The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
During a week when the Sports Experts should be discussing the Stanley Cup finals, instead we talk about the potential sale of the entire NHL. There is still a lot of exciting hockey action, you just have to look a little harder. There are the Memorial Cup and the Calder Cup to think about. Bain Capital LLC has reportedly increased their bid to buy the entire NHL to $4 billion. However, all 30 teams would have to approve the sale. "Although there are a few interesting points raised by the story of Bain buying out all 30 NHL teams, don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen. A move like that would likely create more stability in the league and guarantee the existence of the smaller market teams like Edmonton and Ottawa. But the fact that all 30 owners would have to approve of the deal will probably lead to its demise. The new offer is reportedly more than $4-billion, up $500-million from the initial offer in March. An NHL spokesperson said the March presentation lasted only half an hour and was informational only. News of the latest offer comes only a couple of days after the NHL is reported to have given a June 15 deadline to reach a new CBA, or have next season cancelled. Is this a coincidence, or is one single owner for the entire league the only way the NHL is going to survive? I personally think it will be a sad day if it comes to that." - Barry H. "The offer to buy the league would work, if it gets them back playing hockey. That's all I really care about, not how it's done, but when the league comes back, and as long as it remains fun to watch. I'm sick of hearing about 12-hour long meetings with nothing coming out of it." - Jeff K. After three games, the Manitoba Moose are down 3-0 to the Chicago Wolves in the AHL Conference finals (at the writing of this column). The Memorial Cup is going on in London, and right now it is still anyone's game. We'll have to wait and see how these play out. In baseball, homeruns are down this year. With the crackdown on performance enhancing drugs, it is no surprise, but does anyone really care? "Am I the only one on the panel here who just doesn't miss the long ball? It's down like, 10% from last year, and I love it. Sure, I like the occasional long bomb, but without it, it shows which teams are really great. The White Sox, for example, are proving small ball can win games... IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE! And what's been going on with the Giants without Barry? I'd rather not think to look." - Jeff K. Speaking of Barry, he checks in from Kentucky with word on the Indianapolis 500. "The 89th Indianapolis 500 goes this Sunday at noon central, and defending champion Buddy Rice will not get medical clearance in time for the race. Rice injured his back and sustained a concussion during practice 16 days ago. Rice is hoping to be back in action in time for the June 11 race in Texas. Former Indy champ Kenny Brack will replace Rice on the Rahal Letterman racing team. Two Canadians are in the field, Toronto's Marty Roth and Patrick Carpentier from La Salle, Quebec. This will be Carpentier's first time in the Indy 500." - Barry H. That is it for this week. If you would like to join the Sports Experts column, send an e-mail to [email protected].
