Ice Man

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 4, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

Jerk

By Tom

December 4, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

Is it me or has the attitude of the Thrasher fans slowly turning from anger to apathy.

That is not a good sign for the franchise. If the ownership has any brains they will address the situation before people just stop caring.

I am not far away from that now.

By Don Waddell

December 4, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Ok, let me explain how I stay employed.

Brian Burke and I run this scam on the other GMs in the league at the winter meetings each season.

Brian bets all the other GMs I will stay employed by the Thrashers despite my absolute ineptitude. Each GM puts down a Franklin to join the party.

At the end each season, Burke collects the money and splits it with me. I take half of my money and give it to Levenson to buy drinks with and then explain to Bruce that everything is ok and the fans will buy my next set of excuses. Levenson takes the bait everytime.

And, there you have it, I still have a job despite being the worst GM in the history of the NHL.

By Stevo

December 4, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

Thanks you Rawhide for actually providing the statistics behind Don Waddell’s incompetency. I’m been saying he needed to go for a long time, now we just need the ASG to get their heads out of their butts and realize this. I am supporting the team through their horrible play, and plan to attend as many games as I can over the Christmas holidays, but I don’t know if I can support this team through another firesale trade, especially if it involves Kovy. You can only support a loser for so long before things need to change.

By Rockem Sockem Thrasher

December 4, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

I don’t know if this has been posted over here.

Kovy was interviewed by TSN.CA and was quoted as saying he DOESN’T want to be traded, he started his career here and wants to end it in ATlanta.

Here’s the link Kovy on trade talks

I hope that he stays along with Coach Anderson.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 4, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

Rockem Sockem Thrasher — Thanks for the link. It’s not the first time he’s said to the media that he doesn’t want to be traded, think about being traded, etc. He’s proving of late that he knows how to properly speak to the media, so as not to upset his bosses and teammates.

I don’t believe he’s the type of person that would say the opposite of how he feels. I think he’s the type of person to say nothing instead of say something negative, so I believe he is sincere when saying he’d like to succeed in Atlanta.

His November interview with the Russian newspaper, however, showed he’s at least cognizant of the expiration of his contract and the position this team is in currently, and will likely be in next season. I would say he’s aware of the exit, but I don’t believe he’s eying it enviously.

By Rawhide

December 4, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

RST - Thanks for the link! I hope he and JA are in Atlanta for years to come as well.

Stevo - Your welcome…just doin’ my job.

Ranallo - Did you not get Trixie’s e-mail memo about the posting of a new blog?

By TableHockey

December 4, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

Wow - this team kills me. I would hate to be in JA’s shoes. My friend and fellow fan referred to them as emotionally fragile. When they get going they roll but when they get down they tend to stay down.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 4, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

RH — I think Trixie was more interested in the “benefits package” from her current employer than in my well being. How many vacation days does she get annually??

By sape

December 4, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

Are we going to right direction? Maybe you could ask it from the ASG.

In my opinion time to let DW go for the new challenges and new teams to build up.

And also X. What he was thinking about last night, 3 goals just because of his errors. 2 of those after a terrible mistake in 1on1 situation. In first year of hockey school players will learn that don’t rush to puck in this situation or you will be passed my easily. Time to let him go as well. But I am afraid that in case he will be moved to Chicago he will dropped to ECHL or even lower after first or second reherseal. But hey, then people can see him at Gwinnett Arena.

By five_hole

December 4, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

Apparently, R. Stroz was in Ottawa last night. I don’t think this guy fell.; obviously R. Stroz pushed him, thinking it was Don Waddell.

I think we should all chip in and get R. Stroz glasses, should he get a chance at a second attempt.

By Russ

December 4, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

Is it me or has the attitude of the Thrasher fans slowly turning from anger to apathy.

Tom - I think you hit the nail on the head with a lot of fans (or former fans). I wouldn’t say I’m completely apathetic, but certainly less enthusiastic about following this team. I don’t post on these blogs nearly as much as I used to. Also, in the past when I watched the games I was completely focused on the game and didn’t want any distractions. Now, I find myself doing laundry, making supper, helping kids with homework, etc. in the middle of the game. I have been a fan from day one of this franchise and will continue to be, but ownership’s complete lack of commitment and management’s ineptness make it hard to be too excited about the present or future. Sometimes I wish I was like some of the eternal optimists that actually predicted this team could compete for a playoff spot this season because I really don’t like being so down on my team, but I also don’t like to defy all logic that points to virtually no proven NHL talent on the roster. I could also deal with this crappy team a lot better if I thought the future looked bright. Unfortunately, when you have an ownership group that is willing to stick with a GM who has produced as many playoff victories in franchise history as I have it is difficult to think things are going to change any time soon…very frustrating.

By Get The Puck Out

December 4, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

Defense, defense, defense. SOG is horrible and Ottowa is near the bottom in the standings. It’s not fair to the goalies and it’s not fair to put the offense under the gun because of the poor defense. If your always on defense how you gonna score? Something’s gotta give. I feel like i’m under pressure just trying to be a Thrashers fan, dadgum it!

By Brendan

December 4, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

“Oh-ho say can you seeee … that the pucks go in … by threee (and sometimes four), by the goal lamp’s dim light. What so proudly we saiiiiled (into the loss column, yet again,) by the GM’s last gleam-ming.”

I can tell you this. The Atlanta Thrashers would DESTROY the American Hockey League. I’m talking … more than 50 wins in the AHL. Maybe 60. Kovalchuk, alone, would score a 100 goals. But Don Waddell’s vision never really seems to leave that of a “minor league” mindset. Granted, he’s not really equipped with the resources to do anything about it. But it’s time to see what some OTHER GM can do with a budgets $10+ million under the cap.

By Lew318

December 4, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

When the players no longer believe in themselves and they play with no confidence you see the results. Other than the 13 minutes we skated against Montreal, this team is phoning it in. I believe little of this is Anderson’s fault, because at times, when the guys really skate, you can see his system working.

With the confidence level as it is the guys are reverting back and playing there own individual styles, the result is obvious.

Management won’t spend money to make money, there is no commitment to win and the GM has brought in group of players with medium skill level, except for one or two players. Niether Waddell nor Levinson demonstrate having any pride. This is a disgraceful situation!!!

By Nikita

December 4, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

On last night’s game: Well, at least there was fighting. And who would’ve guessed Jimmy Slater would be so good at it, or at enforcing? Really, it was pretty much a banner night for the 4th line, but not for anyone else.

Good: 1. Eric Boulton. I hereby rescind my comments about hitting broad sides of barns. That was a lovely touch pass, and a good, solid shot on. 2. The aforementioned Jimmy Slater.
3. Pavelec was pretty good. Not great. I’m still a little concerned about his form, but that can be improved.

