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CamrnCrz1974
Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 18371 Location: Phoenix
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Posted: 10/17/06 6:11 pm ::: Re: Breaking News: Alexander wants to sell the Houston Comet |
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pilight wrote: |
If there's that much trouble finding people to buy in, the league is in trouble anyway. |
Which is part of the problem.
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NK
Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 2177 Location: Republic of Texas
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Posted: 10/17/06 6:58 pm ::: |
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There's more to this than meets the eye.
Frankly, I don't feel like typing a small book.
He's been pushing the sale idea for some time now behind the scenes.
One issue is his asking price.
He tried to sell the team out from under us a few years ago, with the idea of them going out of town. They were his ex-trophy wife's plaything and his ego wanted them gone. The controlling powers weren't going to allow that at the time.
Now? Who knows? He's been offered very good money for them in the past but the new owners wanted them to stay in Houston and Les wouldn't accept that.
Not sure how the lease works at the TC. I know Mayor Brown sold away everything he could and pocketed the $. He's hiding in his chalet in Italy, safe from extradition and most of his staff is in federal prison or awaiting trial.
I have no idea how this will affect the team or if he can even sell them. He's been offered lots before and passed on it.
This does explain the chaos in the front office lately.
I think we have to realize that we could lose the team, and if we do, it's due to the continued lack of support and shrinking fan base. That can only be blamed on Van Chancellor and his years of neglet and mismanagement.
I wanted that bastard gone back in '02 and I took a lot of heat for it on thehrr.com
I said back then that Van would be the man responsible for Houston losing the WNBA unless he was replaced. I also said I wanted to be wrong in that prediction.
_________________ If bullshit was water, Hilton Koch would be an ocean!
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cometsdrivefor5
Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 6286 Location: Houston
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pilight
Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 67491 Location: Where the action is
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Posted: 10/17/06 7:05 pm ::: |
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NK wrote: |
I think we have to realize that we could lose the team, and if we do, it's due to the continued lack of support and shrinking fan base. That can only be blamed on Van Chancellor and his years of neglet and mismanagement. |
The neglect and mismanagement started much higher up than Van.
_________________ The truth is like poetry
Most people hate poetry
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NK
Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 2177 Location: Republic of Texas
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Posted: 10/17/06 7:14 pm ::: |
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pilight wrote: |
NK wrote: |
I think we have to realize that we could lose the team, and if we do, it's due to the continued lack of support and shrinking fan base. That can only be blamed on Van Chancellor and his years of neglet and mismanagement. |
The neglect and mismanagement started much higher up than Van. |
Chicken and egg thing. Please don't try and tell me about the history and background of the Houston Comets.
The neglect was due to Van, period. You can try and pick it apart by saying it was Les who left him there and that's true. That was because Les didn't care.
With a real coach and GM in place we wouldn't have lost the fanbase. So I'll put it on Van, where it belongs. Were the franchise financially successful, Les wouldn't have any excuse to get rid of the team and our chances of losing them would be far less if not non-existant.
_________________ If bullshit was water, Hilton Koch would be an ocean!
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jimmyk
Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 4028 Location: Bristol. TN
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Posted: 10/17/06 7:34 pm ::: |
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This makes darn near a quarter of the league's teams having some sort of ownership change and/or rumblings about moving in the same season.
And that bothers me a lot.
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THE GOTCHA713
Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 53 Location: HOUSTON
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Posted: 10/17/06 8:20 pm ::: |
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yah...my sources confirm the above. for you locals watch fox26 news at 9pm. more details to come.
_________________ If you knew what i KNOW
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bullsky
Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 20310
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Posted: 10/17/06 8:34 pm ::: |
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Have faith Comet fans. Hopefully, all will go well.
_________________ "Don't do something until you get it right, do it until you can't do it wrong."
- Geno Auriemma
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NK
Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 2177 Location: Republic of Texas
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Posted: 10/17/06 9:13 pm ::: |
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Orange][Krush wrote: |
Have faith Comet fans. Hopefully, all will go
well. |
Local ownership isn't the problem here.
