Monthly Archives: March 2010

See What Happens When You Take A Week Off?

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My family is the most important priority for me. It is spring break for my high school aged daughter. We promised we would take her and some friends to Florida for a week of sun and fun. I always meet my promises to my daughter.

So I am gone for one week and there is national breaking news about investigations into steroid dealings between a local chiropractor and a felon. There is some loose connective tissue between the chiropractor and some of our players as a few went to see him for back aches and I read all about it here at the beach. I see headlines and I get on the phone and talk to some folks, do my research and I do a quick blog post about it. It buzzes by. That was quite the cycle. There was smoke. I get it but there is no fire. I am hopeful this story now goes away. It deserves to go away.

I then watch us play a wonderful game against the Penguins. A great shoot out win. We eat dinner at 5:30 pm with the “half a sandwich and soup” crowd so we can catch the entire game live at 7:00 pm. A big win with a big passionate home crowd. The place looks great on TV filled with red clad passionate fans. Another news cycle spins. Pixels are produced. Keystrokes are recorded.

Then yesterday I am in the middle of another news cycle, while I am always transparent I am very respectful to process. It is not appropriate for me to formally address the news cycle regarding our negotiations with the Pollin family and estate. As I have noted the discussions have been productive and friendly. When there is real final news to disclose I am sure the people most involved with the process will talk but now is not that time. I apologize but I have been very circumspect in disclosure about this negotiating process out of respect for it. So stay tuned and thank you for your interest.

I think I will need a vacation from my vacation.

Which Pressure is Worse?

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Being a good team with a great record and having expectation thrust upon us?

Or blowing the team up. Taking a step back and telling fans we aren’t good enough and have to rebuild. And having Tom Boswell write that “fans should come to my home burn their season tickets and throw them on my front lawn”?

I saved that column. It motivates us all.

Thank you for this column. It is most appreciated. It also is motivating in a good way. Go Caps.

Finally– I Like the Shootout

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That was an exciting shootout win. We beat a great team that was undermanned but played like a defending Stanley Cup champion.

These games against the Penguins feel like Yankee vs. Red Sox games now don’t they? Anything can happen. Both teams fight and play each game like their lives depend on the outcome. It is a pleasure to watch these games. We are all watching something special unfold every time we get on the ice with the Penguins. I am very happy and proud of our fan base.

Thanks to all of our fans for posting our 50th straight sell out.

We have now reached 98 percent renewal for next season. What an amazing ride we are all on. Thank you so much.

We reached 108 points last night and there are 9 games left to play. The Caps are in first place in the East and the Penguins are in second place. We have 108 points and the Penguins have 91 points. We have scored 287 goals and they have scored 228 goals. We have let in 206 goals and they have let in 212 goals. It is always neck and neck now for the two teams. We have one game left with them this season to play. I am sure it will be another sight to behold.

I respect the Penguins. These games are fun to watch and are terrific advertisements for the state of play in the NHL.

On Using Our Name

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One more thing…

The Washington Capitals believe in community and we love our fans. We have been very fair when it comes to people trying to associate themselves with us, and our legal response. However, we must now be very vigilant with that name and brand association. As we all saw the events unfurl this week when someone associated themselves with us and our brand when there wasn’t an official association in any manner.

I have seen Red Cowbells made with Rock the Red logos and Tee Shirts sold with Caps colors and with email addresses with Washington Capitals in the name and sig file and computer mouse pads with our players faces on them. I have read about official pizza parlors and official car accessory support staff and on and on. This type of unofficial association is wrong and can get you into trouble and us as well.

I need to let everyone know that the Washington Capitals brand is one that we need to protect. It is valuable and we do license it to some sponsors after we conclude a business deal and we both have researched and vetted one another.

Being an “official” Washington Capital’s partner is something we do not take lightly. It is something we negotiate and often times there is a business arrangement built around it as well. We will protect our brand. We will cherish our partners. Please do not try to take advantage of our brand or franchise or try to associate yourselves with us as an official partner. Be fair and responsible. If you want to be an official partner there is a way to do so above board and in a negotiated way. Thanks for hearing me out.

Yesterday

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It did surprise me yesterday when I learned that law enforcement officers had showed up unannounced at our training facility in Arlington in relation to the arrest of a Virginia chiropractor. This doctor apparently is linked to the Florida resident who was arrested in May as part of a steroids investigation. We easily and legally could have declined the surprise interview request, but our players have nothing to hide, and we decided to proceed.You can read the statement we posted to our website yesterday.

The officers interviewed several people who had seen this doctor for routine chiropractic needs. One of the conflicting and puzzling issues is that the doctor inaccurately claimed to be the Capitals “team chiropractor.” This is completely false. We clearly note team physicians in our annual media guide, and this doctor isn’t and hasn’t been one of them.

I do feel bad for the players whose names were leaked to the media. I gather their names were plucked from an appointment book, and as a result they became potential witnesses. The law enforcement interview with each of them was extremely brief, and as soon as officers asked their questions, they quickly realized there was no other connection other than general chiropractic services. Our players and our organization have been open, honest and transparent.

Here’s a statement from Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner: “Based on the investigation we have done and the information we have, there is no evidence that Dr. Nagel ever supplied (or even offered to supply) performance enhancing drugs to any current or past member of the Washington Capitals.”

None of the investigations that have taken place at the NHL level or via law enforcement ever has demonstrated a steroid link to a Capitals player, but we realize our name generates interest, page views and headlines.

Hopefully yesterday’s surprise questioning has put an end to future rumormongering and the desire to grab headlines.

Calm Before the Storm

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We are home. We are home and practiced at Kettler Capitals Iceplex for the first time in 10 days. What a brutal schedule.

We now play 7 of the last 10 games at home.

We have a lot to play for first in the East like the President’s Trophy. But to be honest some of the teams we are playing against are fighting for their playoff lives. So these 10 games will be tough ones.We play Boston and Atlanta twice each. Both are fighting for the 8th spot in the playoffs .We play Ottawa and we play Carolina on a back to back game on the road.

We play the Penguins twice. They are second in the East.

We should get focused, play tough and use these ten games as a way to prepare for the playoffs.

I am also hopeful we can rest up and heal up some of our players. Health is a key concern for all of us in the NHL this time of year.

If we play just 500 hockey here on out we would end the season at 116 points. That would be our best season in franchise history and may be enough points to win best record in the NHL.

But we would like to do better than that to enter the playoffs with momentum. Go Caps!!!