I released something this morning: I've lived in Manitoba to recognize the ulitimate act of a desperate politican. PC leader Hugh McFayden announced the other day that if he's elected he'll bring back the Jets. Seriously? Gentlemen, I think the horse is dead, yet you continue to beat on it.
Whenever someone running for office realizes their snowball-in-hell's chance, they evoke that holy-of-holies name, the Winnipeg Jets. As someone who did not grow up here (and, frankly, hates hockey) I can't understand why people get so worked up about this issue. I can't understand why politicans promise to bring the team back after so many years.
It's NEVER going to happen. I probably have as much chance being made a team in the NHL.
16 comments:
It is REALLY sad. First, these guys have ZERO say in who goes where in the NHL. If people in this province are that desperate for a hockey team they should elect Gary Betman. Second, if you vote based on something as trivial as an NHL franchise you should probably jump off a bridge.
I'm more sympathetic since I, ahem, actually was born and raised a Jets fan. Keeping in mind I'm not even a sports guy, I would be pretty pleased to see an NHL team here in the Peg again. Imagine for a moment, Dave, that college basketball ceased to exist. No more college basketball. That's kind of what it was like when the Jets left - hockey, and actually sports as a concept basically vanished from my life. What once seemed a normal part of life simply disappeared. I'm not one to miss things but it's easy to imagine that there are people with wicked nostalgia pangs.
I don't think it's impossible either, the more years go by the bigger and richer a city we become, more and more capable of supporting such an institution. Money talks, and if there is money, the NHL will come. This guy's just rapping about a (probably premature) jumpstart to the operation.
All that said, I pretty much agree it's a grab for attention and reeks rather badly of desperation...
Sadly I think this is one horse that is going to beaten for many years to come. Poor horse.
I like hockey (in play-off season). But, if we couldn't afford to have an NHL team then, how could we ever afford it now? The funny thing to me is that when Gary Doer heard of the PC's plan to bring the Jets back he said, "No, no, no, that was my idea first!". Now everyone wants to take credit for a silly idea. Trying to seal their victory with the many crazed hockey fans in this province. Apparently Doer has been talking about the idea in the leg since April. What a silly election this is.
Leg=legislative assembly
Yeah, I'm not so sure we could afford a team. Yes, Winnipeg isn't a "poor" city by any means, but the cost of having an NHL team is much higher than it was 20 years ago: higher salaries being the most obvious spike in cost.
Wow, Dave I agree. As a person who grew up here and loved the Jets, I know this is very much a pie crust promise...Goes with your theme, Mike! Winnipeg cannot afford an NHL team and it's not up to the politicians where these teams go anyway!
A survey on the news last night said that only 17% of people would actually support the Jets returning.
BTW Mike, I loved Shawn of the Dead and can't wait to see Hot Fuzz! Loved the review on your last blog. I only get to read about once a week, so sorry I'm behind the times.
Tom, I would cry my little eyes out for hours if they cancelled college basketball BUT I wouldn't vote based on whether or not someone could get it to come back. I mean, come on Winnipeg, there aren't a million other things more important to the health and survival of this community then the Jets?
I agree Winnipeg has gotten a little more $$ then before but I don't think Betman or others really care if it can SUPPORT an NHL franchise. They care what cities can make them some serious money.
There are bigger markets that Betman would go to first. Remember when the Penguins looked like they were going to leave? Kansas was being mentioned more then Winnipeg. KANSAS!
But I feel you on why people would want their team back. Sports teams build community like nothing else. Which is why it sucks even more that some politicians are trying to get people's hopes up.
than before
it's really a stupid plan all 'round. Do we even really support the moose/bombers/goldeyes enough to justify adding another team??
or is that a whole...other ball game?
All true. I think it's silly, too, and I sure wouldn't base my vote on it (except maybe to vote against said silliness). I'm just sticking up a little for all my peeps with Jets grief issues.
I'm still not convinced it's impossible, either; it seems like every other year some grand public investment is being made to make our city (supposedly) more attractive and big-time. Really though I have no idea how the details work, so... maybe I won't talk about that aspect anymore. :)
Rebekah, it pretty much is. With the exception of the Bombers none of our current teams are in top-tier leagues (and many/most would probably dispute ranking CFL with NFL, too). NHL is a way bigger deal.
I suspected I'd be displaying my ignorance of sports...
Bombers? Top-tier? (*giggle*)
Impossible? Not at all? Realistic? I don't think so. Would enough notoriously cheap Winnipeggers be willing to pay the high price tickets would have to be? We can't even get an Ikea in this city 'cause we're so cheap.
I'd vote for which ever party would bring Ikea to the city. Now that's a platform I can relate to.
You know, that might not be as silly as it was meant to sound
sadly, I've watched enough sportsnet during the playoffs that I actually know something about this.
First of all, it's probably not going to happen. It's based on rumors that bettman wanted to relocate the penguins when they were going through some sort of funding scare. the pens have since been secured in pittsburgh for another few years.
there are no current plans to create an expansion team either. however, there was a rumor around the end of the playoffs that an undetermined team might have been relocated to a canadian market, with those rumored locations being in southern ontario or winnipeg.
The jets were very well supported by fans during their time in winnipeg and I actually don't think fan support is a huge concern. Winnipeggers may be cheap but they do love hockey. Apparently the existing arena could be modified to accommodate the required amount of seats, though it would still be the smallest arena in the league.
The strong canadian dollar and the salary cap in place also give people here hope. however, I'm pretty sure bettman is more interested in peddling hockey to americans, who still have way more wealthy investors than we do. And unless politicians are going to go plead to bettman themselves, it's not up to them whether the team comes back to winnipeg and therefore shouldn't be a voting issue.
I'd love to see a team back in winnipeg, though. i think it says something that peggers are still flogging this dead horse ten years after it died - it is that important to some people. And after spending some time in vancouver during the canucks' playoff run this year, i think it would have a positive impact on the city. there's something amazing about (what feels like) an entire city parading about celebrating a win. Strangers yell and cheer and make fools of themselves and connect in ways they otherwise would not. There's a certain magic about it and it transforms what belonging to a place is all about - there are fans of all ages and all skin colours out cheering the same as you are, which is wonderful.
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