Sharks owner endorses Balsillie

by James Mirtle on Nov 18, 2009 12:48 AM CST Comment 23 comments

The Globe's David Shoalts has an update on the Phoenix situation, and tucked in at the end is a reference to a recent comment made by Sharks co-owner Kevin Compton, something that has as far as I know yet to make the rounds online.

Here's the full excerpt from SportsBusiness Daily:

Compton said Research-in-Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie should be an NHL owner and called the Coyotes fiasco a "joke." Compton said, "Jim loves hockey. Jim's got a lot of money. Jim's got a lot of passion." Compton said he was "100%" certain Balsillie will be an NHL owner in the future. When asked why the owners were locking out Balsillie, he said he did not know. He added, "Owners aren't."

Meanwhile, Compton said that the NHLPA turmoil reflected the distance between older players who are hardline labor advocates and younger players, who are paid well and don't always understand what the union does. He added, "They (the union) have to figure out a way to bring value to the young players." He added that they have not done a good enough job explaining what the union does for them. On the news that Don Fehr will be assisting the NHLPA, Compton said, "I've had better days than when I read that." He described Bettman negotiating with Don Fehr as something that would make "good television."

Yowza. Something tells me there needs to be more tape recorders on when this man speaks. And that perhaps Mr. Compton has a stern lecture on the way.

The Sharks, of course, were one of the 26 teams who voted against Balsillie's purchase of the Coyotes, likely because of all the nastiness surrounding how he was attempting to land a team. But it makes you wonder: Do other owners feel this way? Is Compton a loose cannon or offering a legitimate analysis of the situation when he says "owners aren't" the ones standing in the BlackBerry billionaire's way?

And, if so, does it matter?

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Despite all the reasons the Coyotes should relocate, I constantly find myself cheering for them. There’s something endearing to me about such an underdog team. Part of me hopes they stay in Phoenix. My dislike of Balsillie because of “all the nastiness surrounding how he was attempting to land a team” helps, too.

"My face is my mask."

by jakeshapiro on Nov 18, 2009 1:02 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, Compton is only one of five members on the decision-making board of San Jose Sports & Entertainment Enterprises (the Sharks’ owners). I would say he’s probably a lone or minority voice of dissent given the way the Sharks voted, and that Sharks team CEO Greg Jamison’s at the helm of SJSEE but since nobody here in the Bay Area (much less anybody outside of it) know how they run, it’s hard to say.

by Nael M. on Nov 18, 2009 1:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Forbes calls him “the controlling investor” but I doubt he’s involved at the BOG level. Greg Jamison likely handles that.

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by James Mirtle on Nov 18, 2009 1:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jamison is pretty much the only part of the ownership groups Sharks fans get to see, and that’s occasional at best. Doug Wilson represents the public face of the upper management, and since he’s not part of SJSEE or SVSE or whatever it’s called now, we really don’t have much of an idea of what that group is thinking.

Well, besides, “make money and win Cup,” in that order, but somehow I’d imagine those are pretty common goals for most ownership groups.

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by mymclife on Nov 18, 2009 1:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

SJSEE or SVSE or whatever it’s called now

Just as an FYI, SJSE and, Sillicon Valley Sports and Entertainment are actually separate organizations. SJSE owns the team financially, but SVSE (with Greg Jamison at the helm) does day-to-day operations of running the Sharks and SJSE’s other investments (Worcester Sharks, HP Pavilion, the Sharks Ice facilities, etc.). SVSE’s own webpage even notes they were one of the assets picked up by SJSE when the Sharks were purchased from the Gunds back in 2002.

Short version is that SJSEE is the funding, but SVSE is the brain of the operations.

by Nael M. on Nov 18, 2009 1:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's alive!

This topic (Balsillie) is alive!

Very interesting questions, particularly with him as a part-owner rather than the outspoken single owners we’re used to hearing from. With Compton being a Silicon Valley guy (a VC, is it?), I wonder what his past dealings with “Jim” have been.

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by Dominik on Nov 18, 2009 1:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

With Compton being a Silicon Valley guy (a VC, is it?), I wonder what his past dealings with "Jim" have been.

Funny you mention that. Mr. Plank over at Fear The Fin found an interesting link between Compton and Balsilie:

The contrast between Bettman’s and Compton’s statements seems to indicate there may be more at play than just a candid interview— Compton’s investment in the telecommunications industry raises a flag, as Kodiak Networks signed a global licensing agreement with Research In Motion during January of 2007 for the Push-to-Talk technology to be used on Blackberry cellular phones. With Compton serving on the board of Kodiak Networks, and Jim Balsillie the co-CEO of RIM (developers of the Blackberry), it is possible that they have formed an amicable business relationship that may have led to these comments.

