AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2008 > January > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMullin’s departure another symptom of ‘broken’ Spirit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
If the Atlanta Spirit had written an owners playbook, I imagine it would have begun with an ill-conceived offense (nine receivers, two spokesmen), followed by several misdirection plays, a few banged noggins, maybe a pie fight, all with the intention of someday getting across midfield.
Four years later, I’m not sure what yard line they’re on. Let’s just say that if sports owners are like any other industry, with newbies trying to mimic success stories, they’re not quite being held up as the standard.
On Tuesday, Atlanta Spirit LLC dumped a CEO and a CFO.
I know. First reaction: Don’t care. They’ll eat it up at the Wall Street Journal, and maybe Staples. In terms of tangible product impact, this isn’t quite like the Hawks or Thrashers dumping a center, which is to assume either team has one of those, either.
The fact Bernie Mullin (the outgoing CEO, president and traffic cop for the nine-headed ownership group) and Bill Duffy (bean-counter) are out of work illustrates that this remains sports’ most dysfunctional executive unit.
The owners basically eliminated a layer between themselves and the teams. But Michael Gearon confirmed they also have created a new seven-person committee of relative department heads that reports to the nine-membership group, which runs the two teams, which have a combined zero playoff wins.
So, once again, the Atlanta Spirit math: Nine over seven divided by two equals zero.
I will say this: When the owners come together for a single purpose, they can accomplish things quickly. Mullin and Duffy were erased from the Hawks’ and Thrashers’ Web sites by lunch Tuesday.
Just to remind you: These were supposed to be the good times.
The Thrashers are hosting the NHL All-Star Game this weekend at Philips Arena. But one of the league’s centerpiece events is sitting on a wobbly table, and Atlanta’s hockey team is no more stable. The Thrashers made the playoffs last year. But when they left town for two games in New York starting Tuesday, they had a three-game losing streak, were out of the playoff picture and had only six more points than the worst team in the Eastern Conference despite playing the second-most games.
The Hawks have some nice pieces, but their lineup too often resembles mismatched china, and their record (17-20) illustrates that. They took a three-game losing streak and a 5-11 road record into a five-game trip through the Western Conference (the good conference).
Mullin might have decided to leave Tuesday on his own — this was announced as a mutual decision — but it’s really semantics. His contract was up this summer. It wasn’t going to be renewed. The good news: His headache is about to go away.
Some in the organizations viewed Mullin as an asset, others as a waste of space. Some liked him, some didn’t. Regardless, he was in a relatively impossible situation.
The owners aren’t even on the same side in court. How can they be on the same page? Conference calls must have been like listening to static with the sound cranked up.
The original concept that one man could run the point for owners and deal with the teams’ general managers wasn’t working out, in part because Don Waddell and Billy Knight — they’re the ones who still have jobs — were dealing directly with the owners (primarily Gearon and Bruce Levenson).
Gearon understands why there has been criticism. But he also believes things aren’t as bad as perceived, and they’re getting better.
“The Hawks are coming off the best December they’ve had in 14 years, and they’re competing for a playoff position,” he said. “The Thrashers are fighting for first place in their division. So to characterize things as messed up is an incorrect characterization.”
He then downplayed the exits in the executive offices, saying: “Those changes are related to the business, not the teams. This is seamless.”
Except as we are reminded every day, sports is business. A team’s success starts with a suit behind a desk and filters down to a pair of sneaks in the locker room. There is still too much negative filtering down. Until it ends, the teams will not be going up.
Permalink | Comments (57) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks / NBA, Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
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By Steve
January 22, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
If Gearon is right that “this is seamless,” it will be the first seamless thing to happen to either team since the ownership group took over.
I guess that’s a step in the right direction…
By HawksFAN
January 22, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
We’ll see if they think their getting better soon. If the think they are the should give some hawks players extensions like J-smoove, marvin, chill, joe, and make sure to keep JJ and horford
By FLEE HOUND
January 22, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
who care’s
By shannon
January 22, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!The hits just keep on coming. Why do owners continue to look away from the Rooney model (hire people to run the team, stay out of the way, and win titles)???????
I will not watch another game with this team. We STILL have no PG.
