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Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:20 pm EDT

Relocation fee for Coyotes requires evil laugh, pinkie to mouth

By Greg Wyshynski

"Why yes Mr. Bal-sillie, we'd love for you to relocate the Phoenix Coy-o-tes. All we ask for in return is the tidy sum of ... ONE HUNDRED MILL-ION DOLLARS!!!"

Via Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star, who has been covering the bankruptcy court proceedings all day in lovely Phoenix, comes news that NHL could ask for a $100 million relocation fee if Jim Balsillie's bid for the Phoenix Coyotes moves forward legally:

Judge Redfield Baum said the league was within its rights to charge a "reasonable" fee and to take a "reasonable" length of time to consider Balsillie's applications to buy and move the team.

Balsillie's lawyer suggested the league was dragging its feet on the applications, hoping to freeze out Balsillie, who has threatened to pull his $212.5 million offer to buy the bankrupt team. Freeman also suggested Balsillie would walk if the $100 million fee was approved by the court. The fee is not set in stone, but may be subject to negotiations.

More about the relocation fee from the Globe & Mail. With a ruling expected later this week, attention may soon turn to the auction phase of this process. As the Vancouver Sun writes (and please do check out their cartoon of Ari Fleischer and Edward G. Robinson ... uh, Balsillie and Bettman fighting):

If you can afford a US$20-million deposit, and if you have proof you are filthy, stinking rich beyond the value of that deposit, you may be able to bid against Jim Balsillie for the Phoenix Coyotes.

The blow-by-blow of today's court hearing can be virtually recreated through the Twittering of OdinMercer of Five For Howling; Michael Kasher; Sports Business Journal; and from McGran.

Meanwhile, the folks at Make It Seven passed along this grassroots musical anthem for their efforts to bring the Coyotes to Southern Ontario. We'd complain about it completely offending our American sensibilities if it weren't the catchiest damn thing we've heard since the Free Credit Report jingle. Hell, make it 17! (Beware a few NSFW images of a young fan, uh, telling critics they're No. 1.)

Related: Hockey Fans, Gary Bettman, Commissioner for Life, Puck Videos, Rumors, scuttlebutt, innuendo

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50 Comments

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  1. Lady Gaga
    1. Posted by Lady Gaga Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    That Bettman photoshop needs bigger ears.
  2. Waffle Stomp Ya!
    2. Posted by Waffle Stomp Ya! Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    Here's a thought. Didn't NJ get a team and put them smack in between a local powerhouse and another team with a rabid following. NJ state has always been split between Rangers and Flyers fans and now almost 30 years later and the Dev's still can't bring in a consistant crowd. There are Sabers fans in Onterio as well as Leafs fans and it might end up the same situation as I hear Sabers fans are V-E-R-Y loyal to their team.
  3. JCA
    3. Posted by JCA Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

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    $100 million is actually pretty reasonable when you consider that the expansion fee, if and when the league expands, could be over $300 mil.
    Balsillie gets his team, the owners get some cash in the deal, and Bettman gets to look like he didn't outright lose. Everyone wins except for the dozens of Phoenix fans.
  4. Crappuccino
    4. Posted by Crappuccino Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    Surprise surprise... nothing is resolved. That's what you get when you have a room full of lawyers squabbling with each other.
  5. Deker
    5. Posted by Deker Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    Make it 7? That should be the Penguins rally cry tonight...make it (to game) 7! Go Pens!
  6. NostraChronus
    6. Posted by NostraChronus Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    garbage in, garbage out - yet another season, yet another story marring the presentation of the Stanley Cup; bravo, Gary, bravo. At least we made it through a postseason without a Steve Moore trial.
  7. Munkcy
    7. Posted by Munkcy Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    That picture opens the door for a Mini-Me to Gary Bettman's Dr. Evil.
  8. Deker
    8. Posted by Deker Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

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    and the Free Credit Report commercials are great, catchy little tunes. Very original, unlike 90% of the rest of the ads we see during the games....
  9. miah
    9. Posted by miah Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

