It’s clear that if these owners were simply losing money year after year, with no tax benefit to their other businesses, they wouldn’t own a team for long. No one gets to be rich by clinging to losing investments.No one could keep funding losses year after year if they were simply bleeding money.

One of the biggest benefits of pro team ownership is the tax write off.

He also said that the NHL isn’t “terribly interested in mediation,” but that was probably just more excrement coming out of his mouth.

People always forget that we are in this mess not because the owners are greedy (not to say there not though), but because half the teams in the NHL lose money every year and the league won’t continue with that. That means any mediation would almost certainly insist on an instant pay cut for the players to achieve the main goal of the lockout…

In that case, it would be the players who have no interest.

Gary: After thinking about it, I think it’d be best for everyone involved if we split the check down the middle.

Don: So you’ll be picking up the tip then I trust?

Gary: No, that can come from your share.

Don: *Takes a 20 minute bathroom break, sits at the bar to drink a water with Pierre LeBrun to report the drama over the bill, then returns* So you want me to pay more of the tab, as well as the tip? Why didn’t this come up before we all got lobsters and steaks? What’s in it for me?

Gary: *red in the face, beginning to stomp his feet* I am done making proposals.

Yeah…that’d happen…