These idiots will run this team further down. In two years, J Johnson will not be here, we still won’t have a PG and we will suck
By Bob
January 22, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
The owners basically eliminated a layer between themselves and the teams. But Michael Gearon confirmed they also have created a new seven-person committee of relative department heads that reports to the nine-membership group, which runs the two teams, which have a combined zero playoff wins
So, once again, the Atlanta Spirit math: Nine over seven divided by two equals zero
lol. They did what? Just win some damn games and the fans will buy tickets, soak up the overpriced beer and dogs, and you’ll make money. This ain’t rocket science.
Can’t these 9 goofballs figure out that all they have to do is get a couple GM’s that know what they’re doing and all else will fall into place?
Win and they will come
By Astro Joe
January 22, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this
It’s a shame that the Atlanta media has allowed these owners to go unscathed for the past few months. They didn’t just become an embarrassment with today’s headcount reduction (although firing execs days before the NHL All-Star game suggests that there was a personal vendetta associated with this decision). It sure would be nice if the media put a little more pressure on these clowns. Falcons won’t hire a coach in the next 14 days. How about 10-12 consecutive days of essays about how truly dysfunctional, incompetent and clownish the broke AS Group has become? I may even purchase a subscription.
By chio
January 22, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
What a joke. How can the league offices allow this to happen? This is semi-pro sports at it’s worst. All of these “owners” are small time wanna-be’s that no nothing,NOTHING about professional sports. These bumpkins make the Smiths (Clampetts) look like geniouses.
I’m just thankfull that I couldn’t care less about either sport
By chio
January 22, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
What a joke. How can the league offices allow this to happen? This is semi-pro sports at it’s worst. All of these “owners” are small time wanna-be’s that no nothing,NOTHING about professional sports. These bumpkins make the Smiths (Clampetts) look like geniouses.
I’m just thankfull that I couldn’t care less about either sport
By chio
January 22, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
What a joke. How can the league offices allow this to happen? This is semi-pro sports at it’s worst. All of these “owners” are small time wanna-be’s that no nothing,NOTHING about professional sports. These bumpkins make the Smiths (Clampetts) look like geniouses.
I’m just thankfull that I couldn’t care less about either sport
By Ryan
January 22, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
What a waste of a game tonight for the thrash.
By Sage of Bluesland
January 22, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
For the sake of the Thrashers, I hope the owners put a stop once and for all on the incompetence that is Don Waddell…He of the “Five-Year Plan”, “Building through the draft”, and the playoff “guarantee”…
Mark Bradley likes our brilliant Donny—I just wonder what he [Bradley] sold out for…My guess is his price is pretty cheap…See, folks, Mark also liked the equally buffoonish Pete Babcock (after he singlehandedly ran the Hawks into the ground after a near decade of his particular “leadership”)…
Keep telling the TRUTH, Schultz!!! Keep making Don Waddell accountable for the absolute mess that he, ALONE, has built during his near decade here at the helm of the pitiful Thrashers…
Anything else is mere ‘sheepspin’…
By Mickyddawg
January 22, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
It’s obvious the Atlanta (lack of) Spirit owners don’t know what the hell they are doing. while quibbling amongst themselves, they seem to have missed the fact that they have two inept General Managers who themselves have drafted poorly, and in one case coached just as poorly. the thrasher’s have no fire. They remind me of the Atlanta Hawks years ago, when they allowed Dominique Wilkins to “fire” Mike Fratello because he was too abrasive. Now, Don Wadell has taken the role of “Mr. Nice Guy”, just like then incoming Hawks Coach “Weiss”. all they needed was someone to write out the line-up. They were veterans, they all knew how to play. Yeah, right. They went in the dumper, played emotionless, just like this thrasher’s team. When players refuse to listen when the coach gets on them for their own good, those players need to go. Not a Stanley Cup winning coach. And about the Hawks, how many 6’8” long-armed players do you need on a team? And a coach who is 11 games under .500 in his career should retire on his own. He shouldn’t have to be run off! What are the owners doing while all of this goes on? Whistling while Atlanta Burns Again!
By bulldog1
January 22, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this
Owners who know nothing about running sports teams handling day to day business for the Hawks and Thrashers. Jerry Jones has been doing it for years and has not won a playoff game in over 12 yrs. What makes these guys think they can? Maybe we would be better off with the single owner the lawsuit may produce.
By John
January 22, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
The Atlanta Spirit…What a joke! There must be some more of the Smith family genes floating around we didnt know about.
By Talon
January 22, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
Game tonight made me sick….