Bad: 1. Obvious discontent/simmering rage from Kovalchuk and Hainsey. It’s never really good when one of your lead guys puts his head in his hands in the middle of the game. Last night, as far as I am concerned, was a repeat of Philly.
2. As I mentioned, it’s gonna take Thorburn time to adjust. Last night he played more on the goonish side than the skilled side — he did reasonably well, but took a stupid penalty, and ended up alternating with Colby Armstrong. 3. Garnet Exelby. Quel surprise.

I am also leaning toward apathy. Which pains me, as I’m fairly hardcore and can’t handle being in a relationship with a team that upsets me. Seriously, last night I was throwing things at the television. It was not good.

But…I continue to maintain that the team could be competitive with relatively minor changes and a trade or two. Which brings me to the ownership situation — I’m beginning to suspect that the plan is to sandbag this season, pick up Tavares, and then pour on the money to make a legitimate run at the cup during Kovalchuk’s contract year. The question for me, then, is what kind of shame do the owners have? Do they have enough to correct any of the situation this year, or are they content to see the team at the bottom of the standings all season?

By Bob

December 4, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Is it me or has the attitude of the Thrasher fans slowly turning from anger to apathy

yep, that has been the pattern for years. First few years, my section was full of rabid fans, we’d go early and stay late and plan our days around the games. Each year some would point at Waddell and say “this guy can’t build a club” and drop out, and we’d see them for a few games the next year, one game the following year, then to never see them again. I was one of the Last of the Mohicans in my section, and I finally had enough last year, and apathy has already hit me. I turned the game off halfway through the 1st disgusted with the performance as I knew where that game was leading and did some work on my computer and hit the sack early.

Unfortunately, when you have an ownership group that is willing to stick with a GM who has produced as many playoff victories in franchise history as I have it is difficult to think things are going to change any time soon…very frustrating

Keep the faith. It’s the one light at the end of this tunnel for we fans of the club. The ownership will finally have to wake up and get rid of him, the mass exodus of season tix holders and all the empty seats this year will force the owners to make the one move that will save this club.

Nothing meaninful will change here until meaningful changes are made and a real GM is brought in

By Thrashy Thrashy

December 4, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Rawhide,

It’s Braydon “Coburn,” not “Cobourn.” Might as well spell his name correctly. We sure could use him.

By zack

December 4, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

Who is going to start a petition to be sent to the Atlanta Spirit to FIRE WADDELL? It should have been done years ago before we ever even made the playoffs but its more apparent now then ever. FIRE DON WADDELL!!!! We’ve all said it a million times but FIRE DON WADDELL!!!

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 4, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

zack — There’s already a website for it, feel free to be one of the couple thousand to have signed it. It’s been around for at least two seasons, to my knowledge…surprisingly enough nothing has happened yet.

By R. Stroz

December 4, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

Brendan - Nashville has been in the playoffs year after year with a lousy budget.

It’s the EFFING GM that is screwing up this team and the idiot drunk (Levenson) who doesn’t care because he is really a Crapitals fan.

By PuckedUp

December 4, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

Nice blog. Good to know I won’t have to read anything from Hokie about how DW has done such a wonderful job and none of this is his fault.

By Brendan

December 4, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

R.Stroz, that’s David Poile for ya. He’s a magician on a pauper’s budget. I think he’s gotten the Preds into the playoffs for four straight years. And if I recall correctly, his Predators team owns four (4) playoff wins against the mighty Red Wings.

I do suspect there is a genuine crisis of faith out there. And I’m not talking about teleevangelism.

By LAC

December 4, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

And when I ask mike kobler, all he can do is defend his buddy custance… They both seem like tools of ASG !

They do NOT have the GUTS to ask waddell is he will RESIGN !

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 4, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Stroz — I think Poille’s success is proof that it can be done, but it’s also evidence of his proper placement compared to the other GMs in the league.

One cannot expect every GM of a perennially low payroll team to succeed as Poille has.

LA and Toronto don’t seem to be doing too well on a shoe-string budget. Phoenix has been churning out mid round picks with their limited success, but have also yet to do much with a constantly low payroll compared to the league. Each of those teams have some talent in their pipeline, and on their roster currently, but are their teams the envy of the league? Do you feel they’ll be challenging for a playoff berth, or more importantly winning a playoff series anytime soon?

At this point in the season, the bottom 8 teams salary wise are: CLB, VAN, NYI, TOR, ATL, PHX, NAS, LA.

If the season ended today, two of those eight would be in the playoffs (Vancouver and Nashville)…or 25% of them.

It takes a talented GM to overcome financial obstacles…Poille is a very talented GM. Not all of his contemporaries on bottom payroll teams are.

Of the 8 teams I mentioned, how many of them are you envious of their roster? How many are you envious of the state of their franchise?

By dhj_1962

December 4, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

opie sucked, defense sucked, GM sucks.

By Russ

December 4, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

LAC - Let me answer for DW…no, he is not going to resign. There, are you satisfied now? Believe me, I want DW gone as much as anybody, but there is no way a beat writer is going to ask that question.

Ranallo - Of the teams you mentioned, I would say Atlanta is on par with Columbus and N.Y. Islanders at the bottom of the barrel. All the rest are closer to being competitive IMO.

By Brendan

December 4, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

LAC, Russ is right. That question cannot be asked by a reporter, or especially a beat writer. The GM is the source of information for the team to the newspaper. And what can Waddell possibly say? He’s not going to resign. If he were fed up, he would have left by now. But he’s got a good stream of money coming in. Moreover, he genuinely believes he can right this ship. He wants another opportunity. He thinks he’ll take this lottery pick, tie it to Bogosian, Little, Pavelec, Lehtonen, Slater, Sterling, Oystrick, Enstrom, Valabik, Grant Lewis, Colin Stuart and Jordan LaVallee, to make a playoff team. He believes that will work. And really, he has no other options.

By THE FISH

December 4, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

It’s a symbiotic combination of apathy and anger. In any event it has led me to the conclusion that this is my last year as a season ticket holder, even if they are the best seats in the house (sec115 with two seats straddling the red line). I will take my 9G that I stupidly spendt on Thrasher tix this year, and next year, me and my buddies are going to do a hockey road trip. We’ll start with a game in Detroit, then off to Toronto, Buffalo, Ottawa and end in Montreal. I’m willing to bet that those five games will be far more entertaining than the current pathetic show in Phillips. The Atlanta Spirit is the most incompetent ownership of a major sports team in history. Don Waddell….you know the rest.