We've got more than a few people who have expressed interest in the team and have made offers in the past.
The issue is the TC, Mayor Brown gave away everything (yes, much graft was involved) and Les could make the rent so prohibitively high, that it would be impossible to keep the team in town. Les has an ego the size of Venus and the Comets represent his ex wife.
Remember, Les is a vindictive little man with a Napoleonic complex. He has wanted the team gone for years. With the huge drop in season ticket sales this fall, he may finally have his excuse. I wasn't going to say it before, but I may as well now........ season ticket sales are at less than 600, just a few years ago it was over 6000. At the peak of the glory years it was over 8000. By far the largest of any team in the league save for the Mystics in their early years. The move to the TC dropped it down to around 4000+, last season it was down to 1800 or so.
The sorry truth is, in a city the size of Houston, there really isn't any other place for the team to play. Hard to believe, but it's true.
_________________ If bullshit was water, Hilton Koch would be an ocean!
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stever
Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 6918 Location: https://womensbasketballdaily.net
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Posted: 10/17/06 9:24 pm ::: |
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...from the Chronicle:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4266677.html
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"The WNBA is going into independent ownership now, in Chicago, Washington, Charlotte, really focusing on the women's team. We're looking at all the options to determine the best way to go forward." |
...Charlotte?...is Bob Johnson shopping the Sting as actively as Alexander is the Comets? |
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pilight
Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 67491 Location: Where the action is
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Posted: 10/17/06 9:31 pm ::: |
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stever wrote: |
...Charlotte?...is Bob Johnson shopping the Sting as actively as Alexander is the Comets? |
There's a group led by Cindy Sisson trying to buy the Sting
_________________ The truth is like poetry
Most people hate poetry
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bluewolfvii
Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 5007 Location: The Happening
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Posted: 10/18/06 1:52 am ::: |
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jimmyk wrote: |
This makes darn near a quarter of the league's teams having some sort of ownership change and/or rumblings about moving in the same season.
And that bothers me a lot. |
I'm thinking about the last time the CBA entered the last year of the agreement. (Deja vu.)
At least in this case, there seem to be a couple of candidates for relocation.
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suemar
Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 3729 Location: Norfolk Va
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Posted: 10/18/06 7:07 am ::: |
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All I want for Christmas is the Comets!! Actually, I would be happy to find team owners who love the womens game, listen to what fans want and dont have areana deals,etc as their primary focus. Its a business but still...I hope it works out okay.
_________________ The Beat Goes On...
LifeTour 1952 -
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cometsdrivefor5
Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 6286 Location: Houston
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Posted: 10/18/06 7:20 am ::: |
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suemar wrote: |
All I want for Christmas is the Comets!! Actually, I would be happy to find team owners who love the womens game, listen to what fans want and dont have areana deals,etc as their primary focus. Its a business but still...I hope it works out okay. |
DITTO suemar...I don't ask for MUCH but, this is all I want for Christmas too, LOL
I know business is business but, I hope everything works out positively for the Houston Comets and their fans...
_________________ Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge...I'm trying not to lose my head
huh huh huh huh huh
Grandmasterflash and the Furious Five
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mztay
Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Posts: 63 Location: Houston
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Posted: 10/18/06 8:49 am ::: |
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I agree with NK...this organization has gone awry for a while now...with the ever-increasing angst that alot of fans have with Van and the explosive news that Sheryl has been boinking the female, assistant coach for years right under management's noses (with a full-scale, media blitz and interviews that highlighted it during the fall months ), petitions PLUS the obvious reminder to Les that he bought them for the trophy wife. He just wants this organization out of his mind--I can't say I blame him and its not like he's the only one looking for takers. I do believe, however, that there are places to play, i.e., Hoffeinz Pavillion--which seems ideal, IMO. The fanbase is being lost because of many things and its up to us to get it back and we CAN get it back. If the prospective owner(s) believe the fans need or want the TC--they couldn't be more wrong. We just want a few changes, that's all but there goes my plan to boycott the Comets if Van stays--I don't want them to leave.
