Time To Get Out Your Old Jets Jerseys?

Ok, I’ve been quite about this little story that brewing in the NHL world that perhaps the time has passed for the Phoenix Coyotes potential sale to Matthew Hulsier, under whom the franchise was to remain in the state of Arizona and continue to lose money. If you do not know, the Coyotes went bankrupt after losing money due to low attendance in Arizona and the franchise is being maintained by the NHL directly. The NHL’s commissioner Gary Bettman would love to see the team remain in Phoenix under a new owner but the sale to Hulzier had hit a bump on the road with the government watchdog stepping in and ruling out the sale if more local money is to be spent to finance the sale. Hulzier’s sale depends on getting some money footed by the city for loses that might be incurred.

What this means is that if a solution does not materialize soon, the sale will not go through. At this point there are just two options for Bettman and the NHL a) continue to finance the franchise directly, which they have already stated that they do not wish to do for another year or plan b) sell the franchise to another buyer who is ready and willing. The potential buyers are True North , a group fronted by are Mark Chipman who is backed by Canadian billionaire David Thompson, and who would move the franchise to Winnipeg. You remember Winnipeg?

The Coyotes used to be The Winnipeg Jets In the World Hockey Association, the Jets won three Avco World Trophies (1976, ‘78 and ‘79). Their 17-year NHL existence was a little less noteworthy. Their best season was 1984-85. They finished the regular season with 96 points – but they were swept in the Smythe Division Final by the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers. In 1996, Jets owner Barry Shenkarow culminated two years of trying to peddle the Jets by selling to Richard Burke and Steven Gluckstern, who moved the team to Phoenix and re-branded them as the Coyotes and who were later bought by Jerry Moyes.

So Winnipeg waits and watches as the Coyotes finish out their regular season and move into the playoffs. Once the season ends for them – when they are out of the playoffs (or if in an ironic twisted tale of biblical proportions, actually win the Stanley Cup) the decision will be made. Either the franchise stays back in Phoenix or gets sold to Chipman & Thompson and moves back to their true home in Winnipeg. I can’t wait; this time there seems to be a really good chance that it will happen. Go Jets! Will we see you  in Winnipeg?

Final 10 Episodes of SGU

After a quick check a couple of nights ago, I saw that yes indeed! the second half of season 2 of Stargate Universe had started and it was 4 episodes in! How did I miss this? Well I know – it’s probably because of the craziest fucked up schedule that the studio in charges have doled out.

I’m used to the normal schedule, which makes a lot of sense; if you start a series, show us viewers a full season at one stretch. If you have 20 episodes, they should be shown in 20 back to back weeks. Not split up and ripped apart! Stargate Universe has suffered this new disease that seems to be affecting sci-fi tv shows – V & Caprica also had it and the shows are suffering due to it.

In case some of you casual viewers didn’t know, SGU has a big problem which most likely will see the end of an otherwise great tv show. Syfy announced on December 16, 2010 that it would not be picking SGU up for a third season and that the Spring 2011 season would be the last to air on its channel. So far there have been no news from MGM Television, who own the Stargate franchise whether the show would continue on another channel. But in December, ET reported that the second season will be the last. So, I guess that’s it for this wonderfully dark show filled with great characters and some fine acting by some good actors.

Why is SGU getting canceled? Viewership is down you say? How come a show like this can get canceled when shitty shows like Desperate Housewives can continue for 7 or more season? How come soap operas get to be on the air for decades when a show like SGU can get canceled after just 2 years? Can you compare the Col. Everett Young vs Dr. Nicholas Rush duet with any other two actor combo on any current tv series at the moment? Sheesh! TVland has become dumber again!