Follow @james_tanner123 Politics aside, leading authorities consider income disparity to be one of the biggest problems currently facing humanity. Study after study confirms this and it is only because the idea embodies an unrealistic capitalism vs communism dichotomy that it's even debated or doubted.
Fact: Too few people control too much of the money and these people have far too much influence on the lawmaking process of our respective countries.
But that doesn't mean that some people can't be rich or that capitalism is a bad thing. It simply means that unfettered greed should be unacceptable.
How to deal with such a problem is where the left vs right arguments come in, but I am not interested in those today. I think its safe to say that most people at least understand that this is a problem.
So, in a world where people are constantly becoming more aware of the disparity between the middle class and the super-rich it's extremely easy to turn your average billionaire into a 'bad guy' or 'heel.' In a world where people will die because they don't have access to pills that for some reason cost $1000 each, it's pretty easy to be disgusted by the excess of billionaires.
The man is so beloved, he is currently being sued by his three adult sons, including the unfortunately named "Pete Jr, Jr."
And, he says the Hurricanes are not moving.
Just like he said the Whalers weren't moving.
Don't believe me? Just google 'Peter Karmanos, Piece of ____" and enjoy all the fun articles that come up.
"You murdered Hartford, razed the city, pissed on the ashes" So says ex-Whalers fan Jeremiah Ruffini in an Open Letter to the inexplicable member of the Hockey Hall of Fame (apparently you can buy your way into anything).
Now, I hate Open Letters as much as the next guy, but it is hilarious how hated Karmanos is after 18 years. It wouldn't be wrong to say that the only other person connected to the NHL who elicits this much ire is poor old Glen Healy - and he's hardly a villain. (Note: I bet Healy is actually a great guy.)
Comeuppance at it's finest if you ask me.
Now, all I know about how Karmanos made his money is that he started a software company. But, considering he moved his hockey team from Hartford (actual hockey town) to Carolina (A state, not a city...well, if you don't even bother with the "north" I think it's technically two states) it is bizarre to think of him having good business sense even if he did somehow become a billionaire.
Hartford wasn't a major sports city, so he moved the team to Nascar country, where they played 90 minutes west of the city they were supposed to move to, since that was the only arena with enough seats to satisfy the NHL. At one point they played games with a curtain over the entire upper deck, leaving them with an 11 000 seat arena (Wikipedia).
Since he did it on purpose, and since he screwed an entire city to do so (not to mention depriving the NHL of its best uniform and color scheme) it's hard to feel sorry for the guy when you hear the Hurricanes are bleeding money and might be relocated.
Some say Quebec or Las Vegas will be the destination, though the NHL would be insane to pass on the expansion fees and the extra offense two crappy teams will help generate.
No, Quebec and Las Vegas are not realistic destinations.
Based on Karmonos' past behavior and my knowledge of integers, I am predicting the Hurricanes will move to Arizona and become the Tuscon Chupacabras.
See, North Carolina is a worse market than Hartford, so it only follows that Arizona is the next logical destination after that.
So, obviously, if you take the Coyotes and multiply them by the Hurricanes, you will get two great teams in a thriving market.
MATH!!
So, take it from me kids. The Hurricanes will end up in Arizona, and within five years they will be the desert versions of the Canadiens and Maple Leafs. Everyone wins.
The Coyotes don't need Auston Mattews, they need Peter K.
Thanks for reading.