It's exciting to hear that I'm gaining readers every day. Loyal readers like Chad Gray are the perfect example of why I write this blog. These people need to read my thoughts to get their necessary entertainment and sports knowledge for the day. Thank you, Chad. You've given me the encouragement I need to keep chasing my dream of becoming a sports writer. I'm just as encouraged as a drunk man trying to jump a campfire or trying to climb to the top of an old barn. You've shown me that it doesn't matter whether people like me or not. I'm getting my words out there for the people who desperately need it.
Now that I have that out of the way, let's talk about some huge news in the National Hockey League. Canada will be getting a franchise back, or at least that's what it's looking like. Jim Balsillie, the multi-millionaire CEO of Research in Motion, has made a $212.5 million offer to buy the flailing Phoenix Coyotes and move them to southern Ontario.
To be completely honest, it's a move that makes all the sense in the world. The NHL would move a franchise from the desert and into a hockey haven near Toronto. It's clear that hockey doesn't work in Arizona. It's a wonder that they've heard of the game. Canada, however, is the best country in the world for the game... obviously.
My only question is: Why move teams away from Canada in the first place? There have only been two franchise relocations from north of the border to the states and one has worked out with the Nordiques becoming the Avs of Colorado. However, moves from the states to the north are 1 for 1 (Atlanta Flames to Calgary). Now the talk of moving the Coyotes back to their original home in Canada has me very excited.
Now, another question arises. Where does Balsillie move the team? He wants to move it to southern Ontario to Hamilton. This would be the best fit, in my humble opinion. Others have opposed it by saying Winnepeg should get their team back and that Hamilton is too close to Toronto. It would be like having a team in Los Angeles and Anaheim... oh, wait. It works.
Well, what about Kansas City? They deserve a team, don't they? Well, just be patient. The Islanders seem to be a good possibility for you. Especially with the Sprint Center as a very nice venue. I went to see the Blues play the Kings there during the preseason and was quite impressed. It still amazes me that KC is lacking a hockey team.
Finally, one last problem must be addressed. How do you re-align the divisions? If you take the Coyotes out of the west and put them in the east, that means a team from the east must come west. If the Islanders do make their way to KC, the problem is solved. But since that isn't the case (yet), we have the dilemma of what to do with the empty spot in the Pacific Division.
Easy. Move Atlanta to the Western Conference and have them fill the vacancy that the Coyotes left. Then rename the division to the South Division. Then move Pittsburgh to the Southeast and have a nice divisional rivalry between the Pens and Caps. Then have the Coyotes join the Atlantic. Done.
That hockey talk got me all worked up, but I must keep going for the readers out there like Chad. This one's for you.
So, time for the daily question: Kobe, LeBron, or Dwight Howard? Who's the most marketable?
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