James Tanner: John Oliver Takes On the Coyotes HBO Meets the NHL

Like an advanced statistician, Oliver provides facts free of prejudice and political party posturing. In short, he's taken up for the failed corporate sponsored news.

This is about as true as saying John Scott is a great hockey player.

Oliver is an always has been to the left of center. Like most of your commentary, I wonder if you are saying crap just for a response, knowing it is wacked way off base.

Good for you. You will take heat though - not that that is new

This is about as true as saying John Scott is a great hockey player.

Oliver is an always has been to the left of center. Like most of your commentary, I wonder if you are saying crap just for a response, knowing it is wacked way off base.
- jackzack87

He isn't really, but I guess it depends what you define as the centre. What would be right of centre ten-fifteen years ago would be considered "left" today, so it's pretty fluid.

I just go by the poli-sci text books, not by what fact-ignoring people who do nothing but yell say.

Good for you. You will take heat though - not that that is new
- Canada Cup

No doubt! I don't mind though, I've learned that you can either be good at this job or take no heat. By the way, absolutely love your "location."

No doubt! I don't mind though, I've learned that you can either be good at this job or take no heat. By the way, absolutely love your "location."
- James_Tanner

My ode to the Steve simmons, make poop up school of journalism

Most people who looked at this with a non partial view realized that the best thing for both Glendale and the Coyotes was to leave the city and probably move to Phoenix proper. Glendale is being sucked dry to the point that the taxpayers, many of which don't attend hockey games, will start to suffer from deteriorating infrastructure and the inability of the city to provide even basic services like a library! At least that's been what I've been reading, so correct me if Im wrong. I understand that the Owners want the insurance of having annual payments covering their operating losses to some extent, but If the city goes bankrupt in the process, the team will likely move along with all of the associated legal mess to boot. Perhaps they are being predatory and could care less about the tax payers and the cities ability to provide for their basic needs as long as they squeeze every penny out of the deal? Have the city pay some sort of out clause to release them from the terrible contract and move the team to where everyone knows they are going to end up sooner rather than later, downtown Phoenix! Just get this over with finally so we don't have to hear about it anymore!

Good topic Tanner but Oliver is a liberal no doubt. Sheds a different light on the real reasons behind the mess in Phoenix, I mean Arizona..

He isn't really, but I guess it depends what you define as the centre. What would be right of centre ten-fifteen years ago would be considered "left" today, so it's pretty fluid.

I just go by the poli-sci text books, not by what fact-ignoring people who do nothing but yell say.
- James_Tanner

I disagree with that statement. If you go back 15 years you'll pretty much see conservatives stating the same themes. Self control, law and order and personal responsibility.

I'd actually say the opposite. What used to be "left" 15 years ago, would now be considered center right....(hell maybe even far right) Just go back and look at the Clinton years. Welfare reform, "era of big government is over", defense of marriage act, NAFTA, GATT, tax cuts, etc. Face it, big hero's of the left like Clinton and JFK would never have a chance in the Demrat party of today.

Asking someone to buy stuff for another, is and has always been, a theme of the left.

Craziness

Thanks

I disagree with that statement. If you go back 15 years you'll pretty much see conservatives stating the same themes. Self control, law and order and personal responsibility.

I'd actually say the opposite. What used to be "left" 15 years ago, would now be considered center right....(hell maybe even far right) Just go back and look at the Clinton years. Welfare reform, "era of big government is over", defense of marriage act, NAFTA, GATT, tax cuts, etc. Face it, big hero's of the left like Clinton and JFK would never have a chance in the Demrat party of today.

Asking someone to buy stuff for another, is and has always been, a theme of the left.
- madmike71

This made me think. And after doing so, I think we're both right. Your example is good, but by the same token, Reagan would be too left wing to get elected today - (some of his actual policies, not the larger than life myth). I think it just shows that extremists from both sides of the aisle are ridiculous.

