With the news leaking out that a possible consortium is being put together to place an offer on the badly slumping, but economically pristine Maple Leafs in the past few days, this has definitely turned into a year of more twists and turns than a Chubby Checker concert.
The newest tidbit has successful Russian born-Canadian raised mega-entrepreneur
Alex Shnaider talking to some of the right people and testing the waters for a possible offer to purchase Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Leafs, Raptors and FC. With MLSE being a privately owned company, the price tag for the purchase could go as high as 1.8 billion dollars even open the doors of discussion to purchase the company. As deep as Mr. Shnaider’s pockets are it's the politics that will end up deep sixing any attempt he might make at the club since another moneybags and company co-owner by the name of
Larry Tannenbaum is looking at increasing his portfolio of shares in MLSE, one of the most solid and profitable sports conglomerates in the world today. Tannenbaum also has first refusal rights on any shares that may be offered out from partners in the company as the OTPP and TD Capital, so the actual chances of Shnaider buying the team are down to are slim and none. But if it’s really hockey he's interested in, maybe it would make more sense for Shnaider to look into the new Pro Russian hockey league that
Alexander Medveded and
Bob Goodenow are currently trying to put together overseas.
It might just make a more natural fit for the 39-year-old wonder boy and the new league would love to have an owner involved with the successful track record and business acumen of Shnaider.
Speaking of the badly slumping Maple Leafs, sources tell me that the team has now put out some very definite if quiet feelers with a few clubs to see what kind of value team captain
Mats Sundin may have in the trade market today. With the big Swede looking to get out of TO after 13 seasons here with eyes turned towards a true Stanley Cup contender, the classy Leaf captain is playing terrific hockey this season and it has garnered the attention of a certain Swede dominated team 3 hours down the 401 from us. It would be the end of an era here in Toronto and would most likely trigger a major overhaul and reconstruction of the team from top to bottom on the ice and front office both. As tough as losing Sundin would be on most of us, it may just be the blessing we need with MLSE being forced to spend some money to rebuild the storied hockey franchise.
My sincerest condolences go out to the family of
Milt Dunnell, who was without a doubt the dean of Canadian sports editors and writers. Dauntless Dean passed on a few days back at the age 102 after a brief bout of pneumonia.
Personally witnessing many of the greatest moments in twentieth century sports, and at one time or another having interviewed the greatest figures from
Jack Dempsey to
Wayne Gretzky and all in between were the hallmarks of a legendary career. It's truly impossible to try and point out just how influential and respected he was. Truth be told, a more humble and straight forward man just doesn't exist today in our modern world. You didn't have to agree with all he wrote, but you always respected the honesty in which he wrote it.
A humble man who lived a quiet life away from work, his one big love other than work and family was for playing cards and he was a formidable figure at the poker tables almost up to the time of his passing. We have lost one of our greatest figures in what is a sadly rapidly shrinking community of true newspapermen. Indeed, we just lost one of our great national treasures.
My athletes of the week are none other than Canada's gold winning team of players, who just won the gold medal at the World Junior hockey Championships in Czechoslovakia by defeating the tough Swedes 3-2 in overtime on a goal by Mississauga's own
Matt Halischuk. The talented and gritty Canucks finished the tourney with a 5-1 record and exacted some sweet revenge on the Swedes who beat them 4-3 during the preliminary rounds to turn the tables on them in the gold medal match. Chosen as both the top player and goalie in the tournament was Oakville, Ontario's own
Steve Mason of the Kitchener Rangers who was chosen in the third round of the 2006 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was the 14th Gold Medal won by the Canadians in this prestigious annual showcase of the top junior hockey players in the world. A big thumb up to Coach
Craig Hartsburg and his staff and all the talented young men who made Canada so proud of them.
Another point of interest in the tournament was that the forward chosen as the best in the tournament was none other than
Viktor Tikhonov of Russia, who just happens to be the grandson of the legendary former Soviet coach of the same name. Might not be long before we see this talented 19-year-old playing somewhere in the NHL.
Good luck to
Steve Molitor of Sarnia, who on January 19th will defend his IBF super bantamweight championship of the world when he meets Mexico's
Ricardo Castillo at Orillia's Casino Rama. Molitor, who sports a perfect 25-0 record, is on a tear since winning the title with a 4th round KO of
Michael Hunter in 2006. This will be his third defense of his title here in Ontario, a jurisdiction which has seen the popularity of pro boxing fall by the wayside and lay almost dormant in recent years due to stringent legislation and an apathetic athletic commission. While Molitor's success has helped give a shot in the arm for the sport, boxing needs a grassroots revival starting at the amateur level if it is to survive and then thrive in this province.
Just saw the interview with
Roger Clemons on 60 Minutes and let truth be told there is nothing the league can do about past steroid use taken at a time when the substances weren't illegal to use in baseball. But I hope that if any one of these steroid deniers is caught in a lie especially in front of official hearings such as the congressional one taking place next week, then they should be held accountable. Charging
Barry Bonds with perjury and stripping
Marion Jones are steps in the right direction and these stars should be held responsible if caught in a lie. In today's world of spin doctors and little accountability, athletes and celebs think that they can get away with anything and or refuse to take responsibility for their actions. For certain, these high paid stars that our young people admire should be held to a higher standard than your average Joe. It makes a hell of a lot more sense to admit their mistake and work with investigators to help clean up this serious problem and help educate young budding athletes of the short and long time dangers of such drug use. It’s time to stand up and do the right thing.