By The Boz
January 22, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
where is Bruce Levenson in all this and why is Gearon the only one talking? This reeks of personal vendetta. When an owner says he wants to get more “hands on,” makes one wonder to whom he is referring…
By TheJama
January 22, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
This ownership groups typifies why all Atlanta sports teams are awful and have always been. They don’t understand sports in general, the specifics of the teams they run, nor how to put the right pieces in place to win consistantly.
Another case of some rich business guy(s) with nothing to do and decide to “play” owner and appoint themselves as they ones to do it. Sure wish the fans could vote on who on their teams owners were.
By stendec
January 22, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this
No, no, no. A thousand times no! Not again. Yes, another goose egg. Teams that CARE do not get SHUT OUT by ice scum! Thrashers have (and make no effort to hide the fact) packed it in! Had no intention of putting forth ANY effort in the Big Apple. Succeeded! Getting all set for regular season finale then long vacation with families. Made Ranjerks look like Cup champions which they are not! IK not available after brain-dead ejection. Must be against team religion to shoot the puck! Thrashers performed like worst NHL group (may actually be). Worst defensively for sure. Hate Ranjerks! Hate New York! Hate Thrashers! Life is certainly wonderful! Truly Falcons on ice! Horrible, but true. No balls! No heart! No fire! No desire! No guts! No pride! No courage! No fight! Utterly disillusioning and nauseating. Total wastes! Rest well fellow Thrasher sufferers. KL gave up bundle of goals but deserved pity as he was left alone against world. Felt sorry for beleagured Finn. How many times will I say that? Just goes to show how bad this non-effort was! Should have blasted teammates after debacle. Justified. Showed class that he did not. Scumbags that started 0-6 are back. Where is Bob? Expect more of same Thursday. Swap all these losers for guys in Chicago right now. At least the youngsters will try. Oh well. GO FLAMES!
By LAC
January 22, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
Right on Jeff, as Sage would say.
The STUPID IDIOTS can do nothing right. Just a bumch of rich LITTLE boys who ONLY care about the title Pro Sports Team Owners, nothing more.
Remember opening night folks, that LIAR rutherford snydel LIED to the entire arena saying that “THEY” were doing everything to bring The Stanley Cup to Atlanta… What a joke these AH’s are.
If the Atlanta Stupid Group remains in control I predict NHL hockey leaving Atlanta within 4-5 years, and tonight was yet AGAIN another coaster for the guys, FLAT, SLOW, OVERMATCHED, STUPID… and the GREAT waddell was at the controls…
So now what don ??? Did we NOT resepct them tonight ? Hey don, we lost in Philly 4-0 with an effort just like tonight so WHY WILL YOU NOT FIRE YOURSELF ???????????????
This team SUCKS, loaded with retreads and rejects nobody else wants… This season is OVER, and waddell SHOULD BE TOAST by 7am !
By Jim
January 22, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
What a dysfunctional mess. Who in his right mind would want to be part of it given a choice (Thrasher Hossa for example)? Hawks have talent but no creative coaching. Thrashers have little talent and a propensity for boring the heck out of fans with a team made up largely of retreads.
By seth
January 22, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this
I was at the game tonight at MSG and it was an absolute disgrace. First 14 shots of the game all belonged to NYR. First 7 PP minutes — All NYR. I should have gone straight home from work. Just a pathetic outing. Atlanta Spirit should have canceled the trip, took two forfeit losses and saved the $500/night NYC hotel rates for each of the players. Awful.
By Mickyddawg
January 22, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this
It really hurts when we, as fans, care more about winning than ANYONE associated with the “team”(although I hazard to use that term to describe the Thrashers).
By Mike
January 22, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
The departure of Mullin and Duffy is cost-cutting plain and simple. Those two should be happy to have leapt off the Titanic before it starts going down. The Spirit owners are a bunch of halfwits who thought it would be cool to run a sports franchise or two. They got in place, found out how much it cost, and are now trying to cut whatever costs they can to keep their heads above water. Marian Hossa will not be back. Josh Smith will not be back. The owners just wont be willing to cough up the money for another max deal. They’ve only proven willing to pony up for one top-paid talent in Joe Johnson and that led to fracturing of the ownership group in the first place! So now a couple of lawyers will attempt to run two sports franchises better than former CEO Bernie Mullin who had 30 some years experience in Sports…good luck. Here’s to another 13 win Hawks season in 2008-09 and the Thrashers never actually making the playoffs again.
