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Archive for June 23rd, 2008
A Great Read
Monday, June 23rd, 2008No Rest for the Weary
Monday, June 23rd, 2008It has been a very hectic off season. Two weeks ago, we were participating in events around the NHL Awards Ceremony. Last week, we attended the NHL end of season owners’ meeting and then we all participated in the NHL amateur draft.
Now we have a busy week trying to re-sign many players. It isn’t for a lack of trying to sign these players but their agents like to keep things going to the last minute and use the July 1st deadline for free agency as a tool to negotiate which is their right. I know some of you are impatient with us but our non-activity isn’t for a lack of trying and, frankly, we don’t need to be reminded that we have players to re-sign. We know - we know. 
We will work hard over the next week to get things settled down then we will go into free agency although I doubt we will be active at all. We have a lot of depth right now. We have perhaps too many players already on our roster and we are pushing the salary cap as it is let alone our budget. So don’t get disappointed if you don’t see us being active in free agency. We are more focused on keeping our team together and we have big positional players to resign and get back under contract.
Then we head right into rookie camp. We have several young players that will be fighting for big minutes this next season. We look forward to seeing a healthy Eric Fehr and we believe Karl Alzner will be fighting for a roster spot and I am sure there will be a surprise or two at camp.
Then the dog days of summer and then - whoosh! - training camp opens in September. Time flies when you are having fun!
Debate
Monday, June 23rd, 2008When the NHL was in lockout, I had a debate with a well-respected newspaper editor. The debate focused on whether it was better to own a professional sports team or a newspaper in the town that you lived in. At the time, this editor basically posited to me that the NHL was “dead as a doornail” and that there was no real consumer interest in hockey. I posited that we were getting our game restructured and that hockey was a global game. Its interest level was growing with young people and that we would lead in digital delivery of our content and services. I bet him that in less than five years that all of our growth arrows would be green and all of his growth arrows would be in the red.
I also noted that sports teams, newspapers and universities were the enduring brands in each city. (Think about it.) They were all trophy properties and since you couldn’t buy a university and newspapers were shrinking badly and were already public companies, that sports team would become the most “aspirational” of all things to own and operate in a major city.
So here is the question: Would you rather own the Washington Redskins or Washington Nationals or Washington Capitals or Washington Wizards vs. the Washington Post? Or in the case of Sam Zell, would you rather own the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls or Chicago Blackhawks compared to the Chicago Tribune. Note that the Tribune Company is selling the Cubs right now basically to help pay down debt incurred to the business and take it private which I believe is a mistake because sports teams are appreciating while newspapers are shrinking.
So what do you think? Better to own a sports team or a newspaper in a top 10 market?
Super Size This…
Monday, June 23rd, 2008Wow. Interesting story. Go figure.
More Details on This Weekend’s Events
Monday, June 23rd, 2008I am hopeful that we can turn out a crowd to watch this weekend’s events.
First, starting on Friday, there will be a free street soccer tournament held at the Kastles Stadium at the old convention center site, 11th and H Street in downtown DC. We will be hosting a bunch of teams from around the country. We are bringing in about 100 homeless soccer players, their coaches and some volunteers and they will be playing street soccer all day on Friday, Saturday and on Sunday afternoon. The winners will be picked to represent the US in the Homeless World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, this December.
If you can come, consider volunteering to help us, or if you attend the games, please bring some bottled water and some granola bars for our players as a show of support.
On Friday evening the film “Kicking It” opens at the E Street Cinema, 555 11th Street NW in Washington, DC. This film - which just showed to a standing room only crowd at Silverdocs on Saturday - was directed by local talent and was produced by me and some friends and partners in our sports teams. Please consider going to see the film and going to the web site. Click here for more information. See you all on Friday.
Bravo Mark
Monday, June 23rd, 2008Here is a great first person piece on the indie film meltdown in indieWIRE. Great stuff here. Read it and reap.
