "How Many Starts", guessing at how many starts Hutch and Pavs will get over the remaining 34 games. Im going with 20-14 in favour of Hutch. Consensus seems to be that as we approach the playoffs, and assuming the Jets are still in it, that Maurice will want to establish one guy as a clearer number one goalie. A side discussion might be, if Hutch ends up that guy and doesnt lose the gig in the playoffs, what happens next season?

Bettman is very very smart. He roped Wade into looking bush league in my humble opinion. Wade should have simply said "Gary is correct that the December date didnt work for us but this will be a fantastic even for IGF and Winnipeg and we're anxious to confirm a date for the following season." But guys at this level on both sides usually have to get out the rulers and start measuring dicks first.

You clearly aren't aware of all the facts and timelines in this case. I agree it's complicated, but try and take the time to fully understand what's out there. Try not to let your bias against True North and the Mayor cloud your reason and logic. Not every politician is corrupt. Not every business leader is making illegal backroom dealings.

It isn't. But Bettman didn't get pissy about wade's remarks and then confirm everything he said was true. This is Bettman's statement: “I was disappointed (the Blue Bombers) wouldn't make the stadium available to us. That's really what it comes down to,” “We wanted to play the game in December and we were told we couldn't have the stadium. That was disappointing." You don't consider that statement as not "getting pissy about it"? He could easily have said - The 3 three parties couldn't reach an agreement to use the stadium on a date that worked for all parties involved. But no, he was being Bettman. Yes, correct, those remarks are *not* Bettman getting pissy at Wade's comments. Wade's comments were in response to those statements by Bettman. Unless Bettman has a time machine, he was not being pissy as a result of Wade's remarks, which is what I stated.

Nothing too fishy actually. If Chipman wanted the land due to his role with CV he would have got it ages ago. SOD let it be known that they were having trouble getting a hotel. Chipman stepped in. In sure his position gave him knowledge but what's he supplied to do, brainwash himself? He stepped down before contract was signed. Isn't the important thing that a good developer builds something there? You are already biased against TN and assume they are corrupt for no reason. You have a condo it because of that bias. Your opinion can no longer be trusted. Time to move on.

Gbill- when you are elected to Parliament you can make Your accusations. I believe slander doesn't apply to parliament actually. Accusing the mayor and Chipman of being corrupt isn't holding them accountable. It's just being a ****. You can walk your comments back if you choose.

Depends on what figures you use. Forbes had them making a pretty small profit. But that doesn't take into account all of TN's revenue streams.

It isn't. But Bettman didn't get pissy about wade's remarks and then confirm everything he said was true.

Me personally, I dont blame either side for either decision. They didnt have a concrete deal to play in February or they'd be playing in February. They all agreed on a date in february and when the details came back (namely how much the Bombers wanted to keep IGF open all winter), the NHL balked and asked for a December date, which True North agreed on and the Bombers said. Nothing in what Bettman said was untrue. Nothing that Wade said was untrue either. I simply took exception to him trying to frame Bettman as being disingenuous when all Wade did was confirm that what Bettman said was true - namely that the NHL and Jets agreed on a December date and the Bombers said no.

Pretty sure that has nothing to do with the question considering the business model the team operates under. Great point. This comes up once in awhile when someone I know whines about the "tax breaks" True North gets and they try to frame it around a Toronto billionaire getting Manitoba tax breaks. Unless Thomson is personally funding True North, which he isnt, it doesnt matter. Nor does it matter how rich TN is since there is a salary cap and an internal budget to prevent the Jets from losing money. Its pretty clear to me that the Jets are just the jewel in the crown of what True North and the Chipman/Thomson families are trying to do here. Breaking even on the Jets will be fine because it means they are making a lot of money in other places, namely real estate but thats a discussion for that other thread... :-)

Rowan is considered to be a poor worker but as part of the act he was fine. They split them up too soon because Vince dislikes tag teams. He and Harper should have remained a team for awhile. They wanted to turn Bray face so split them up. It was stupid.