Well done Gearon and Company, you personify the term “worthless”.
By Johnny In-Sain
January 22, 2008 11:46 PM | Link to this
When does baseball season start?
By scott
January 22, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
Fire Don Waddell. That would be a start to fixing the Thrashers.
By Rawhide
January 23, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this
Of the second straight game in which a poor line-change has burned the Thrashers for a goal, Don Waddell had this to say…
“We’ve talked about it, and I wish I had the answer”.
The Executive VP/GM/Head Coach of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers wished he had the answer to how his team executes a line change.
Oh my…
By remie
January 23, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this
It is about time they got rid of Bernie and the other joker - no work ethic- only talk and no action!!! On vacation every other week - they needed to be fired!
By Remie
January 23, 2008 12:10 AM | Link to this
Waddell is the BEST and most knowledgeable person in the organization. If he were to go, you may as well write off hockey in ATL. Thiose of you who call for his demise truly don’t have a clue!!!
By tony
January 23, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this
they don’t care about u people. the best thing that can happen for the city of atlanta would be for them to relocate their team somewhere else. we need a new owner and new team. the hawks name and logo stays in atlanta until we get a new team!
By LAC
January 23, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this
Remie… The average fan in town knows more about NHL hockey than Idiot waddell !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Brendan
January 23, 2008 1:18 AM | Link to this
Jeff, I sometimes wonder what David McDavid would have done with these clubs? Bygones.
By Najeh Davenpoop
January 23, 2008 1:38 AM | Link to this
As imperfect of an owner Arthur Blank may be, I would LOVE to see him buy the Hawks. It would be an enormous upgrade over Atlanta Spirit.
By smartguy
January 23, 2008 4:46 AM | Link to this
Mr. Gearon, just what exactly do you think you have done? The teams are having decent seasons (as of now), and we are just supposed to be blindly happy? The problem is that behind the scenes is a Total Mess. And as far as improving our teams for the rest of this year and the seasons to come, that total mess makes us all very uneasy.
A seven person committee that reports to nine other superiors?? You must be joking. Thats right out of the playbook from a group that, thus far, has been overwhelmingly embarrassing, incompetent, and unsuccessful.
Perfect analogy: Me and eight of my friends decided to buy a Ferrari. None of us could afford it on our own, but when we pooled all our cash, we scraped together just enough to get it out the door. We all contributed different amounts, so we all have different rights and access to the car. Add to that, we spent pretty much all of our money on the car itself, so any time it needs gas, we have to sort out (fight over) who pays for it. And if paying for gas is an issue, you can imagine the problem with oil changes, tires, services, and the like. Thats just for starters. A few years ago we wanted to improve our Ferrari. There was much debate over how to do this, and eventually we decided a GPS system would really help. Now, the guy down the street had a GPS that we really liked, and it seemed pretty clear that he was going to give that unit away, as his car was already too full of gadgets and accessories. But, rather than being patient, we decided that we just had to have it. When we approached the guy down the street about acquiring his GPS, his asking price was steep. But rather than being patient, or even negotiating a little, we decided it was best to just give him everything he asked for. Well, one of the owners didn’t like the price we were going to pay, and he tried to reason with the rest of us. Rather than following his common sense and pragmatism, we decided it was better that he just be booted from our group. Of course he disagreed. Since then, we have sued, counter sued, and appealed. All the while, our Ferrari has been vastly underutilized, and improvements since then have been few and far between. My group keeps saying that we have lots of money, and the will, for improvements, but the reality is that we are flat out broke. We really need some new tires and brakes, but we simply don’t have the money. Maybe if we just keeping lying about it people will eventually believe us. Organizationally, we decided that a committee would help us with some of our ownership issues. So, now we have a seven person committee to report to our group of owners. I’ll let you know how it goes….
By pmcl
January 23, 2008 6:26 AM | Link to this
This organization violates all theories of effective management which basically is the reason for the product being ineffective. Peter Drucker would have a field day with the Atlanta Spirit. The Thrashers are a true reflection of this from top to bottom. At the top you have no one overseeing what the heck Waddell is doing. On the bench, you have players not knowing who their boss is and what their role is. Is it Waddell or McCrimmon, the “Associate Coach” and what does one or the other think my role is on this team? Consequently, the players don’t have any true direction. The only fix for this, at this late juncture in the season, is to let McCrimmon be the coach, let Waddell be the GM and let one of the Spirit be the boss over the entire club. Management 101.
