BALSILLIE DROPS OUT....UN-F'ING BELIEVABLE....

[Peter]

YOu can't blame him. If I "buy a business" and somebody mandates how I run it, I would want out too.

[NIN]

WOW just WOW, I dont believe this...



So do you think the NHL saw Plan B and find it very viable?

I think that for the first time Bettman may have done something for the good of the league instead of the good of his pockets.

[Corban87]

I just got done posting a prayer to God, and now this. I am extremely freaked out right now, goose bumps.

Dude, I know I was just reading that post right after you posted that

[NIN]

It's nice to see Mario was willing to turn the reigns over to a guy with no intentions of keeping the team in Pittsburgh.

TWICE!

But let's not forget, IOC "is the only """"GAURENTEE""""'.

[Fast B]

YOu can't blame him. If I "buy a business" and somebody mandates how I run it, I would want out too.

Uh, except pro sports in the US aren't private enterprises. For better or worse, a prospective owner has to be accepted into a club. Individual teams aren't competing businesses, they're different branches of the same business. If the league doesn't think he meets their conditions, they don't have to approve a sale. Simple as that.

[PensFanBryan]

in addition. i have a bad feeling that this means balsillie knows something about the IOC that we dont.

I think it makes me believe that IoC is in better position to win the slots liscense. We all knew at the beginning that if he bought the team, it was to move it. This makes me believe that IoC is front runner to get the liscense, and he doesnt want to be a part of the Pittsburgh Penguins... He wants to be a part of the Kitchner Rockets (or whatever).

[NIN]

YOu can't blame him. If I "buy a business" and somebody mandates how I run it, I would want out too.

Uh, except pro sports in the US aren't private enterprises. For better or worse, a prospective owner has to be accepted into a club. Individual teams aren't competing businesses, they're different branches of the same business. If the league doesn't think he meets their conditions, they don't have to approve a sale. Simple as that.

well said.

[Pitts]

WOW just WOW, I dont believe this...



So do you think the NHL saw Plan B and find it very viable?

I think that for the first time Bettman may have done something for the good of the league instead of the good of his pockets.

All this means is that his intentions were to move the team. Period.

[Loaf31]

i am absolutely dumbfounded

[NIN]

WOW just WOW, I dont believe this...



So do you think the NHL saw Plan B and find it very viable?

I think that for the first time Bettman may have done something for the good of the league instead of the good of his pockets.

All this means is that his intentions were to move the team. Period.

Perhaps, but Bettman did not have to strong arm him, but he apparently did. I am thinking that Balsillie no longer likes EITHER plan.

[Gaucho]

Sounds like good news to me. Or not?

[Corban87]

I wonder if Lemieux and co would keep the team is IOC gets the slots license.

What if that was the plan the whole time? They were friends. Hummm

[DelPen]

Sounds like good news to me. Or not?

If the rumors are that the NHL would be willing to take over the franchise to keep them in Pittsburgh is true then yes, this is great news. The NHL has made a stand that they will not allow the Penguins to leave town.

[Pitts]

WOW just WOW, I dont believe this...



So do you think the NHL saw Plan B and find it very viable?

I think that for the first time Bettman may have done something for the good of the league instead of the good of his pockets.

All this means is that his intentions were to move the team. Period.

Perhaps, but Bettman did not have to strong arm him, but he apparently did. I am thinking that Balsillie no longer likes EITHER plan.

What do you mean by strong arm him? Obviously Balsillie was talking out of both sides of his @s$ and Bettman was truthful with him.

On the other side, maybe Ballsy was hoping IoC didn't win so he could say no to plan B and move the team and he got a strong feeling IoC was going to get the license - thus forcing him to stay in Pittsburgh.

[the wicked child]

Holy **** indeed.

The plot thickens.

[NIN]

WOW just WOW, I dont believe this...



So do you think the NHL saw Plan B and find it very viable?

I think that for the first time Bettman may have done something for the good of the league instead of the good of his pockets.

All this means is that his intentions were to move the team. Period.

Perhaps, but Bettman did not have to strong arm him, but he apparently did. I am thinking that Balsillie no longer likes EITHER plan.

What do you mean by strong arm him? Obviously Balsillie was talking out of both sides of his @s$ and Bettman was truthful with him.

On the other side, maybe Ballsy was hoping IoC didn't win so he could say no to plan B and move the team and he got a strong feeling IoC was going to get the license - thus forcing him to stay in Pittsburgh.

