Belkin already has control

[Gray Mule]

One very smart owner who threw some money in the pot

and sat back and waited. Sure, we all believe he's

completely unfit to be an owner and will destroy both

the Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers. He's also hated by

almost everyone in both leagues.

All the other people who put their money on the line were

basketball and hockey fans who were rich, probably very

smart in their own fields of endeavor, but oh so dumb

when they came up against their partmer and his lawyers.

They were set up to fail. They were set up to loose

all their time, money and respect. The evil empire

would prevail, and he has.

The others hired people to run the Thrashers and Hawks.

Most of us here don't know much about the Thrashers, but

they seem to have been doing O.K. and Belkin simply

let them alone. I don't believe he was really interested

in what they were doing.

The Hawks have a young head coach and G.M. While we

may or may not agree with everything our G.M. was doing,

we all know that he had a long term plan for this team

and was busily working his plan and not spending a lot

of extra money on high priced "Has been" superstars or

those who thought they should be in that catagory.

Belkin set the other owners up, big time. He and his

lawyers drew up the paperwork and the others, being the trusting souls that they were, signed on. He was the

govenor, the chief of the Indian tribe. The others

didn't catch this for quiet a while.

Waiting for the right moment to pounce, Belkin knew, now

is the time and he acted, spoiling the deal that everyone

else had approved. You can't do this unless I say so and

I say NO!!

Furious, the other owners called in the NBA and got the

deal thru, much to the delight of Mr. Belkin, who had

everyone set up the way HE wanted. They all agreed to

come to his territory, to his lawyers and his judge

and let them decide the matter.

The other foolish owners had already agreed to play by

his rules, to do everything exactly as he had it set up,

then were in shock when they discovered what they would

have to do.

Now, Mr Belkin is in complete charge. The others can

do nothing, actually they never could. He either comes

out of this deal with millions in profit with his small

investment or he comes out as the total owenr and can

completely strip the teams, make millions and flush

them down the drain.

Either way, he comes out with all the money.

Quiet a plan, and it worked to perfection and the sad

part of it all is

ATLANTA IS LEFT HOLDING THE BAG AND ALL THE OTHER OWNERS

HAVE BEEN MADE TO LOOK FOOLISH AND THEY ALL AGERRE TO

DO IT!!!!!!

[Vol4ever]

Good post, that about sums things up!

[Diesel]

Mostly true, but there's one thing forgotten.

The overlord in this whole situation is a guy named Stern. Stern dislikes Belkin. Part of the reason that Stern was not made an owner earlier is because Stern found ways to keep him out of the ownership chair.

Stern will let Belkin play his little game. Get his big victory, then Stern will look at the financials and make the motion that the Hawks be sold to somebody else.

I hate to see it happen...

But evil only triumphs for a moment. Especially when there is a greater power who's really in control.

[BornandDieHawks]

I believe Stern is the key to this whole thing. I am looking and hoping for a statement soon. He may be already working behind the scenes to get something worked out. At least that's what I am praying....