By Hotrod
January 23, 2008 6:52 AM | Link to this
If Head Coach really said he didn’t have an answer for the line change fiasco’s its because he can’t remember that far back to peewee hockey where the skill is learned.
I think its more of an apathetic attitude than anything.
I will hand it to the coach though, sitting #77 was the thing to do.We really need to spark this team with whatever it takes. This is a crucial junction in the season. Get 4 more from Chicago and tell the team you mean business!
The games where we came out of the box skating hard and fast on every inch of the ice , banging boards hard,and shooting the puck no matter what kind of shot it was always got us a good result.Lets get back to that. I know this team can do it.
By mike
January 23, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
I believe that there have to be some wholesale changes in Atlanta Spirit, LLC. Before this season there were questions of how long we could sign a player because of the problems with ownership. I can’t talk basketball. I am a huge fan of the Thrashers. I believe Mullin was trying to put the best foot forward on a horrible leaderhip situation. As for Don Waddell. Who else is out there with the experience? I believe this aciton will definitely stop Hossa from signing. Damn, too bad.
By JohnD
January 23, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
There are a lot of people here, with no actual knowledge of the management of the teams, referring to successful individuals in all types of unflattering ways.
Just what have any of you, Shultz included, ever done to warrant the right to be such jerks?
The Spirit group put up the money and took on the responsibility to acquire two teams that were woeful at the time. Do you believe Time Warner would have sold the teams at a lower than market price?
Apparently no other viable candidate stepped up to the purchase window.
The Spirit group dismissed two executives who had little or no effect on the teams’ performance. As noted here, the teams are having respectable years and in the Hawk’s case have a roster of young talent.
The Hawks and Thrashers were terrible and are now at least decent - give the owners and the teams a break.
Losers sit and complain while the winners take action. Right or wrong, only time will tell, the Spirit at least acted.
By Pete
January 23, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
If the Hawks come back completely out of the playoff picture.
I think they are going to fire Woodson and move up one of the assistants by mid-February.
Woodson blew that game against the Blazers. The bad timeout killing the fastbreak, poor play calling and not stressing to his team driving to the basket late in the game.
By Dumbing Down
January 23, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
Smart Guy’s analogy is 100% correct!
He forgot to mention about one guy being somewhat smarter than the rest and they all turned on him becuase he “bucked” their conventional wisdom (pun intended). Who is in charge? Everyone and no one! When they are doing well (rare event), you see the “owners” fawning over each other and “high fiving.” Losing and not doing well, they are “out and about.” Who needs this kind of “LEADERSHIP”? Owners need to be there when the chips are down. What a joke. I just cna’t catch the “Spirit” anymore. What a bunch of buffoons… ownership by committee… on the cheap. If they were a bank they would be declared insolvent, if they were the military, they would get everyone killed.
By Traci
January 23, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Does this mean wwe can finally — finally get rid of the HAWSKS Coach and the GM too!
How long are we going to be “rebuilding”? This has gone on way too long and the fans are asked to continue to be “patient”, while they put a substandard product on the floor every night.
We are asked to watch what is essentially a HIGH SCHOOL pick-up game and they call this the NBA.
The reason they call it the “Highlight factory”, is because that all it is - a bunch of people trying to make it on SPORTSCENTER. There are no fundementals of the game being played.
I laugh whenever I hear the Coach on the radio defending why he had the worst record in the NBA last year! And has consistently been at the bottom since he has been here. Most Coaches get fired if they don’t produce winners —- but not here in Atlanta - this Bozo get’s to keep his job……
Finally, can we get a NEW COACH — PLEASE?
By scribe
January 23, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
wow. they are dysfunctional… calling Dr. Phil…. we need an intervention
By Notre Don't
January 23, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
The Hawks have been a joke for some time now and this does not make things better. We haven’t had a franchise player in how many years??? Stan Kastin and Billy Knight have been the worst things for the Highlight Factory since Koncak’s contract. What a total cluster. I have other jobs for Billy Knight … here’s a top 10:
Hostess table at Cheesecake Factory … you wait 2 hours then he trades your table away for a wobbly bar stool.