Its easy to call Oliver a Liberal, but if you watch his show, he just looks at facts. Because of the extreme take over of the GOP, many "mainstream" republican ideas are not fact based, so by a certain definition, all scientists are Leftists. But, if you move away from the Fox/MSNBC dichotomy, you find many ir even most moderate, intelligent fact accepting right of centre people are embarrassed by the TedCruz style extremists.

When it gets right down to it, taking public money and giving it to billionaires shouldn't be either a left or right issue. It should just be a thing informed people are angry about.

He does uncover a lot of dirt, shows you how much power/control people or organizations with money have.

This is about as true as saying John Scott is a great hockey player.

Oliver is an always has been to the left of center. Like most of your commentary, I wonder if you are saying crap just for a response, knowing it is wacked way off base.
- jackzack87

Left of centre in the US is right of centre in places like Canada/UK...

though the segment was entertaining oliver missed a big point. the debate on public funds used for stadiums can be made strong for either side. not that hes 100percent wrong its the situation is not the same.this wasnt a case of a team holding a cities feet the fire to build it a new arena Glendale put in a bid and it was the best deal of multipule cities to build a arena with the yotes as the anchor lessee. s

glendale had this stupid idea of being a sports hub. they built a ton of spring training parks and the football stadium as well.

cities the size of glendale should not be in the business of building stadiums. to lure them to their city. they are way too small. and when you have things like the housing crash and lose out on all that property tax income its too hard of a hit to take. they have a pop of 220k. vs say phx of 1.5mil. and phx also has business that generate hundreds of millions in city taxes. and billions in rev.

after the city makes their payments to the coyotes to manage the arena and the coyotes give the city their cut of the ticket rev the city is out around 6-8mil. now if the coyotes go away tomorrow the city will spend 6 mil to manage the arena. those are cog numbers from RFP's they put out in the past.

the mayor of phoenix has already been on local sports radio saying hes been in contact with the ownership group of the coyotes. The suns play in one of the NBAs oldest arenas. they are going to build a new one. but they would love to build a dual use facility. so they want to get the coyotes as a second tenant. but this would force the coyotes to play at usair for the until its built. if they left glendale before its completion.

in all honesty as much as it is bad PR its also kind of working in the ownerships favor. since the time they bought the team they have taken a beating for the "out clause"...but now the city is forcing them out. they go from the bad guy who could pick up and leave a city hanging with an empty arena... to a victim of incompetent city planning.

the yotes said they wouldnt redo a deal.i dont believe that is a completely true statement. i think they may go back and redo a deal. less money from the city but LESS term. say 2 to 4 years. ownership will have to take a slight hit in the wallet but in a few years they can move to new facility in phx. i would assume if they relocate out of the market completely there would be relocation fees. but obviously that is on the table. also unlike glendale the city of phx has huge support with the mayor and city...but again phx and glendale are 2 opposite worlds financially.

neither side wants this to go to court. if it does neither can afford to lose. even more so the city.

and hey im biased i live in downtown phx and HATE driving all the way out to glendale for games. i would hope they would move back to phx when they build the new suns arena.

"Asking someone to buy stuff for another, is and has always been, a theme of the left."

Like an owner asking taxpayers to buy him a stadium?

Umm, okay.

Did you see Olbermann's take on the Glendale situation a while back, too?

Most people who looked at this with a non partial view realized that the best thing for both Glendale and the Coyotes was to leave the city and probably move to Phoenix proper. Glendale is being sucked dry to the point that the taxpayers, many of which don't attend hockey games, will start to suffer from deteriorating infrastructure and the inability of the city to provide even basic services like a library! At least that's been what I've been reading, so correct me if Im wrong. I understand that the Owners want the insurance of having annual payments covering their operating losses to some extent, but If the city goes bankrupt in the process, the team will likely move along with all of the associated legal mess to boot. Perhaps they are being predatory and could care less about the tax payers and the cities ability to provide for their basic needs as long as they squeeze every penny out of the deal? Have the city pay some sort of out clause to release them from the terrible contract and move the team to where everyone knows they are going to end up sooner rather than later, downtown Phoenix! Just get this over with finally so we don't have to hear about it anymore!
- mnhockeyguy

probably one of the best summaries of this mess ive read. one thing to add...city is still stuck paying to run the arena AND they have to pay down the debt it cost to build it.

