Saturday News

Fargo School Board approves deal on arena. Here's the latest picture of the facility... Mayor must step it up in Kingston... Hockey players worry motel owners (okay, who invited the South Jersey Raptors?!???)... Cochrane: Why such a rush on the Fog Devils? Saint John lucky to retain junior hockey team, president says... League announcement: QMJHL set to return to Montreal next season... Board chair: St. John's Sports and Entertainment never asked to save the Fog Devils... Soo may return to NOJHL... Sting expects to go with short bench for weekend contests... Fargo-Morehead Jets get two players... Mooseheads' Smith out longer than expected... Alex Archibald shoulders big load for Oil Kings... Taylor Hall's success has Spitfires' brass beaming... Ex-Pats giving back by coaching sons' teams... Cousins do well in USHL... No regrets for Hulak in Regina... Sarnia Sting's MacQueen learns from Boyes... Giants perfectly happy to practise... Camrose Kodiak Andrew MacWilliam commits to UND... Hockey to support Tulsa heroes... Andris Dzerins playing with confidence for Fronts... Maday's return benefits Black Hawks... Vancouver Giants not hurt by lack of scoring superstars... Dubuque T-Birds keep foot on (throat of other CSHL teams) accelerator...

Monday News

Alexandria Blizzard forward Ian Guzzo faces charges of assisting in a Duluth-area home invasion last summer... Spitfires deal Parlett to Majors for Kwiet... Christian and MacLean piling up the points for Spruce Kings... Granite City Lumberjacks head coach Cale Finseth pulls double duty... Though grumbling abounds, the current Mooseheads look good... Monroe Jefferson grad learns fast in WSHL... Alaska Avalanche bolster ties to local teams... No business like road business for Giants' Hay... MacMillan cleared for return to Mooseheads...

Friday News

Zapolski relishes starting role in Erie... Lane Bitz arrives on Alexandria Blizzard blueline... Undefeated El Paso Rhinos finally play their home opener tonight... Vancouver Giants have 16 year olds on ice more than any other junior team... Success helps Prince George Cougars' mood... The chronicles of Tri-Cities Amerk Kruise Reddick... NOJHL's Sudbury entry docked three standings points for using ineligible player... Attention London fans: Check your 50-50 tickets... Determined Reichard leads Fairbanks Ice Dogs netminders trio... Spitfires deal Snow to Niagara for pair of picks... Fans slow to support Majors in Mississauga... Guelph Storm president Elliot Kerr resigns... Otters' Palmieri could return next week... Hunt to move into second on Pats' bench boss list... Buccaneers thrive on special teams play...

Saturday News

A few folks have asked me about the new fundraising strategy of the WSHL Tulsa Rampage. If you go over to their website you'll see in the right margin where you can donate and "sponsor" a player. It's no surprise to me that teams are taking advantage of USA Hockey's (correctly) liberalized interpretation of the NCAA regs regarding scholarships (sponsorships, scholarships --> to-MAY-to, to-mah-to). But I have to admit I did get a small chuckle out of the fact the first team to exploit the philosophical change is the team that sold parents less than a year ago that I didn't know what I was talking about regarding the matter. New coach, new toughness, new promise for Wichita Falls Wildcats. I'll say, last night they strolled into Frisco and whupped the Tornado 4-0... Former Blade Darcy Robinson dies during game in Italy. (second article, third article, fourth article)... The NOJHL website got some new features, including "Ask the Commish"... Majors trade prospect Ryan Green to the Windsor Spitfires. (second article)... Perugini brothers make OHL history in net... Dubuque T-Birds taking basic approach to perfect record in CSHL... Winter Hawks add Kevin Undershute from the Medicine Hat Tigers... OHL hockey returns to the Garden City... Corey Braddick quits Prince George Spruce Kings... Maineiacs work to rebuild championship team... Bismarck Bobcats want to start anew... Pioneers face new challenges in WHA, and loses opener 6-3... New group led by Ottawa 67's owner looks to bring bring CFL back to Ottawa. (second article)... Hitmen, Broncos and Americans hook up for three-way WHL trade...

