BELKIN WINS

[KB21]

What do you expect when some idiot posts something as stuped as "Well, at least this means Billy Knight will be gone."?

I hear that there are some Babcock's available. Maybe some of you can start your campaign to bring Pete back or to bring in Rob or Dave.

[TheDude]

again, i'm going to agree with KB on this. BK is doing a fine job turning the team around..you start pressing for instant gratification and you get the New York Knicks.

[tmac13]

Or you get the Phoenix Suns..3 years ago they were nearly as bad as us..There is no standard rule that says you need to become a longterm laughing stock to ever have success..

[TheDude]

WILL YOU PLEASE JUST LEAVE US ALONE!! We are diehard fans of this team, sports fans, basketball fans, many of us growing up watching this team. Stop trying to ruin it for us so that you can make another freaking buck. The Hawks are a basketball team. They exist in order to win and provide entertainment. They do NOT exist as a main goal to provide investment opportunity for you. Go elsewhere in the several thousand other areas to make money that does not affect people in such large numbers. We want our team to be a winning team again after many years and we are on our way there. Why in gods name would we want to support a team that we KNOW will not win due to it's ownership not wanting to put money into it? Buy the team if you must Dr. Belkinstein, but I won't buy a lick of merchandise, attend a single game, and will sure as hell try to discourage anyone else from doing the same. Anything to lessen how much money you make by that one extra penny.

ok i know this won't help, but i feel a little better now i think. i'm not a violent man, but this is the kind of guy i would love to put a serious asswhooping on..."Pardon me sir, but might i escort you around this here woodshed, i have a bit of a case of whoopass i'd like to share with you."

[TheDude]

they have a two time MVP on their team.....we all can't be that lucky.

[tmac13]

He was available for anyone to sign..Our GM had no interest..

[TheDude]

and neither did a good portion of the fans on this forum, they complained of his lack of defense and not being athletic.

[tmac13]

The large portion of fans on this forum are not highly paid NBA GM's..I would hope a highly paid GM would know more than a group of internet posters..Wouldn't you?

I guess the GM in Phoenix had better advice from his internet advisors...

[gsuteke]

Quote:

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What do you expect when some idiot posts something as stuped as "Well, at least this means Billy Knight will be gone."?

I hear that there are some Babcock's available. Maybe some of you can start your campaign to bring Pete back or to bring in Rob or Dave.

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who the idiot is very well may be subjective here Mr. internet gangster.

[kudzu23]

Simmer down everyone please. There is no need to attack anyone for difference of opinion in the heat of this moment, as emotional as is it. Dont throw the towel in yet, let it play out. Just calm down and refrain from the personal attacks. If you feel you should apologize to someone then please do, the Hawks fans should be united on this issue and not turn it into a riot amongst ourselves

Thank you

[Lascar78]

[Diesel]

Glad to see you have come up for Air KB. Now... While we have you with your chin off of BK's gnads... Let me tell you this...

Weather BK stays or Goes does not make the Hawks. BK's 17 year plan was not working. It's just as possible that Belk comes in and hire Kiki V. If so, I wouldn't complain. It's just as possible that he hire Adelman to coach. IF so, i wouldn't complain. The point is that even though I'm disappointed that our owners seemingly has lost the fight, I'm not going to fall to pieces if BK is replaced. So quit hugging his nuts as if he's Red Aurebach or somethng and stop crying all over the messageboard.

[KB21]

They also had most of their pieces in place. Phoenix had Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, and Joe Johnson in place. The reason they were losing was that curse Stephon Marbury. When they got rid of him, all the other talent they had in place could meld together, and once they brought in Steve Nash, everything fit together like a hand in a glove. Our situation and their situation isn't remotely similar. When Billy came in, he inherited a salary cap strapped team that had very little talent overall. Billy had to overhaul the roster, unlike the Phoenix Suns. Within two years, Billy achieved a 100% turnover of the roster. Now, if you can find me someone that turned over 100% of their roster in two years and built a championship caliber team within that time span, I'll give it to you.

[GMyrberg]

Well, the devil really outsmarted his counterparts. Legally, the current ownership seems to have blown it by assuming that Belkin's lawsuit put a stop to the appraisal timetable. As the judge said, there is no case law to support that position. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I agree with the current ownership's position that some figure, either 88 million or 140 million, is excessive for Belkin's 11.7 initial investment, but you'd think the Spirit group's legal advisors would've urged their clients to hedge their bets by finding a third appraiser and making an offer to Darth Belkin. As Shakespeare said, "First, kill all the lawyers." I don't see much good happening here. At best, a tangled mess this summer that effectively freezes most of our moves. At worst, a skeletal payroll and possible team(s) movement. Maybe the the current guys, despite having our sympathies, aren't all that smart. I'd like to think that the leagues (NBA, NHL) could help, but I'm not sure even Obi Wan Stern can help here, given the rather firm legal staus Belkin seems to enjoy. That also puts a damper on a possible appeal, which in any case is likely to drag on far past where either team, but especially the Hawks, can benefit. At least, he can't go back and undo the moves already taken. I sure don't see Belkin doing radio shows to explain things (Bernie) or making personal ticket offers for fans (Levenson). What must it be like to be despised by so many and still want to prove you really belong? Sounds like a junior high kid who isn't liked by anyone but continues to try to force his way into the popular group. It's just unpleasant for everyone.

[chillzatl]

things continue to run as-is until then. Remember, he wasn't given the team. He was granted the right to buy out the other owners. He doesn't get anything yet. Business goes on as usual.

[KB21]

Let's just hope that he doesn't get some judge to give him an injunction that can keep the current ownership from making any free agency moves without his approval.

[chillzatl]

I don't see that happening. Having the right to buy something doesn't give you the right to tell the current owners what they can do with their property until the buy-out takes place. He can't just walk in with a bag of money and tell everyone to get out. So until the appeals process is exhausted, I wouldn't sweat it. It will likely be overturned.

[Lascar78]

not mine but funny

[KB21]

I thought there was no way the judge would rule in his favor either. I'm losing a lot of faith in our justice system though.

[Seano]

Quote:

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The point is that even though I'm disappointed that our owners seemingly has lost the fight, I'm not going to fall to pieces if BK is replaced.

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I wouldn't be broken-hearted if BK were to lose his job, but I'd rather see that happen due to merit (or lack thereof), rather than as the result of some stupid ownership fight.

I was content to give him this season. See how he did in the offseason, the draft, how he handled the Harrington situation, and how he would do during the season with a team that's getting more experienced and mature as far as NBA playing time. Then, if it's not working out- axe the guy.

But to fire him because of this...where would that leave us? Would we have to start some entirely new 'rebuilding' process under a new GM? Firing BK now would be a massive disruption to this franchise, and I'm not sure where we would go from there.