It was'nt too long ago that Bettman was singing in chorus with Balsillie and LG to "get a new arena" or there will be a lot of "uncertainty". NOW. His tune is that of eliminating that "uncertainy". It's like suddenly he is on the Penguin fans side, and not the money making side.

That's an interesting point of veiw.

[Maestro]

Shocker - People, Balsillie included, acted like this purchase was a done deal and just awaited aporval which would come easy enough since he's a billionaire. It seems clear Balsillie was going to move the team if IoC didn't get the slots and the NHL made it obvious to him that would be next to impossible to do if Plan B has any legs to it whatsoever.

This at least makes one thing obvious - the NHL is committed to keeping the team in Pittsburgh where it belongs. Good.

The plot thickens...

[TheHammer24]

This either means IOC was going to win and ruin Basille's plans

or

IOC was not going to win and Bettman ruined Basille's plans.

I think one or the other became definite.

[Corban87]

On the other side, maybe Ballsy was hoping IoC didn't win so he could say no to plan B and move the team and he got a strong feeling IoC was going to get the license - thus forcing him to stay in Pittsburgh.

Thats the ticket. Bettman and JB might both know that if IoC does not win then Plan B is "viable" enough for the Penguins to remain the PITTSBURGH PENGUINS!

[Kicksave]

This sucks though because with the NHL saying they want the team in Pittsburgh regardless of what happens with the IOC, it takes the pressure off the gaming board to do the right thing.

[tluke53]

WOW just WOW, I dont believe this...



So do you think the NHL saw Plan B and find it very viable?

I think that for the first time Bettman may have done something for the good of the league instead of the good of his pockets.

All this means is that his intentions were to move the team. Period.

Perhaps, but Bettman did not have to strong arm him, but he apparently did. I am thinking that Balsillie no longer likes EITHER plan.

What do you mean by strong arm him? Obviously Balsillie was talking out of both sides of his @s$ and Bettman was truthful with him.

On the other side, maybe Ballsy was hoping IoC didn't win so he could say no to plan B and move the team and he got a strong feeling IoC was going to get the license - thus forcing him to stay in Pittsburgh.

It was'nt too long ago that Bettman was singing in chorus with Balsillie and LG to "get a new arena" or there will be a lot of "uncertainty". NOW. His tune is that of eliminating that "uncertainy". It's like suddenly he is on the Penguin fans side, and not the money making side.

That's an interesting point of veiw.

Come on NIN, you know better than that. It's ALWAYS about the money. Longterm its in the NHL's interest to keep the team in the US so that they can market Sid and Geno to sale the game.

[bill from turtle creek]

There's simply no scenario that makes sense. If he didn't want a team in Pgh, and IoC won, he could still probably sell for a profit in a short period of time. If IoC lost, he should still have been willing to at least listen to Plan B and see what it was all about, before then bailing. If Plan B really did suck, I cannot imagine the league would have made him stay.

Something is seriously confusing here, for him to bail at this time. It doesn't figure that he couldn't wait another week to see what happens.

[tluke53]

I don't understand the part about the "NHL taking control of the team". What is that all about? That can't be a good thing.


Another Thing: Did Mario get the holding/negotiating money again? Maybe this the only way to make a profit.

[NIN]

WOW just WOW, I dont believe this...



So do you think the NHL saw Plan B and find it very viable?

I think that for the first time Bettman may have done something for the good of the league instead of the good of his pockets.

All this means is that his intentions were to move the team. Period.

Perhaps, but Bettman did not have to strong arm him, but he apparently did. I am thinking that Balsillie no longer likes EITHER plan.

What do you mean by strong arm him? Obviously Balsillie was talking out of both sides of his @s$ and Bettman was truthful with him.

On the other side, maybe Ballsy was hoping IoC didn't win so he could say no to plan B and move the team and he got a strong feeling IoC was going to get the license - thus forcing him to stay in Pittsburgh.

It was'nt too long ago that Bettman was singing in chorus with Balsillie and LG to "get a new arena" or there will be a lot of "uncertainty". NOW. His tune is that of eliminating that "uncertainy". It's like suddenly he is on the Penguin fans side, and not the money making side.

That's an interesting point of veiw.

Come on NIN, you know better than that. It's ALWAYS about the money. Longterm its in the NHL's interest to keep the team in the US so that they can market Sid and Geno to sale the game.

I'm confused

I just pray the team stays here and gets a new rink.

[cojac]

Great news! Pens are staying