From: golchowy@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca (Gerald Olchowy)
Subject: Re: Faceoff with Peter Pocklington
Organization: University of Toronto Chemistry Department
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 13:34:03 GMT

In article <allan.727600495@st-lina> allan@cs.UAlberta.CA (Allan Sullivan) writes:
>Last Monday, there was a special on Edmonton Television (CFRN- CTV)
>in which Pocklington was questioned by various members of the
>Edmonton Media. (This looks like a big push for Pocklington's
>plans for a new arena.)
>
>Pocklington started out attacking the media, blaming them for
>much of his image problem. However, he seemed to end up repeating
>the same message over and over again... He didn't want to move
>the Oilers to another city, but unless he manages to sell enough
>box seats in his new proposed stadium, he will have to move the
>team. (He also stated that he does not want government support
>for the new stadium.)
>
>A number of interesting things were highlighted...
>
>- During some background information, they mentioned several
>  charitable things Pocklington has done
>
>- On top of the rent that Edmonton pays Northlands, Northlands
>  also keeps all parking and concessions money
>
>- Possible locations for the new stadium : Possibly in the
>  south part of the city, but it has been suggested that it
>  be built in the downtown area (given appropriate tax breaks)
>
>One of the few times that Pocklington was really challenged
>was when the subject of Pocklington's 'Lies' came up. Pocklington
>claimed he didn't lie... One of the reporters brought up a comment long 
>ago Pocklington made where he said that he had only received
>money during 1 trade, when he had actually received money for
>several trades. Pocklington claimed that he made a correction
>following the comment, saying that he only received 'a lot'
>of money during one trade, although he did receive smaller amounts
>from other trades. (But with the high corporate tax rate , the money
>wasn't all that great...)
>
>On the complaints that the money from the Gretzky trade wasn't
>reinvested in the Oiler organization, Pocklington confirmed that
>the money WAS invested in his other business intrests, but now
>money from those intrests are being used to support the Oilers.
>
>All in all, none of the reporters really challenged Pocklington.
>
>My personal opinion... I do see the need for a new stadium
>(or at the very least, a major change in the lease at Northlands),
>although I would prefer the Oilers to have different ownership
>(if for no better reason than to loose Pocklington's negative 
>association).

I'd rather have an owner that gets his team into the playoffs every
year, that has won the division championship 8 times in 13 years and
8 times in the last ten and that has won 5 Stanley Cups in 13 years
and 5 in the last 9 years, and has more playoff series victories
than any team except Pittsburgh post-Gretzky (and only 1 behind them)...

...than an owner who is Miss Congeniality.

The Oilers have won the Smythe Division the last three years with
a Stanley Cup, and the media makes it sound like the Oilers have
been lousy...Quebec lived through five years of being absolutely
horrid with full houses
...the Oilers spend half a season in fifth place, with better
young talent than everyone in the division except Vancouver and
Winnipeg, and the city has quit on Pocklington and Sather.

Pocklington isn't going to sell this baby...he can go to Phoenix or
Dallas and have $10 million dollars of revenue in his pocket per 
season before he sells a ticket...and with that kind of money, he
and Sather will go on winning Stanley Cups.  All he is asking Edmonton
for is support from the fans and the business community so that
the new arena will fly.

Where are you going to find a private citizen in Edmonton, other than
Pocklington, who is willing to build a new arena essentially for the
franchises survival no matter who is owner.

The Toronto media hate Pocklington and Sather because they are winners,
while Toronto has been stuck with losers...so they continually bad mouth
Pocklington and Sather for being cheap.  They don't call Calgary cheap
for being unwilling to pay Doug Gilmour, or Mike Vernon.  They don't
call Winnipeg cheap for dumping Ed Olczyk and Pat Elyniuk for money
reasons...or for Vancouver for being chintzy with Cliff Ronning...and
now having an unhappy camper in Trevor Linden who is earning half of
what Mike Modano is earning.  

The Oilers paid two of their four big free agents last year...Manson
and the Corson+Gilchrist (for Damphousse) trade...Corson and Gilchrist
together earning more than Damphousse is earning in Montreal...Sather
having noted that Damphousse disappeared in the Vancouver and the
Chicago playoff series last year, and decided that Corson would
probably be a better playoff performer.  It took Sather awhile to
find someone willing to pay Lowe what he wanted, and it still ended
up being less and for a shorter term than what Lowe wanted.  No team
is willing to part with two measly 1st round draft choices to sign
Joe Murphy at the price Murphy is asking, and he is a player who
is still only 25, with his best years ahead of him...not even a
rich team like Chicago, who is short of scorers, and is poised for
a Cup run.

The Oilers have 3 one-million dollar salaries which is more than any
other western Canadian team, and had and probably still do a larger
payroll than Vancouver and Winnipeg...

Gerald
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