By Jason

December 4, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

LAC, someone needs to provide us with the emails and contact info of the entire ownership group, and as many of us as possible professionally ask them ourselves over and over about Waddell. I agree with you, but Knobes isn’t the one to deliver the message.

I’m a former season ticket holder myself, as many of you are too(current and past). The dedicated fans of this team know it’s all about Waddell being the primary cancer of this team, not the current coach or the “Greek Gods” line.

By Nikita

December 4, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Misc. thoughts:

1. I’m not sure Don Waddell is the cancer of the team. I think he’s done well in the last few transactions. Also, I doubt Don Waddell is the one who determines what can be spent and on whom. IMO, the Spirit has only three members who understand and care about hockey, and none of them understand big league hockey.

2. Speaking of which, something occurred to me about the Spirit — they have money issues well beyond the players’ salaries, some of which will be alleviated with the passage of time. It’s possible they’re just trying to weather the year and cannot or will not produce any more money.

3. Mark Bradley’s blog advocates for trading Kovy, but I don’t buy the argument.I would love to trade Kovy if a. I trusted the ASG to trade wisely in a way that would allow the team to transition to John Anderson’s system or Atlanta to support such a system. or b. we had to. But I don’t think either is the case, and I think if we trade Kovy we will see fewer tickets sold and a totally blown ‘08-09 season.

4. The Augusta Lynx suspended operations. &^%$!

5. I want to know what caused the meltdown last night. I get that the players are upset, but they’re the players — it’s in their hands to change it. And they are perfectly qualified to beat Ottawa.

By Nikita

December 4, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

Oh, you know what else I think is fundamentally broke about the Thrashers as a team? The us-against-them mentality of the franchise. You know, Toronto has a million fans despite being horrible for 30 years. The Falcons have a certain dedication among their fans, despite a win record that for the first 20 years was dismal. Ditto the Bravos. Hell, I’m fond of minor league and college teams myself — I don’t really care if they win, though it hurts when they don’t.

But…a basic difference between the Thrash and those teams is that their ownership has always treated the fans as though they are essential to the team’s success. Tickets are relatively affordable, especially when times are tough. There is a certain amount of attention to culture and tradition and the grandness of the whole enterprise. The arena stays relatively full, fans feel involved in the team’s success, and the team feels supported. But not here. Because the fans are consumers, not teammates.

I spent $200 to take 4 people to the CBJ game, which I considered a worthwhile investment in creating new fans. But the place was empty. The people next to me were on comp tickets, which they had gotten because apparently they know the right people. The players were petulant — Kovy was booed for acting like a drama queen. We lost to a team that is roughly half as skilled as we are. It sucked.

But, you know, the first minor league game I ever saw was the Lynx against the now-renamed-and-moved Mobile Mysticks. It was wonderful. The arena was about 2/3rds full, and there were hand-painted signs. People were screaming like crazy, and the energy was awesome. I loved it. There was a giant cheer for the Zamboni driver. Rarely do I have an experience like that with the Thrashers. Mainly because I feel that no one cares if I go to their games or not, as long as I pay 2-3 times what I could pay for most other forms of entertainment for a ticket.

Seriously, I love the Thrash, but my husband and I have always supported teams like the Ice Dogs and the Lynx and now we’re trying to figure out where we can go where someone will actually want fans rather than underwriters. (We have tickets to three Preds games. For starters.)

By Thrasher_Ed

December 4, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

Maybe Bradley has a point for once in his life. But considering who is in charge of the trades in Atlanta, I’d rather keep him until Waddell gets axed. If you traded Kovy out West you would only face him once a Year! Maybe you could even package him and Lehtonen to Los Angeles for some decent young talent. Throw out some names folks, what teams do you deal with?

By Nikita

December 4, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

P.S. Did you guys notice the common denominator in last night’s goals against? Trivia question — what defensive player was on the ice for EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE FIVE GOALS SCORED BY OTTAWA LAST NIGHT?

By Rawhide

December 4, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

what defensive player was on the ice for EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE FIVE GOALS SCORED BY OTTAWA LAST NIGHT?

Garnet Exelby… a.k.a Ron Burgundy.

What do I win?

By R. Stroz

December 4, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

Nikita - Exelby

By Rawhide

December 4, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

HA! - Beat ya Stroz!

By Alan

December 4, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Nikita - Exelby.

By Sara

December 4, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Ummm Nikita Gwinnett?? It’s a lot closer than Nashville.

Bob while we can’t fire the owners (don’t I wish), firing Waddell will accomplish little to nothing if they don’t change their mentality. If the budget every year is going to be sitting around the cap floor, how are we going to be able to take those high-priced players off the over-spent teams’ hands? How can we retain any drafted talent beyond the first couple contracts (if that long)?

The fact that Waddell has not been fired means only one thing - he is doing exactly what his bosses want him to be doing (or not doing). Which raises two issues. One - how can you really blame Waddell at that point if odds are good he’s not really making all the decisions and two - what makes you think the next guy won’t have to tow the exact same line Waddell has to? Which means be cheap as crap, make do with whatever you can find lying around the League extra, and oh while you are at it, put on the happy face for all the fans and give ‘em a dog and pony show…see it’s easy - let Bruce show you how it’s done.

See?? POINTLESS!!! About the only hope this team has is either some Christmas Miracle epiphany for the owners or Bettman finally gets fed up with the Six Yahoos making his non-traditional market expansion idea look bad and decides to do something about it (which is about as likely to happen as the first thing).

By R. Stroz

December 4, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

Rawhide - You cheated, you changed your entry time. I just know it.

By dhj_1962

December 4, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

who ever guessed exlb first gets to take him home and beat him with a hockey stick…ps…don’t bring him back

By Bob

December 4, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

Sara, busy day at work, but trust me, it’s not pointless. A good GM can work miracles, and the Cap is coming down next year, I guarantee that.

But, you know, the first minor league game I ever saw was the Lynx against the now-renamed-and-moved Mobile Mysticks. It was wonderful. The arena was about 2/3rds full, and there were hand-painted signs. People were screaming like crazy, and the energy was awesome. I loved it

You know what, I feel the same way. The only times I felt that buzz at Thrash games was the first year, and then our playoff “run”.

The most fun I had at games in Atlanta was at Knights’ games. Now I am not one to yell Knights and whatever, but I had a hell of a good time at those games, every time I went. A great time, and for like $15 per game for great seats. I knew everyone, we won games, LiPuma kicked a*, Jason Ruff and Drulia were a ball to watch. Those guys were fun to root for. And the place usually was only 1/2 full, but it was a blast. Gwinnett just doesn’t do it for me, ECHL talent just sucks too much, an AHL team like the Wolves would be great to have though, watch the young guys like Little move up through the ranks. Lots o’ brawling, good times.

