Nohandle wrote:I was just at a breakfast for UBC athletics and Pat Quinn was the guest speaker. During his speech he was talking about what it takes to build a winning team. He applauded the Canucks former owners, as well as Steve Stavro, the former owner of MLSE, and then took a bit of a shot at the company today. He referred to it as a faceless corporation and implied that he had no faith in the company to build a winning team for the Leafs. He might as well have been talking about the Raptors though. MLSE have put them in the same boat as the Leafs with little too look forward to. It's a real shame we don't have a real "owner." The franchise needs a face and someone who cares about winning running the show.
Ahhhh...that's better....feel like myself again.....
I agree with Quinn's comments. It says a lot coming from somebody who was working from essentially the same position on the organizational chart as BC for many years. He would know just as well as anyone possibly could.
The teachers union is simply in this to make money. Good for them, but very unfortunate for us.
As many media outlets have pointed out, many successful sport franchises in the US are owned by Billionairres that have purchased the team as a "hobby". They are ultra-competitive personalities (as anyone in their position would be) & bought the team to put a winning product on the floor.....bragging rights, so to speak. Look at Dallas.
The Leafs are a huge money maker in this city. They are an original 5 team & a place where many of the top players would love to win the cup. There is no reason for them (from a financial standpoint) to not be able to afford to bring top notch free agents here. The MLSE board treats the team more like investments/ stocks rather than a sports team. Money is first & foremost, image is next in line.....I am not sure where winning ranks in that list of priorities.
There is nobody for he fans to point the finger at. It is a corporation.
Hopefully Larry can continue to buy shares & eventually take over. I highly doubt that ever happens though. The only way the teachers union gets forced out is if fans stop going to games, stop buying merchandise & the Leafs become a non-profitable investment.
I agree though...getting another team in town would make things interesting. Unfortunately, most die hard Leaf fans are committed to the team by their emotions, while the people running their team are committed to a money making venture.
