Post by jaylon1970 on Aug 20, 2009 12:03:47 GMT -5
Balsillie targets double-standard
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Jim Balsillie has pointed the NHL's moral compass back on the league, accusing it of tolerating "convicted criminals" among its ownership group.
In a brief filed in Arizona bankruptcy court as part of the on-going Phoenix Coyotes saga, Balsillie's lawyers argued against his rejection by the NHL as an owner because he lacked "good character and integrity," saying that current and former owners would fail the same scrutiny.
Among those targeted by the document are Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, former Nashville minority partner William (Boots) Del Biaggio and former L.A. Kings owner Bruce McNall. Melnyk was recently fined $1 million for violations of the Canadian Securities Act in his role as a director of Biovail, his pharmaceutical company; Del Biaggio has pleaded guilty to forging financial documents; and McNall was imprisoned for fraud.
The NHL's board of governors rejected Balsillie as an NHL owner because he lacked "good character and integrity." That judgment differs from the NHL's position in 2006 when it approved him as a potential owner when he tried to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins. Balsillie's lawyers argue the league has failed to show "any material changes" why their opinion of Balsillie differs now other than the league's wish to "punish" him for trying to relocate the Coyotes to Hamilton.
Balsillie's filings are in preparation for a hearing on Sept. 2 in front of Judge Redfield T. Baum that his group hopes will over-ride the NHL's vote and allow him to participate in the Sept. 10 auction for the team.
The document also takes aim at William Reinsdorf, who is also bidding for the team and has the blessing of the NHL. Reinsdorf owns baseball's Chicago White Sox and the NBA's Chicago Bulls and the brief points out that Reinsdorf has battled with the NBA in court but remains an acceptable owner by that league.
www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/08/20/balsillie_moral_compass/
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Jim Balsillie has pointed the NHL's moral compass back on the league, accusing it of tolerating "convicted criminals" among its ownership group.
In a brief filed in Arizona bankruptcy court as part of the on-going Phoenix Coyotes saga, Balsillie's lawyers argued against his rejection by the NHL as an owner because he lacked "good character and integrity," saying that current and former owners would fail the same scrutiny.
Among those targeted by the document are Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, former Nashville minority partner William (Boots) Del Biaggio and former L.A. Kings owner Bruce McNall. Melnyk was recently fined $1 million for violations of the Canadian Securities Act in his role as a director of Biovail, his pharmaceutical company; Del Biaggio has pleaded guilty to forging financial documents; and McNall was imprisoned for fraud.
The NHL's board of governors rejected Balsillie as an NHL owner because he lacked "good character and integrity." That judgment differs from the NHL's position in 2006 when it approved him as a potential owner when he tried to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins. Balsillie's lawyers argue the league has failed to show "any material changes" why their opinion of Balsillie differs now other than the league's wish to "punish" him for trying to relocate the Coyotes to Hamilton.
Balsillie's filings are in preparation for a hearing on Sept. 2 in front of Judge Redfield T. Baum that his group hopes will over-ride the NHL's vote and allow him to participate in the Sept. 10 auction for the team.
The document also takes aim at William Reinsdorf, who is also bidding for the team and has the blessing of the NHL. Reinsdorf owns baseball's Chicago White Sox and the NBA's Chicago Bulls and the brief points out that Reinsdorf has battled with the NBA in court but remains an acceptable owner by that league.
www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/08/20/balsillie_moral_compass/