_________________ "Playas do what the WANT. HATERS do what they CAN".
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MsTena-T
Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 2178
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Posted: 10/18/06 8:54 am ::: |
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I agree with MzTay on this one.
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Luuuc #NATC
Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 22163
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Posted: 10/18/06 9:08 am ::: |
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I also agree with MzTay, but disagree with MsTena-T & NK.
_________________ Thanks for calling. I wait all night for calls like these.
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comets2207
Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 1951 Location: Houston
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Posted: 10/18/06 9:11 am ::: |
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Luuuc wrote: |
I also agree with MzTay, but disagree with MsTena-T & NK. |
Well, I disagree with you disagreeing with Tena, because I completely agree with her other than disagreeing with her agreeing with NK, but agree with her agreeing with mztay. Other than that, I agree with you.
_________________ Life's too short to argue about basketball
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pilight
Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 67491 Location: Where the action is
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cometsdrivefor5
Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 6286 Location: Houston
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cherrystreet
Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 4119 Location: houston,tx
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Posted: 10/18/06 2:44 pm ::: |
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So are you guys are saying Swoopes was the final straw that broke the camel's back? I'm just asking? I was not going to boycott the Comets anyway. But like many they don't have to playing in Toyota for me. However, I think new ownership would like to see an average of 7,000 plus and nowhere else can hold that. Good dialogue going on here.
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4ever_bball_fan
Joined: 20 Dec 2004 Posts: 6125 Location: Houston
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Posted: 10/18/06 2:49 pm ::: |
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Cherry...I don't think Sheryl is mztay's point...it was the mismanagment of that entire situation for such a long time, and it's affect on the team's morale. He was not in control of the team, and they gave up playing for him...heck, some players just walked out on contracts during that period...unheard of in Houston.
And, just fyi...Hofheinz Pavillion holds 8,500, with luxury boxes around the top rim. Very nice venue to re-establish the stability of the season ticket holder base, imo.
_________________ The competitor with the will to win also has the will to work. John Wooden.
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ClayK
Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 11403
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Posted: 10/18/06 3:32 pm ::: |
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I am not a big fan of Van Chancellor. He has been unfailingly uncooperative with me over the years, almost to the point of rudeness. If I were a network TV guy, I'm sure he would have been Mr. Southern Charm ... hypocrites always annoy me.
That said, Van's reign in Houston has been, by and large, a successful one. He hasn't drafted well, but they've never had high picks. (Who could they have drafted that they didn't?)
Swoopes, a lesser Barry Bonds, is a problem. She's a great, great player, but not the kind of personality you build a franchise around. You can't trade her because she's an icon, but when you keep her as her skills fade, her annoyance factor becomes higher and higher.
Who else could they trade? Tina? Michelle Snow?
I don't think Van's the genius he was made out to be when the Comets were winning it all, but he's not a doofus either. He may be a bit of a jerk, or more than a bit of a jerk, but he's been an above average WNBA coach/GM. Has his time passed? Most likely -- but who out there is going to be better? Ann Meyers?
_________________ Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā
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Genero36
Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Posts: 11188
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Posted: 10/18/06 3:38 pm ::: |
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ClayK wrote: |
I don't think Van's the genius he was made out to be when the Comets were winning it all, but he's not a doofus either. He may be a bit of a jerk, or more than a bit of a jerk, but he's been an above average WNBA coach/GM. Has his time passed? Most likely -- but who out there is going to be better? Ann Meyers? |
If Michael Cooper was offered the position to re-unite with Karleen and coach the Comets, I believe he would go for it.
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ode88
Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 282 Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Posted: 10/18/06 3:39 pm ::: |
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ClayK wrote: |
That said, Van's reign in Houston has been, by and large, a successful one. He hasn't drafted well, but they've never had high picks. (Who could they have drafted that they didn't?) |
Take a look at the 1999 draft.
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