New business investor … passes on “Crocs” and this stupid “IPod” thing. Feels pet rock is about to blow them out of the water.
Surgeon … is late for your surgery then scolds you for daring to ask why.
Anderson Cooper’s lover
Campaign Manager for Dennis Kucinich.
Spokesman for “Comming to America“‘s hair care product “Soul Glow”.
Get’s big break and will star as Abe Carter on the soap “Days of our Lives”
Hartsfield’s air traffic controler
Becomes arrogant, belittling, snide, petty jerk … oh, wait a minute
Frozen Lemonade vendor at Thrasher games!!!
PS: Notre Dame stinks.
By Robert
January 23, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
I do not know why Don Waddel has not looked at the situation in Washington. They hired a coach who had already worked with many of their players in the AHL and signed their Marquee player to a long term contract. Now I have showed Don Waddel how to be a general manager.
By Bob
January 23, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
I’m a hockey fan. I don’t follow the NBA closely at all, not even our own Hawks.
What I find interesting is hearing the same frustration from Hawks’ fans, that I feel as a Thrashers’ fan.
Hawks fans seem to be upset with their GM and coach. And from what I can tell, the Hawks GM is also incompetent (I know the Thrashers’ GM is).
So I only follow the incompetence up the ladder on the Thrashers’ side, but if the same thing is happening on the Hawks’ side, then we need to keep on going up the ladder and as Jeff points out, the incompetence is at the ownership level. They must find some way to fix this, because it’s broke.
But hey, at least the Spirit can sell out the Matchbox 20 show! Mabye the Spirit boys can find owners that know and love each sport to take over each franchise and they can stick with selling tickets to the Circus and Barry Manilow.
By Not Guilty
January 23, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
This guy bailed on two teams. Will you bash him like you did Petrino? Neither team has quit on him or embarassed the team and city by displaying a request to free a convicted felon on national TV and then laying an egg with minimal effort.
By think it through
January 23, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
For those of you blasting the GMs about the low grade of talent on both the Hawks and Thrashers, keep in mind that if the Spirit won’t open the purse strings and let him spend REAL money, he won’t actually be able to sign any REAL players.
Make no mistake, the Spirit are the problem here, and have been ever since the pathetic ownership dispute blocked the GMs from signing anyone to ANY kind of long-term deal. (Remember that? It was even a court order to prevent either side from “devaluing the franchise” during the legal battles.)
You want to win? You got to spend for grade-A players. Until the Spirit is willing to do this, my little brother could act as GM and it wouldn’t look any worse than the guys in the box right now.
By jason
January 23, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
What’s a sympton?
By Eileen
January 23, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Don Waddell needs to get those “sleepy” Thrashers out of bed this morning and have them skate hard for at least 40 minutes straight. The Tampa coach John T., did that the following day after the Lightning failed to “show up” for one too many games. Tonight, they need to eat dinner and be in their rooms by 8:00. Maybe they can get some much needed rest. It is time to treat these men like boys until they wake up and realize that the fans are sick of this nonsense!
By joebrave
January 23, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Bull$hit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By steve
January 23, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
We are 13-6 when AJ plays 26 or more minutes. All we need is a good pg.
Minor adjustments.
AJ isnt a good pg but he doesnt lose it for us. much like a system qb, like Dilfer with the Ravens. We can win with him. Let him run point for 30 minutes a night and let Acie play about 18 a night as our backup pg with our 2nd unit while he develops (And hopefully will be our good pg going forward)…. if he’s not the guy than we find our PG (Bibby? Calderon?)going forward ASAP that can go forward with our extremely talented and otherwise good young team and be contenders for years to come.
We just need minor adjustments to get 43 or so wins and lock up that playoff spot. We’re getting better by the day as the youngest team in our league with so much talent, a great young leader/franchise player in JJ with very good options in Smoove, Marvin, Horford inside, and Chillz off the bench. We just need some adjustments to get there, such as moving J-Smoove or Marv to our bench to spearhead our 2nd unit (Which would improve our 2nd unit and make it one of the best in the NBA) while putting a defender/rebounder/banger (Zaza, Lorenzen, Solo, nothing great just a Przybilla or Kendrick Perkins type)into our starting lineup at center and sliding Horford to the PF spot in our starting lineup.
We’ll be alright, we have a ton of talent. Once we get our good PG to go with our young and extremely talented team going forward we will be contenders for a long time. We have a very very bright future.