Now I’m really interested to see how SJSEE came to their decision on the Phoenix vote. Considering Jamison’s always been portrayed as the leader of the ownership group and Compton the big money behind it, I wonder what, if any, struggles may have gone on behind the scenes over this.

by Nael M. on Nov 18, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting stuff. Always helpful to remember these guys are businessmen first, with this weird hockey-owning hobby on the side.

Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.

by Dominik on Nov 18, 2009 1:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

God, I love this stuff. It’s like page 6 gossip but for hockey fans. This is great!!! More! More! I want more!

"I'm gonna hire you as my latex salesman? I don't think so. Why would I do that?"
"Vandelay! Say Vandelay Industries!"
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by Urban Sombrero on Nov 18, 2009 1:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Aren’t there measures to prevent owners from speaking out like this on a highly….sensitive topic?

Is that what you meant by “stern lecture”, James?

I find it hard to believe Bettman and Co. will idly stand by and let one of their owners speak out this candidly, as insightful and entertaining as it was.

by Afino on Nov 18, 2009 7:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

What are they going to do?

Yank the franchise? Aren’t the Sharks about the only Non-Original-21 expansion team that repeatedly succeeds on and off the ice?

by garth the hoser on Nov 18, 2009 10:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Only until mid-April.

According Twomey

by hawksfan21 on Nov 18, 2009 12:24 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs

low blow!

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality? (boycott Hollywood!)

by ang6666 on Nov 18, 2009 12:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

But we have to take it, until the Sharks finally win something.

"It ain't over till it's over." - Yogi Berra

by 49er16 on Nov 18, 2009 1:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not from a Hawks fan you don’t

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by Jibblescribbits on Nov 18, 2009 1:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah…our last 47 seasons (excluding the lockout) haven’t been our best. In hawksfan21’s defence most trash-talking is usually based upon the present and not the past and with that the Hawks did reach the Conference Finals whereas the Sharks, since Joe Thornton’s arrival, haven’t.
But even then the Hawks still have nothing to brag about.

It's never about the eventual destination, but rather the long journey and its challenging obstacles that are presented and what it takes to overcome them, that makes the taste of success all the more worthwhile!!!

by hawks61 on Nov 18, 2009 2:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We don’t have to take shit. :)

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality? (boycott Hollywood!)

by ang6666 on Nov 18, 2009 2:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, sometimes you have to take the easy shots when you can. Thanks for being the bigger person and not responding with “1961”

According Twomey

by hawksfan21 on Nov 18, 2009 2:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

1961!

Leaf fans are allowed to make this comment because you guys are gonna win a cup in the next couple years and that will make us a very lonely Original Six team – so we’re milking this for all it’s worth.

by Vent on Nov 18, 2009 3:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah don’t really blame ya … I take easy shots when I can too … :)

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality? (boycott Hollywood!)

by ang6666 on Nov 18, 2009 4:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think this just points out the discontent within the B.O.G. is almost as bad as the discontent within the NHLPA. Both need new leadership and guidance as a fresh new voice would help both sides resolving any inner conflict.

Interesting note: When James posted that picture of Bettman yesterday I couldn’t help but remember Monday’s episode of ‘Lie to Me’ when they releaved that when a leader feels a sense of guilt and vulnerability his hands are usually positioned right where Bettman’s hands are positioned. Makes you wonder doesn’t it?

by hawks61 on Nov 18, 2009 11:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

“Owners aren’t”.

Mr. Compton should perhaps keep in better touch with his own governors. He also might want to contact Messrs. Freeman, Lemieux, Jacobs, Leipold and Melnyk and take a cross-section of owner opinion.

Why do i get the feeling that this guy was interviewed at a party, if you get my drift?

by Gerald on Nov 18, 2009 11:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Sharks, of course, were one of the 26 teams who voted against Balsillie’s purchase of the Coyotes, likely because of all the nastiness surrounding how he was attempting to land a team. But it makes you wonder: Do other owners feel this way? Is Compton a loose cannon or offering a legitimate analysis of the situation when he says “owners aren’t” the ones standing in the BlackBerry billionaire’s way?

Probably both, and probably neither. I think its naive to think that every owner in the league is Anti-Balsillie. We talk about 30 “owners” but in many cases there are a bunch of people behind the Board of Governors representative from that team. I also think that there are owners who voted against Balsillie because there may have been pressure from the louder voices in the meetings to make this a unanimous vote. And a lot can happen in the next few years – financial pressures on individual owners could increase, the NHL could needing to do more to prop up struggling teams, we’ve got a potential labor war coming…Who knows it more owners will be willing to speak out publicly against the party line?

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by poploser on Nov 18, 2009 11:57 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

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