By bart

December 4, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

Sara you are right it is all about the ownership. It doesn’t seem like they want to make the hockey team a success. If they do get rid of Waddell who would want to take his job and operate under the same rules as Don?? The question is; will we get new owners who will keep the team here or will the team fold or move and we are without the NHL again?

By Nikita

December 4, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Sorry, Rawhide. With this management you get bubkes. But I will now incorporate your name into my upcoming toga costume. Along with my “Boulton 4-Eva” tattoo.

dhj, I have a friend who’d like to take XLB home and do other things with him. But, um, if we had her do that then maybe he’d be too busy with the ladies to actually show up on the ice. We can dream, right?

You know, I do get that JA is stuck with X on the roster. But why does he have to play him so much? It drives me insane seeing essentially competent players playing 6 and 8 minutes, while the guy with the career -20 plays more than average shifts.

By Bob

December 4, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this

I’ll keep saying it until some of you get it, but the Spirit owners spent max cap the first two years they owned the team … and Waddell still didn’t get the job done. Waddell’s had three different owners to work for, he’s been given max cap to work with (spent the most of any club in this league for 2 consecutive years) and got nowhere!

The answer is right in front of you, the General Manager manages the team. The owners only set the budget, a budget that other clubs also have, and they succeed, we don’t.

By Sara

December 4, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this

Bob you and I will go round and round about the $$ thing til the day we die. Here, since you don’t like listening to me repeat it ad nauseum.

This club has NOT operated with the “same budget” as everyone else. And two seasons of “max cap” is meaningless if they aren’t willing to sustain it. Going from first to worst is as unimpressive in a budget as it is in the standings. You get what you pay for right?

By R. Stroz

December 4, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Sara - Even though the owners are part of the problem, the only way to send a message to the players and their agents that the owners realize there is a problem is to fire Waddell.

Leaving Waddell as GM tells everyone the owners are too stupid to even acknowledge that there is a problem.

Firing Waddell is the first step to changing the perception of the franchise in the eyes of players and their agents.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 4, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

Using that argument is like saying “Waddell composed a team that won their division!”.

Whoopde-fricking-doo. How many years ago was that?

Nobody is saying Waddell is a miracle worker who simply needs more money and more chances to succeed. People are simply saying that unless you get a top rung GM with a proven ability to succeed despite budget and market handicaps (Poille, basically), the same thing is bound to happen due to the situation at hand.

They spent to the max. The GM didn’t succeed despite having the budget to theoretically do so. Instead of firing the GM who couldn’t use the money wisely (you know, the logical thing to do), the owners cut his budget and re-signed him to a new contract.

If they were so worried about wasting money, wouldn’t it be wiser to simply fire the GM than to continue his employment with a lessened budget?

Perhaps…just perhaps…the ownership group is happy with the results he has brought to their franchise thus far. Perhaps it wont matter how much anybody dislikes his management style, because the owners like what he brings to the plate as their GM.

By Tom

December 4, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this

So let me play Devil’s advocate for a minute.

We fire Waddell, who will want to be a GM for a group of owners so dysfunctional as ours? Man, I want him gone, but to be honest I would have a hard time accepting his job with the boys that own our team.

Who knows, maybe the ownership team want him gone but when they call potential replacements they hear laughing and then the phone goes dead.

This is the root of the problem and my increasing apathy, our franchise that we care so much about is royally screwed from top to bottom.

It is too bad I live on the south side of town, otherwise I would be at a lot more Gladiator games…

By Hockey Biltong

December 4, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

There should be a penalty for crying in my beer as much as I did last night.

By Bob

December 4, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

This club has NOT operated with the “same budget” as everyone else

I didn’t say same as everyone else.

First, they spent max cap for 2 years, which means they spent as much as any other club spent, some clubs spent less, but no one spent more. But no real success was had by Waddell.

Then, they dropped the budget to a low one, not one that every other club had but one that other clubs work with, and other clubs do better with a low budget.

So, given max cap, Waddell fails against other GMs.

Given low cap, Waddell fails against other GMs.

This is some math here, so hold onto your skirt: Waddell fails + Waddell fails = Waddell fails

By bulldog52

December 4, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

Is it time to ask coach anderson what is his system for winning? It appears that he is as confused as his players as what to do to win games. Don Waddel is not coaching so don’t lay the whole blame on him.

By dhj_1962

December 4, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

nikita, your friend needs help if she wants to spend time with a loser. but then again, i’d like to have an evening with Brittney Spears, who cares if she’s an airhead. lets just hope, if we ever get a chance with them, condoms are used.

By Bob

December 4, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this

condoms are used

Could I recommend a fully body latex suit during said encounter followed by a trip over to the CDC for a complete full body scrub down?

By Alan

December 4, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this

Is it time to ask coach anderson what is his system for winning?

It’s funny that people are already talking about coaching being a problem. Listen, folks, because I’m going to make it really easy for you…

When you take a coach - no matter how good or how bad - and put him in charge of players that may or may not be ready to play, give 110%, or just plain suck… the on-ice product is not going to improve. We would look just as good under another year of Waddell as coach as we look now. It really doesn’t matter who coaches this lot, we’re just not dressed for success.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

By R. Stroz

December 4, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

Could I recommend a fully body latex suit during said encounter followed by a trip over to the CDC for a complete full body scrub down?

I would suggest a haz-mat suit.

By Russ

December 4, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

While I agree that the ASG is a disaster of an ownership group, I couldn’t disagree more that the Thrashers can’t be competitive on a shoestring budget. Granted, winning the cup would be tough, but consitently battling for a playoff spot and occasionally even advancing beyond the first round shouldn’t be out of the question IMO. As has been pointed out, Nashville has been a consistent playoff participant with a similar budget as Atlanta. To take it one step further, if you think DW has it tough, look at major league baseball…no salary cap. The big market teams spend what, 8…10 times as much as the small market teams. Yet teams like Minnesota and Oakland are consistenly competitive and if half the teams in baseball made the playoffs (like in hockey) they would be there almost every year with the odds stacked against them significantly more than they are stacked against the Thrashers. Bottom line…DW sucks, he is absolutely awful at his job, I don’t understand how some can still argue against this.

By The Joker

December 4, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this

So at what point will the collective frustration with the Thrashers boil over?

At what point, if at all, would everyone condone posting Waddell and Levenson’s address and phone number?

BTW, both knuckleheads have their information on the white pages if you know what city to look under.