By steve
January 23, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
JohnD
The Hawks are mediocre with a slightly below average PG.
The Hawks would be a 50 win team with a good PG.
The Hawks suck without a PG.
The Hawks still dont have a PG.
WE NEED A POINT GUARD!
By Ilya k
January 23, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
I don’t know a thing about running a sports organization but I can tell you the Hawks and Thrash are 500 teams at best.
By JohnD
January 23, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
Steve @ 12:41
Well, you have stated the obvious.
The Hawks actually have a point on the roster who could help with a bit of coaching and experience - AC Law.
Anthony Johnson should be able to guide him, AJ has the mental side but at his age the physical skills are not what they once were.
The bigger question is along the lines of direction from the coaching staff. Why has Law been left to flounder without any apparent concern for the future? Because Woody is trying to keep his job? Most likely.
By the way, Steve Nash would not make this a 50 win team under the existing conditions. The team is too weak in the middle and at PF to win 50.
Now, add a true Center and move Al Horford to PF and a weakness becomes a strength,
By Josh
January 23, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
I will miss the ‘Breakfast with Bernie’ segment with Rude and Laurentina, on 680 The Fan. As a non-American, what I liked is Bernie brought his British experience and analogies — it made me understand our teams better. He was very approachable to the show’s listeners and he seemed to be a guy who genuinely loved sports. I recollect when he was asked questions on the owners and arbitration with the owner from Boston, he never ever lost his cool. He was aware of his personnel and seemed to be very “hands on”. I am very upset that he has been let go by the Spirit Group.
By Sage of Bluesland
January 23, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
To the idiot who asked, “What do I know about running a team?” (or silly words to that effect).
Here’s the bottom-line, smart guy: It’s MY MONEY they (the owners) crave…I am the CUSTOMER…
Stop putting the cart before the proverbial horse and get the economic picture very clear in your small mind…
I just wish more “fans” would stop subsidizing the incompetence going on with these two pitiful and embarrassing “teams”…
By jerry-chs06
January 24, 2008 12:23 AM | Link to this
all i can say is “they are who we thought they were” lol naw but if they trade josh childress,saalim, and shelden for jason kidd they will be much better. it looks like they are going to re sign either josh smith over josh childress so go ahead and make a good trade
By Brendan
January 24, 2008 1:29 AM | Link to this
Sage of Bluesland, the worst part of all of this, hockeywise … is that the Thrashers, exclusively under Don Waddell’s purview, have enjoyed not one, but two 1st overall selections, not one, but two 2nd overall selections, and not one, but two 8th overall selections, and one 10th overall and one 12th overall picks from which to build a “championship-caliber” roster.
Most GM’s would “salivate” at the prospect of #1, having such TIME to develop talent, without having their job threatened for not making the playoffs, and #2, having the OPPORTUNITY to completely mold, from the ground up, an expansion franchise, THROUGHT THE DRAFT.
Umm. Where are the Atlanta Thrashers today? The youngest, fastest, most SKILLED team in the National Hockey League, blazing through league like a hot knife through butter?
Well. Not exactly. They are the SECOND OLDEST team in the NHL. The best they can do is “flirt” with .500, and have still never won a playoff game, in seven completed seasons. I didn’t say, “haven’t won a playoff series.” I said, “haven’t won a playoff game.” Ladies and Gentlemen … how does this happen? It’s a combination of several instances of poor ownership installing “mediocre” to “poor” management and coaching. And it seems like the Atlanta Hawks aren’t much different. Wasn’t it 1999, when the Hawks last made the playoffs? The last Hawks division title was what? 1994? In hockey, the Thrashers are in a weak division where they could actually repeat as Champions, with a good amount of luck. That’s not something to trumpet, when you consider that it is well possible that the Southeast Division Champion might rank 9th in points where there are eight spots in the playoff field. Meaning? Yep. A team with MORE POINTS than the Southeast Division Champion could go home and WATCH the playoffs, rather than participate in them.
I wish someone would just win the lottery and buy out the Atlanta Spirit Group, and let them divvy up who gets what of the proceeds of the sale … later. David McDavid could have been a moron for all we know. But at least he’d have been an exclusive face to put on these franchises.
Imagine if someone other than Waddell and Knight had been making these draft picks for the past nine years. Both teams could be sitting atop their respective leagues.