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    Is there anything more annoying than the "Free Credit Report" jingle? I won't use the service based solely on the fact that I would rather have my c0ck trampled by elephants than listen to 2 seconds of those dopey commercials.
  10. Cale P
    10. Posted by Cale P Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:07 pm EDT

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    Rumor has it that the expansion fee to move the Coyotes to Vegas is a Crosby jersey and a round of Molson for the rest of the team owners.
  11. tmr
    11. Posted by tmr Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:13 pm EDT

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    @ miah...
    I married my dream girl, I married my dream girl, but I didn't know that her credit was bad...
    Hey, how do you not like that? It's catchy...
    Even a loss by the Pens tonight would be better than your elephant scenario...ouch.
  12. 2112dude
    12. Posted by 2112dude Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:13 pm EDT

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    Miah you lasted about 1.9 seconds longer than I did.
  13. Irvin A
    13. Posted by Irvin A Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:16 pm EDT

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    basllle has the "laser" to move the yotes to ontario so his misson will be called "preparation h "
  14. blues_fan_mk
    14. Posted by blues_fan_mk Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:25 pm EDT

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    hey, if Bettman is in Phoenix, does that mean Lidstrom won't have to awkwardly extract the cup from his gnarled grasp?
  15. TAYLOR
    15. Posted by TAYLOR Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:37 pm EDT

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    $100M seems real cheap. Consider that Columbus paid $80M for expansion...I say the number starts there (the league deserves expansion-like money). Now the Leafs and Sabres each deserve something for territory encroachment on top of that. What is that worth? $50M-$100M each? If the Board of Govenors approve it (2/3); it wouldn't surprise me if the Leafs fight it regardless (not sure what their rights would be if the board approves).
  16. terry r
    16. Posted by terry r Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:47 pm EDT

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    Reggie Dunlop- Yes, having the Whale back would be great. Their time will come, this is only the beginning.
  17. Geoff D
    17. Posted by Geoff D Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:50 pm EDT

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    that video i didnt think offended any american sensibilities. its pretty typically a canadian sentiment and yes anything remotely close to stomping tom connors works. realistically? I could care less where the coyotes play, just hope they stick to one uniform for a while, their branding schemes are atrocious.
  18. habs1rule
    18. Posted by habs1rule Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:09 pm EDT

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    Lets leave it Six teams in Canada..Oh, please dont heed the Call ....Sixteen years without the Cup....We really have the Gall.......Lets leave it Six teams Canada.....The writings on the Wall....Without our countries Territorial Rights....We're not standing to Tall....Sing it fellas!!
  19. Runnin up on ya !
    19. Posted by Runnin up on ya ! Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:36 pm EDT

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    Canadians are Eh' holes
  20. Josh
    20. Posted by Josh Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:55 pm EDT

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    Hmm... Ok if a team moves to hamilton, who moves west? Toronto? Ouch. They have trouble in the east, they're gonna get crushed in the west.
  21. br
    21. Posted by br Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:58 pm EDT

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    Why are we the ones flipping off Canada? I have no problem with a Hamilton franchise even if it screws up the divisions. Our senators (not Ottawa) wouldn't know what a puck looked like if it hit them in the face.
    And seconding a team in Hartford as well, and Quebec, and Winnipeg..
  22. raybenz
    22. Posted by raybenz Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    first off this is just stupid and moronic bettman,(how much u need???) U SHOULD MAKE THEM RELOCATE TO THE CITY WHICH THEY CAME FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE WINNIPEG!!! AND THEN STAND ON A STREET CORNER WHERE U CAN ASK THE PEOPLE IF THEY'D LIKE YUR A$$ ................ GO DETROIT
  23. Frank Rizzo
    23. Posted by Frank Rizzo Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:55 pm EDT

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    raybenz, they couldn`t make it in Winnipeg last time, what has changed? bret d, hartford, quebec and winnipeg had FAILED franchises, time for a new market.. As to the lame video, that sounds East Coast music ,is regionally divisive and does not represent the general Canadian populous.
  24. Rio Guadalupe
    24. Posted by Rio Guadalupe Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:16 pm EDT

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    Only question is how soon will those "Hamilton Hosers" sweaters be available?

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