If the Thrashers don’t have 10 wins under their belts by 12/31/08, I’m posting both.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

By Nikita

December 4, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

For the Ex? Come on, he’s not that bad. He’s at least bright enough to trick the Thrash into paying him despite dismal returns for, what, 5 years now? Besides which, my friend doesn’t care about hockey. She cares about…other things.

Thinking about the PK…have we tried putting Williams on it?

By Jim

December 4, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this

Good column Rawhide. Someone said that anger has turned to apathy- not quite yet. But the odds of our getting the No 1. pick in next year’s draft are excellent. We definetly need a new GM prior to that time to make sure that we don’t end up with another Patrick Stefan. Is there a more inept, bonehead D-Man in the NHL that Exelby. The guy is a joke. Where is Roman Ndur when we need him most?

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 4, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this

Russ — I think you’re missing the point with those teams. For the most part, when a team succeeds despite having the odds stacked against them, their leadership is praised.

Billy Beane (Oakland’s GM) is considered one of the better GMs in the league. He employs a philosophy called “moneyball” which emphasizes production at the best value possible. His revolutionary style of management has earned him praise league wide. He’s even written a book about it.

All of this praise is because he’s in a market shared by another team, has salary restrictions, but has persevered despite those limitations. He’s not considered the best GM in the MLB, but he’s near the top.

Likewise, Poille is considered a good GM because he’s lead the Predators to successful seasons despite being in a city that can’t monetarily support the team, has horrendous ownership issues, and payrolls below the league average annually. Because of his success with those handicaps, he’s considered one of the best GMs in the league.

Nobody is arguing Waddell’s place amongst the other GMs. We’re arguing that it’s wishing for diamonds when handed a piece of crap. Sure, it’s possible you find that diamond in the roughage and identify the next Beane or Poille, but more often than not you’ll be stuck with another average GM leading a team that is at a disadvantage compared to the average team in the NHL.

That’s a recipe for failure.

I’m not a believer that good GMs fall out of trees. I don’t consider this ownership group competent enough to be able to identify such a talent before the rest of the world has. Therefore I don’t believe it’s going to happen that the ASG can continue running things the way they do and expect different results.

By The Joker

December 4, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this

Ever wonder how the Thrashers report ticket sales numbers that don’t match the visible attendence?

Read and Weep

Donation Packages Are Available! Call 1-866-715-1500

Category/Donation Amount Number of Tickets Purchaser will Receive

Rookie Package - $375 Investment

25 seats in the upper bowl plus 2 lower level bowl seats for a Hawks or Thrashers game.

Starting Line-Up - $750 Investment

50 seats in the upper bowl plus 4 seats in the First Horizon Club.

All-Star Package - $1500 Investment

100 seats in the upper bowl plus 2 seats in the first 3 rows from the ice and an Autographed Hockey Puck.

MVP Package - $2250 Investment

150 seats in the upper bowl plus 4 seats in the first 3 rows from the ice and an Autographed Hockey Stick.

Do you get the idea?

Now what’s worse is when you walk up to the box office to buy the cheap tickets at game time, you are told the cheap seats are not available and you are forced to buy higher pricesd seats.

Isn’t that right Rawhide.

The ASG at work. Now the ASG has found a way to screw the average fan, not just the season ticket holders.

By R. Stroz

December 4, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this

Buzzeng - I enjoyed meeting you at the Thrashers game last week. Hopefully, you can slip down for another game before the end of the season.

Sara - I wasn’t sure if that was you at the Preds game. I’m used to you wearing that snot filled Dead-Wings jersey.

By Sara

December 4, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this

Stroz that shirt got a bath thank you very much. And considering I’ve worn Wings paraphenalia in Philips Arena all of twice in nearly 10 years - once this pre-season and the Saturday of the Skills Competition - I don’t even want to hear it. :P

Tom somebody would take the job. It would likely be someone desperate to get their foot in the door in the NHL, someone desperate for a second chance in the NHL, or someone who just really really likes a challenge. Look at the coaching search this summer as a prime example. The main candidates were AHL coaches, assistant coaches, has-beens…the theoretical top prospect - Todd McClellan - wouldn’t even give the Thrashers the time of day. He headed straight for the primo organization in San Jose. Same thing would apply to the GM position. The best candidates wouldn’t touch this organization with a ten-foot hockey stick. But it isn’t like Atlanta is the first team to have difficult owners and all the other teams managed to find people to take on the GM position. So could Atlanta Spirit.

Russ it’s not that difficult to argue the point because there’s just as much evidence that everything Waddell has done hasn’t been bad either. And unless you can prove with 100% certainty that he has had every available opportunity and botched it all by himself, putting all the blame on him is disingenuous as well. Sure he’s made some bone-headed moves (or non-moves). But do you know with certainty the Coburn-Zhitnik trade was solely his doing? Do you know with certainty the owners didn’t tell him to pull the trigger even over his own discomfort? (And before you just dismiss that out of hand think back on what started the break between Belkin and the other owners.) Maybe Waddell did do it all on his own. But remember too when Bernie Mullin left - and he is someone well-respected in all of professional sports - he didn’t point fingers down but pointed them up. There has been more going on in that organization than will ever be known, unless someone breaks tradition and opens their mouth anyway. I don’t believe in throwing someone under the bus and essentially assassinating his character when all the facts aren’t known.

I’m not arguing Waddell is the best GM ever. But he isn’t the worst either - he’s simply average. The facts on drafting bear that out. His trades have born that out. The only truly bad ones were the year of the play-off push. He’s made some that were very good. Most have been average players for average players (which kind of tends to happen when all you have is average players). Spending “max cap” two seasons out of eight doesn’t change the fact that for many years his budget was in the lower $20 millions and he couldn’t pay the top free agents the $4-$6M they were fetching on the market at the time. Not to mention how many top players want to come to an expansion franchise anyway? They don’t. They want to win and that doesn’t happen in the first few years of a team’s existence. That’s the handicap any GM would have to work with. Yet Waddell of course gets crucified for those early years just as much as the more recent ones. And max cap three or four years ago means diddly-squat when our payroll barely cleared the cap floor this season. That won’t buy more top-line players. It just won’t. And all signs are pointing to the Yahoos’ running out of capital to support the teams. One owner is already admittedly flat out of cash. Who knows if Belkin even puts in a blessed dime anymore. It may not be by choice that the owners aren’t spending, but they aren’t really spending nonetheless. And when you are in a non-traditional market that has yet to historically prove it’s competitiveness, it’s going to take a lot of cash to convince top players to come here and/or stay here until on-ice success makes the argument for you. That’s asking a lot of any GM to overcome. So simply changing the GM accomplishes nothing unless the environment in which he must work here also changes. Stroz I believe made the point that at least changing the GM would send a message to the fans and other players and agents around the league that the owners want to head in a new direction. But it is not really that simple. The Thrashers are going to have to prove themselves on the ice and via smaller moves that they are truly headed in the right direction. It is unfortunately the great catch-22. You need good players to win but until you start winning the good players won’t come. The way around that is to force good players in here via drafting and trades. Frankly we’ve already gotten a lot of good players via drafting. Trading might not be so easy because it will mean trading some of those good players - at this point either a goalie (good luck) or a d-man, since that is where we have the most depth. We only have two really good forwards in Kovy and Little (Slava at his age isn’t exactly prime trade-bait). And even then with the trading, it’s still a matter of paying for better players and we come right back around to the whole payroll mess.