Too many right wing extremists skate around the fact that most corporations are the biggest welfare queens in the country, but they need someone to hate. The poor are an easy target and while a problem it's but a drop in the bucket.

Nice work Tanner. Call it like it is.... Even if the O'Reilly Fruitcakes come for your head.

I don't drink either flavor of koolaid, so I don't have a dog in this fight.

Too many people fighting over Coke vs Pepsi.

Every wonder why the Repubs and Dems don't let outsiders into the debates???

THINK about it.

I don't agree with Oliver that sports arena's don't increase the economics of a city. I am a friend of a friend of an owner of a popular restaurant across the street from Honda Center. They make a killing during hockey season and have to hire extra staff to meet the demand. During the off season those employees aren't needed and his restaurant barely breaks even. Those extra employees pay taxes and spend their money in the surrounding area. All because of the Honda Center.
The problem with the Glendale arena isn't location as some have suggested. Hell, it's 15 minutes or so from Phoenix, where everyone says their problems will be solved. The real problem with Glendale is they agreed to an idiotic deal with the Yotes and now they are trying to weasel out of it, pretty much rightfully so.

Well done Tanner!

James Tanner: John Oliver Takes On the Coyotes
HBO Meets the NHL
- James_Tanner

Good morning, James.

Remember your June 10th blog when a few of us tried to calmly explain this to you, and you got all huffy and indignant?

Good times.

But I'm not here just to rip you a new one (although I've already accomplished that).

For those of you interested in the subject of owners screwing taxpayers, there is no better website than www.fieldofschemes.com

And I highly recommend the book, although it is a bit dated now. Still a fantastic read.

I don't agree with Oliver that sports arena's don't increase the economics of a city. I am a friend of a friend of an owner of a popular restaurant across the street from Honda Center. They make a killing during hockey season and have to hire extra staff to meet the demand. During the off season those employees aren't needed and his restaurant barely breaks even. Those extra employees pay taxes and spend their money in the surrounding area. All because of the Honda Center.
The problem with the Glendale arena isn't location as some have suggested. Hell, it's 15 minutes or so from Phoenix, where everyone says their problems will be solved. The real problem with Glendale is they agreed to an idiotic deal with the Yotes and now they are trying to weasel out of it, pretty much rightfully so.
- duxcup07

That's not really what people mean when they talk about revitalizing an area around a stadium. A few restaurants and bars packed on game night don't amount to much. It's a question of overall development around the area... Restaurants, bars, retail, entertainment, office space, within a few blocks of the arena. In order to make a city's investment worthwhile that is what you need. A few packed bars making a killing on game nights doesn't say much.

You know, it's not always about predatory billionaires looking for opportunities, though I recognize this occurs... We here in Pittsburgh who lived through the days when things were similar to your situation in Arizona, can recall that Mario's initial solution to the city of Pittsburgh was fully privately financed that had a St. Louis based casino operation backing the construction of a new hockey venue. Why??? Because Mario was repeatedly told by local politicians that there was NO public money available.
Sure, I wanted my hockey to stay here, but I was fine with this, as I personally don't see sports team ownership groups 'in need'.
And then things suddenly changed upon the announcement of Mario's privately funded solution... and I suppose the local politicians couldn't have this happen, so THEY insisted on kicking in public funds, and tied the whole deal to a Destroit based casino operation, which went belly-up before the casino was even completed.

There are indeed predatory billionaires, and there are also politicans who have to get their grubby mits on everything by willingly 'donating' public money.

Absolutely love John Oliver.
Too bad he didn't do more of an expose on the Yotes deal... I'm sure he could have mined that for more gold.

Absolutely love John Oliver.
Too bad he didn't do more of an expose on the Yotes deal... I'm sure he could have mined that for more gold.
- mlindsay

The Red Wing references were much more powerful. Billionaire owner, successful team and bankrupt city.