Comments on: Vegas casino pursuing former Lightning owner over loan

By: hibackhand

hibackhand — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:21:49 +0000

looks like he spent it all on hair products and hookers.

By: elvispocomo

elvispocomo — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:17:46 +0000

Because Bettman will do anything he can to keep teams in failing markets. I’m not trying to call out Tampa as a failing market, but Bettman certainly has no qualms about taking excessive steps when it would seem the smart thing would be to do the opposite.

Do you think if Barrie and Koules (or someone similar) offered to buy the Coyotes with the promise of keeping them in Phoenix, he wouldn’t jump regardless of any potential for problems?

By: lsxphotog

lsxphotog — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:38:45 +0000

This guy is just filled with bad decisions, isn’t he?

By: rca26

rca26 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:11:22 +0000

This guy is why this season isn’t that depressing to Lightning fans. Yeah, it sucks to regress so much after last year’s dream season, but at least there’s a real owner in place and good leadership throughout the organization, so there’s hope.

Stamkos gets all the credit (and deservedly so), but without Vinik (and Leiweke and Yzerman) we wouldn’t have a reason to stay excited for the future of our Bolts.

By: rinkman1

rinkman1 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:24:51 +0000

Mullet + Movie Mogul + Snake Oil Salesman = An NHL team in chaos. Thank the lord that Melrose, Koules and Barrie are no longer in Tampa Bay.

Tell me again why did Bettman allow the sale of the franchise to Barrie and Koules in the first place. I hope the League has beefed up their due diligence process because of the movie mogul and snake oil salesman.

Anyone want to buy this elixar I have that will make your sister an NHL 50 goal scorer? Bettman you out there?

By: sunking1

sunking1 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:07:27 +0000

Barrie’s a clown. He came into the Lightning ownership with a “I’m the smartest guy in the room” attitude. His lasting legacy as a owner is that both he a Koules are viewed as the most inept owners in recent NHL history.

The only good thing that came from his tenure (and I consider this payback for making the Lightning a laughingstock franchise during his ownership) is that we were able to draft Stamkos.

Karma works both ways. For Barrie, he is hounded by creditors he has bilked. For the Bolts, we have the great fortune to have Stamkos on our team and see him play every game.
GO BOLTS!

By: solador78

solador78 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:43:28 +0000

Too bad for Len Barrie that he couldn’t pay back the sportsbook with Lightning losses this year.