The fact is that it’s a major mess - and I’ll admit I didn’t expect it to be this bad this season - but then I didn’t expect the players to essentially quit right off the bat this season either. But the only ones who can change this mess are the owners and it will take much more than a name change on the door of the GM’s office to turn this team around.

And pointing to Poile’s “success” in Nashville is a bit on the disingenuous side as well. While I greatly admire what he has done there and while it is technically better than what we have here, I don’t want a team that can’t get past the first round of the play-offs any more than I want a team that can’t get there period. Sure it looks great now compared to what we have but go talk to Nashville fans and see how content they are with constant first-round exits. Heck, Wings fans gripe about first-round exits and at least the Wings actually win The Cup every few years. So settling for a slightly up-graded version of mediocrity doesn’t really cut the mustard either.

By Tom

December 4, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this

I guess I did not make my point very well Sara

You nailed the problem on the head. Sure some one will take the job, someone will always take a job like this. But the people we want to come in and take the GM job will NEVER take the Atlanta job.

They know that they will be working with one hand tied behind their back. It is when ownership commits to quality and gives management the free reign to be successful that we can start having a chance for the team to excel.

Ugh, I am going to bed. I am worn out…

By Rawhide

December 4, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this

Whoa-whoa-WHOA…. I step away for a few hours to attend a stage reading at KSU with my oldest tax exemption, and I come back to Nikita hooking XLB up with girlfriends….dhj_1962 & Stroz going off about Britney Spears and condoms, body latex and haz-mat suits….

Godalmighty!

I just know I’m gonna get V-Chipped here?

By Russ

December 4, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this

Sara - Over the last 4-5 years, where would you rate Nashville vs. Atlanta for overall on ice perfomance? I would probably put Nashville around #12 and would only rank the Thrashers ahead of Columbus. I would say that is a little more than “slightly upgraded mediocrity” and would take it in a heartbeat if we could get a GM like Poile. My guess is a lot of people around here would. At least if you get to the playoffs you have a shot at the cup even if it is a minimal one. As Ranallo pointed out there would be a good chance a new GM would only be average (which is far better than DW IMO, but anyway), so does that mean we might as well not even give it a shot and hope we get lucky and land a great GM? We’ve seen the results of the combination of the ASG and DW and have been completely underwhelmed and since the ASG isn’t going anywhere the only logical possibility of improvement is to try someone else in the GM position. I’m still at a loss of what some people think we would have to lose by replacing DW…our stranglehold as #29 in the NHL over the Blue Jackets I guess??? I know that’s a pretty lofty perch to risk falling from, but I like to live on the edge.

By Jason

December 4, 2008 11:55 PM | Link to this

Rawhide, I posted this on Knobler’s blog too. Hope you don’t mind. Just trying to turn some frustration into a useful tool for anyone that’s interested.

For all who are growing increasingly tired and frustrated with the DW show, here is a link to three of the ASG owners companies, UCG. Bruce Levenson, Ed Peskowitz, and Todd Foreman appear to still be involved on daily operations at UCG(as far as I can tell). There are a few different news releases that might irritate you, interest you, and cause you to chulkle when comparing that company to the Thrashers front office. The second to last news release from a Tim Tucker AJC article in April 2004 paints an optimistic outlook on buying the teams and rights to Phillips Arena, and these three guys sounding so excited. Not sure how pumped they are these days regarding the Thrashers.

Looks like to email anyone there, it’s just first initial and last name @ucg.com. If that doesn’t work, get creative with you frustrations and call them direct or something.

This is at least an attempt for everyone on these blogs to turn away from venting to each other for a moment, and try to directly ask some of the owners about DW and the franchise, just in case they don’t know how the majority fanbase really feels about the current state of the GM and other related items.

If these emails even work, I would think the only ones read and responded to, if any, by the owners, will be the respectful ones. You can still be angry as hell, but present it in a diplamatic tone.

Let us know if anyone gets a response(LAC, Sage Of Bluesland, and so on…). I will do the same.

http://www.ucg.com/DisplayPage.aspx#1

By Brendan

December 5, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this

Russ, my solution isn’t anything to write home about. It’s a bandaid one. And it goes like this. Unable to find a suitable GM of high pedigree, I offer up Kevin Chevaldayoff, GM of the Chicago Wolves.

The benefits? Well, I hardly think Kevin would instantly fire John Anderson. Which is something a different GM might consider doing. The most important thing a GM does … just might be hiring a Head Coach. Chevaldayoff and Anderson won Championships together in the minors. Chevaldayoff seemingly has a good working relationship with Anderson. And Chevaldayoff seems pretty energized about the prospect of running an NHL team, ANY NHL team. Even enough to take the job in Atlanta?? Hmmn, I’ll say “yes.”

Still with me? Essentially, he’s even got many/most of the players he had in Chicago. He has the same coach. Philosophically, these guys should all be on the same sheet of music. They all know each other, and the “system,” pretty well. And the final benefit that I see … is that Kevin will come “cheap.” It’s not as if Chevaldayoff will say, “I want $2 million-a-year, or I won’t come.”

Okay, now the liabilities. Well, the guy has got no prior NHL experience that I am aware of. And I’m not sure how much of the success in Chicago was his as much as it was Waddell’s. Well, Don signed the free agents, Haydar, Krog, Pilar, Kiwi, Brathwaite, etc. Don drafted a lot of the Chicago lineup over the years. So?

So, what, EXACTLY, did Chevaldayoff do? I don’t know the intricacies of the “day-to-day” operations of the Chicago Wolves to know what that entails. But clearly, he’s got a budget. And he’s got to live within that budget.

It seems to me, anyway, that the AS, LLC wants to be in the lottery draft. I think that’s their plan. We can debate that until the cows come home. But being $10+ million under the cap tells me … they didn’t even want to try this season. Hey, that’s their call. And their money. I couldn’t rightly tell you what Don Waddell’s salary is. It’s a national security SECRET. But I can’t imagine it’s really all that much. To hire Chevaldayoff will cost something close to nothing. Why not try it?

