THIS IS WASHINGTON!!!

[IPostedWhat]

WASHINGTON — Ted Leonsis says the NHL is in better financial shape than the NBA because NHL owners can no longer take "stupid pills."

The owner of the Washington Capitals — who is completing a purchase of the Washington Wizards — said Friday that a lot of NBA teams are losing "a lot of money."

Speaking at the National Press Club, Leonsis said the NHL is in a better position because it has a hard salary cap "that protects owners from taking stupid pills" — a reference to misguided, over-the-top free agent signings.

Leonsis learned his lesson with the Capitals several years ago when he overspent for Jaromir Jagr and other players before the NHL put its cap in place.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h7z7GyBRH4OiO3jTtzTvipsb5HTw

 

[dash]

I guess Darryl Sutter must be taking placebos...How else do you explain bringing Kotalik on board for two more years at $3 million per season?

 

[Eddie_Shack]

I guess I'm not as educated as Leonsis on which league is healthier, but the NBA does have much better media coverage, a much better TV deal, and a broader appeal. I don't think the NBA has the same amount of hardcore fans, though. I'm guessing teams like the Flyers, Red Wings, Wild, Sabres, and Sharks would fare better through a long hard rebuild (continuing to sell merchandise, ticket sales) than some other comparable NBA teams.

I'm sure there are more people in the U.S. that watch the NBA on a regular basis than hockey, but I personally know way more people who live and breathe hockey than basketball.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

I guess Darryl Sutter must be taking placebos...How else do you explain bringing Kotalik on board for two more years at $3 million per season?

Slats must have some really damning pictures.

 

[elocomotive]

Leonsis is right about the hockey owners having a smarter deal, but hockey will never be even close to as popular as basketball nor as lucrative as basketball in America.

Simple reason. I grew up in a town of about 5,000 people. I'd guess there are well over 1,000 basketball hoops there and maybe 50 kids that have hockey goals. The entire county has ONE ice hockey complex with two rinks. There are probably dozens of indoor gyms with basketball courts, 100s of outdoor courts, to say nothing for the tens of thousands of hoops mounted over garages, posted next to driveways, or shackled to the side of a barn.

Basketball is cheap to play, hockey is not. Basketball is accessible anywhere and everywhere in America anytime you want to play should the weather oblige, and even when it does not.

I like hockey better, but I know WAY more people that are into the NBA. Ratings, shoe contracts, TV deals, popularity, participation, wealth and everything point to basketball as having more fans.

I love hockey, but I think hockey and soccer both have some delusion their game is going to somehow be on par with the big 3 someday. I don't think it will ever happen and I don't care if it does or not.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I guess Darryl Sutter must be taking placebos...How else do you explain bringing Kotalik on board for two more years at $3 million per season?

Kotalik is good in the shoots though. I wonder how many he took this year and how many he made. That is a lot of money for a shootout specialist though.

 

[dash]

Kotalik is good in the shoots though. I wonder how many he took this year and how many he made. That is a lot of money for a shootout specialist though.

I just finished reading Scott Cullen's piece on the off season plans for the Calgary Flames. I think I need some of slimpikens whiskey.

 

[postmaster]

I just finished reading Scott Cullen's piece on the off season plans for the Calgary Flames. I think I need some of slimpikens whiskey.

If he won't share, you can have some of my Tullamore Dew.

 

[scottflyers88]

well the nba and nhl are different. the nba overall is more popular in america in most markets. however, the nhl has most of canadas viewership. cbc and vs probably get better ratings than just tnt in america.

 

[Squatchito]

I love Ted Leonsis. I am fully aware that he puts puts on a happy face all the time and is a salesmans salesman. I think he is very capable of being a bullshit artist of impeccable quality and may very well be so all the time.

That aside, I had the pleasure of speaking to him on 3 occasions. Once at season ticket holders orientation where it was a brief shake of the hand and acknowledgment of existence. The other 2 times were at Verizon, where he spends half the game walking around the concourses greeting and talking to fans. On both occasions he took the time to look me in the eye and answer my questions honestly and directly and for that he has earned my eternal respect and admiration.

I don't know if I agree with what he says here, but I can certainly see his side of the argument and his inspiration for feeling as such.

Washington sports owner side note, the Nats principal owner took a baseball to the face shagging fly bays at BP yesterday and received many stitches for his effort.

 

[TOX1]

I guess Darryl Sutter must be taking placebos...How else do you explain bringing Kotalik on board for two more years at $3 million per season?

Who's Kotalik? I thought his name was Kotalikmyballs Dash?

 

[dash]

Who's Kotalik? I thought his name was Kotalikmyballs Dash?

You're right, Tox...Friggin Kotalikmyballs. There, I feel better

 

[IPostedWhat]

A guy I work with does fantasy hockey online with some people, and the one guy in his group had the name Kotalikmyballs. I wonder if it's the same guy?

Also, my thread title has to do with the movie 300 since this story is about Leonsis.

You know what? Just forget I mentioned it. It wasn't that great anyways.