Of course, if a bonafide GM expressed interest in coming to Atlanta, that’s a BETTER option. But the WORST OPTION … is to do nothing. Doing nothing tells the players that their failures don’t matter. It tells the sports agents that Atlanta isn’t serious about hockey or winning. Waddell’s retention SCREAMS OUT … “We don’t CARE. And we DON’T KNOW HOW.” I hardly think that is what an Atlanta hockey fan deserves.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 5, 2008 4:30 AM | Link to this

Russ — I agree, it’s better to try than to stand pat and do absolutely nothing hoping for change. I’m not optimistic about the results being drastically different…especially since the people who would be doing the searching and hiring of a new GM are the same people who have kept him employed for the past few seasons.

If these owners decide to make a change of things at the management position, do you really trust their judgment on who should take over next?

I know it’s the only thing that can realistically be done to help the team, and it’s worth a shot, etc…but personally I think it’s wiser to place blame at the top, and expect that until they change none of the results will. I can deal with another GM of Waddell’s ability running the franchise for the next 8 years…but the question is, can you? At this point, I don’t trust the ASG to hire anybody better than Waddell.

But, they could get lucky.

By dhj_1962

December 5, 2008 6:44 AM | Link to this

hey rawhide, it beats talking about the Thrashers!! haha. i’m still a fan tho, i’ll watch or listen to all 82 games this year. it reminds me of the suffering i did while watching the Braves in the late 70’s and pretty much all of the 80’s

By Bob

December 5, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

While I agree that the ASG is a disaster of an ownership group, I couldn’t disagree more that the Thrashers can’t be competitive on a shoestring budget. Granted, winning the cup would be tough, but consitently battling for a playoff spot and occasionally even advancing beyond the first round shouldn’t be out of the question IMO

Dude, 95% of our fans agree with you. There’s a couple on here, that type lots of words, that think it’s all the owners fault, but the majority of us know it’s Waddell. You are completely spot on in your analysis.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 5, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

There’s a couple on here, that type lots of words, that think it’s all the owners fault

Sigh

There’s a few on here that couldn’t correctly portray another’s opinion if it were tattooed onto their forehead.

I, for one, do not say nor believe it’s all the owners’ fault. I simply prefer to assigning blame to the people in control, as opposed to shifting all of the blame to the easiest person. It’s easy to say that removing Waddell will right all that is wrong. It’s easy to blame the goaltender for every loss.

Some people like the easy way, good for them.

I prefer identifying the problem in whole, as opposed to picking on one of the reasons the problem is in existence.

Goalies give up goals, managers make mistakes, but if the people in charge don’t do anything to rectify the problem, then they’re the ones who deserve the blame.

The ownership group is responsible for Waddell. He’s still employed, despite repeated failures. Is that the fan’s fault, Waddell’s fault, or ownership’s fault?

The logical answer is…

I can’t believe you’re actually defending the same people who have kept Waddell employed for this long.

By Bob

December 5, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

I understand the accountant not being able to see the big picture, they usually get too caught up in the minutiae to see the big picture about things. But let me type slowly…

The owners are at fault for not firing Waddell.

The owners cannot be fired.

The owners can fire Waddell.

Waddell is incompetent.

It is pointless to try to change the owners, they ain’t going anywhere.

So, here’s some new math for ya:

Same Spirit owners + same Waddell GM = same crappy results.

Here’s where the equation gets pretty difficult, so hold onto your hat:

Same Spirit owners - Waddell + new competent GM = new and improved results.

The new GM falls flat on his face? Hey, at least we tried and he can’t do any worse than Waddell.

But put the creative thinking cap on here and look at the big picture. Mabye, just mabye the new GM comes in and with the same budget, the same owners, and is effective (shocking, but I’d rate the chances at 95% plus that with the same budget, a new GM would run circles around Waddell’s Keystone Kops routine over the past decade). I guarantee you it’ll also be a boost to the morale of the players and fans as we’ll all see changes being made to improve things and most importantly, that accountability is at work.

And now get ready to really think outside that box you’re in…mabye, just mabye, it’s possible that the owners, who don’t know hockey, get themselves a competent GM who they listen to, who’s not a yes man, but a no man, a guy that leads them to the promised land, and that they listen and learn and move forward.

These same owners you ridicule for not spending money gave Waddell the green light to go sign Campbell. I’ll give you a clue here, that was going to cost money alot of it. Then they greenlighted him to go get Rolston. That was going to cost alot of money

They gave the GM the money, just like they gave their GM max cap to spend their first two years of ownership, and Waddell couldn’t get it done.

A new GM gets those things done, Kovy sees a light at the end hellhole Waddell has had us all in and re-signs, the fans see hope again and come back.

Step out of your myopic world and give up the ghost. I know both you and Sara just hate it that you have wasted novels of words defending Waddell and trying to blame everything on the owners and the absolute last thing in the world you want to do is to admit that Sage, and LAC and me and the vast majority of our fans have been right all along. It take a man to admit he’s been wrong, but give it a try, it’s good for the soul.

By R. Stroz

December 5, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

I’m smelling a return of da Program and Ranallo World.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 5, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Okay, let me reply slowly.

I don’t care if Waddell is employed with this franchise.

I know it’s hard for you to comprehend, but I’ve never really cared he was the GM for this franchise. For all of these years arguing you’ve never understood that, and never will. To you, I’m a Waddell supporter, always will be.

I’ve defended Waddell when he’s being improperly blamed for stuff outside of his control, or in which I believe his decisions/actions needed further explanation/defense. For instance, “Believe in Blueland”, the home sweaters, ticket prices…those are not his fault, but many people inaccurately blame him for marketing and merchandising things they don’t agree like. So, I defend him. Trading Coburn…the situation called for it, so I defended him. I absolutely hated the Coburn trade, but I defended it because I understood where he was coming from, why it made sense at the time, and pointed at the things that could come from such a move. Unfortunately Zhitnik flopped a big one, and not surprisingly Coburn turned into a stud (though many in Atlanta thought he was a bust, and blamed Waddell for drafting him).

I am entitled to defend a person’s actions even if I don’t agree with them. I prefer to try to see each side of the argument. If one side makes sense, but is hard to agree with, I will try to explain it further so others understand that line of thinking. Of course, I also inject my own opinion if it’s something I feel strongly about.

I don’t understand the childish pointing out of wrong and right…I’ve admitted I was wrong many times, but you have skipped over all of those posts. You admitted to being wrong last season about Enstrom, and only one person (who no longer posts) jumped on you for it. Does it really matter though? Your opinion was still valid, and though your initial guess was inaccurate with how the season played out, it doesn’t discount the validity of your opinion nor make you “wrong”. And true to my word then, I let the season play itself out, Enstrom show his worth, and left you alone about the entire disagreement of our opinions. Enstrom is now struggling, and funny enough both of us suspected/worried it would happen. Opinions work that way sometimes.

However, back to the topic at hand. I feel your logic is flawed in the assumption that any GM replacing Waddell will immediately be an improvement. First, the ownership group is happy with Waddell, thus they’ve retained him. If they decided they were unhappy, there’s no guarantee they’d pick a polar opposite manager to Waddell, but rather are more inclined to pick a person they feel can run the team correctly (which to this day, has been Waddell’s style of management…so will likely be someone who is similar to Waddell in the ways they appreciate…such as being a Yes Man). If they decide to fire him due to fan pressure, they’ll be well aware that fans will come back simply due to his firing. They’ll have no incentive to improve, because people like you think “as soon as Waddell’s gone I’ll attend the games again”. It’s flawed. One of the owners has posted on these boards several times, so clearly he’s taken the time to read what some of you think about the manager. He should therefore understand many of the things Waddell does poorly. Yet, Waddell is still employed.

Maybe, just maybe, the ownership group is happy with Waddell’s body of work. Usually ownership groups reward such people with contract extensions…you know, like the one they gave him last season.

Incompetent owners - Waddell + hiring a new GM = the same results unless incompetent owners get a whiff of competence during their interviewing process.

A while back people made predictions for this team, and some people around these parts decided to be hopeful and make playoff predictions, division champion predictions, etc. Those people were ridiculed for not being realistic, by both of those who you like to lump yourself with in your previous post.

Now, when someone is using realism/pessimism to make a point, you stick with hopeful fancies that one simple firing will right all that is wrong. You hope a competent GM will be plucked off of the Successful Competent GM Tree by the same group of morons that can’t seem to fire an incompetent GM.

I’m not holding my breath that these owners can make a competent decision. I don’t hang my hopes for this franchise on the possibility that the next GM is better than Waddell. You’re hopeful that proven idiots can defy logic and make a competent decision to rectify the problems of this franchise.

I hope you’re right, and that the next GM does turn things around. But as I said to Russ, I can deal with another 8 years of blustering, empty promises, losing seasons, and incremental progress under the helm of a Waddell-like GM. The question is, can you?

Finally, Brian Rolston and Brian Campbell are flawed arguments as well. Adding their payroll doesn’t just take their lump sum, plop it onto the current salary, and show as evidence that the owners tried. If Rolston is signed, Williams and Reasoner are likely not. If Campbell signs, Hainsey and Schneider are likely not. Money gets displaced, the one big ticket player is added into the fold and surrounded by small ticket stopgaps, and the salary stays just about the same. Sure, they might’ve green lighted an extra $2M of spending if it was a top free agent for this system.

By the way, last time you checked how has Rolston’s season been going? Would he really have been worth the money, or made this team competitive? It’s such a weak argument, but I’m sure you’ll bring it up again.

Stroz — I’ve given up with peace offerings and attempted civil discussion with The Program. If a person can’t handle a dissenting opinion without denigrating those he disagrees with, they’re no better than Avery in my mind. Sure, they might bring something of value to a discussion, but it’s lost in the pomposity. Funny enough, those three or four people with such a personality are the ones that are most often argued with in these parts.

By Nikita

December 5, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

My opinion remains that we have the right coach and a largely adequate roster. With relatively few changes in roster and some coaching changes, we will yet be competitive. I don’t know that we’ll get into the playoffs, but we may easily be in the hunt until the end of the season. Which would be fine with me.

By Sara

December 5, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

ranallo you covered it rather well buddy! And especially on the Campbell argument. I’ll make that math easier. Campbell = $8M. Hainsey + Schneider = $10M I believe. So they could have signed Campbell and still been sitting on the cap floor.

See some people can’t figure out how other people like to operate with smoke and mirrors (unless we are talking Don Waddell’s smoke and mirrors of course). The owners say “make this big push to land this top-tier free agent everyone has heard of.” So they go out and sign Brian Campbell let’s say. And while everyone is ooohing and aaahing over our new spiffy high-priced d-man, they aren’t noticing that the rest of the roster is being filled out with bargain bin players. It’s all a distraction for the other crap going on.

Bottom line is there is a preponderance of evidence that indicates there is a distinct possibility that Don Waddell is not even running this show. Ever notice how he and the owners say all the same things to the press? Gee, maybe someone wrote him a script? The Joe Johnson trade that splintered the ownership group looks a whole lot like the deadline deals that went down in 2007 - mortgaging the future for the sake of the present, something Waddell himself had never done before in his career. The two other top-level people in the organization that had the gall and temerity to disagree with the owners’ agenda are no longer employed by AS LLC. And one of them did some grumbling on his way out that indicated there were problems at the top and the guys of AS LLC like to micromanage their teams. I mean, how’s that basketball team of theirs faring??

And the most damning evidence of all - the fact that Don Waddell is still employed by this group. Do you know why employers retain employees? Because those employees are performing their job exactly the way their bosses want them to. So if the bosses want things run on the cheap, they get run on the cheap. If the bosses want a bunch of smoke blown up people’s asses, the employees try to blow smoke up people’s asses. You can call Waddell out for being a “yes man” - that’s a fairly accurate description I’d say. But if you think for one second there isn’t a logical possibility that the owners are behind this entire mess, you need to have your neurons checked.

And I don’t want to hear any more of the “10 years of incompetence” BS because frankly I can rip that to shreds as well. There have been TWO constants in Thrasher history - Don Waddell and crap a* ownership. And I’m putting the responsibility on the one that matters most.

Here’s some new math for you:

same puppetmasters - old puppet + new puppet = same show

By Trixie (Rawhide's secretary)

December 5, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Mr. Ranallo - Mr. Rawhide has asked me to inform you that he has posted a new blog as so you do not get involved in a dialogue here.

Thank you.

By dhj_1962

December 5, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

Atl. wins saturday nite….and they are out of the cellar!!!!!

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 5, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this

Thank you Trixie.

By Bob

December 5, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this

they’re no better than Avery in my mind

Ha! Classic. You would have been better off with a comparison to Hitler.

Game. Set. Match.

I’m smelling a return of da Program and Ranallo World

Snort. Before I saw this (great minds think alike) I was comtemplating re-naming it for th ‘08-09 season, Ranallo-Sara World