Saturday News

Lots to cover since I missed posting Friday... I'll mention it again Monday morning when I normally have more readers, but the Helena Bighorns have found themselves short a broadcaster when their previous one moved up last week to the Amarillo Gorillas of the CHL. Anyone interested in calling their games (and maybe doing a little selling) should contact Mike Butters... Local junior hockey team to debut. Really, you mean the Capital Thunder never existed before this season? Wow, I must have some really vivid premonitions! Yup, more silliness thanks to our friend, Tier 3 Junior A... Granite City Lumberjacks hit ice with hopes and dreams... Generals welcome new co-owner to Oshawa... Spits without Parlett - Young players expected to step up against Sting... Kennedy closes book on abuse... Swift Current Broncos readying for regular season... Justin Levac re-enlists with the Brampton Battalion... Oil Kings prepare for chemistry test... Alex Friesen impresses Nigara IceDogs... Lewiston Maineians glad to be back after long summer... Stacking up the Bismarck Bobcats for 2007... Prince George Cougars down to three overagers... Blades add one more local to hometown-laden roster... Kenai River Brown Bears look to get off on right foot ... Season of expectations for P.E.I. Rocket... Mooseheads expected to set bar for contenders... WHA going for year two... Dean Ouellet gets the C for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles... SJHL teams eager to test their preparations... Blows to the head no joking matter... New club the first big test of Schoneck's coaching skill...

Friday News

Helena Bighorns president Mike Butters retains his role as NorPac commish... Some more details on the sale of the NAHL Southern Minnesota Express. New owners B.A.M. Sports is comprised of Clarkston, Michigan radiologist Dr. Christopher Sweel, Fort Meyers, Florida surgeon Dr. Marc Schneider, and Los Angeles real estate developer Gil Peled. Express head coach Pat Cullen will remain with the team.... WSHL's Nevada Stars franchise fails to survive to start of season... Louisville's historic Gardens may flourish again - with hockey potentially on the horizon... QMJHL is stocked with solid draft prospects... Saskatoon Blades prospects movers, shakers... Forward Justin Courtnall returns to Victoria Grizzlies... WHL adopts rule changes for 2007-08... Kamloops Blazers sign seven new players... Portland Winter Hawks sign Salem, Oregon prospect Aaron McGill... Jim Sandlak joins Sarnia Sting coaching staff... John Kisil added as Saginaw Spirit assistant coach... NAHL introduces Top Prospects Tournament to be held in Ann Arbor in February... Owen Sound Attack open camp with abundance of new faces as only 10 players return from last year... St. Mike's Majors hope new home translates into new attitude...

Wednesday News

Someone needs to elbow Valencia Vipers boss Larry Bruyere, and remind him that the WSHL has NOT been approved (yet) by USA Hockey to operate as a Tier-3 Junior A league. The WSHL's application is in the bucket just like the AWHL's and any other league's, and in all likelihood they aren't going to get an up or down vote until the meetings this summer. Personally, I think Tier 3 is a joke. If everyone in Jr B is going to apply and be granted T3A status, wouldn't have just been easier to modify the Jr B regs to what would have been the T3A standards? Yes, I know... this ignores the political realities of junior hockey on the East Coast, but this entire scenario is a great example of unintended consequences. Seriously, what is going to be accomplished when you change the label? Considering some of the leagues are organizationally incompetent, this is no better than using social promotion to allow an illiterate kid to advance to the next grade. The Record out of Kitchener-Waterloo has an editorial that asks why a player's action which in the regular season would result in a 2-game suspension instead in the playoffs generates a $500 fine. The paper goes so far as to call the OHL "bush league"... Curiously enough, the newspaper is going off on the NHL after an incident where one of their hometown players, Steve Downie, benefited from the discipline policy. One other interesting tidbit from the editorial - the Kitchener Rangers generated Can$4.14M (US$3.62M) in revenue last season. Jon Garver of the USHL was a busy boy yesterday. First off, Tuesday is when he puts out the regular weekly release. Release #2 of the day announces that Waterloo GM (and all-around good-guy) Doug Miller will pull double-duty with the additional role as USHL's Director of Corporate Sales and Sponsorships, a position the league has needed filled for at least a couple of years. Next up, Garver reports the USHL has topped the million mark in attendance this season. Garver then pushes out the league's release of the slightly-dated news that Green Bay is hosting next year's Prospects/All Star Game. Finally, Jon cranks out an extended narrative detailing the race for the Anderson Cup. Wow Jon, whatcha gonna do today? USHL Prez Gino Gasparini was interviewed Monday on an Edmonton sports-radio station, discussing unique the playoff format as well as expansion. You can listen to the interview here.

Monday News

Here's a newsflash - The Columbian is telling us the Fort Vancouver Pioneers might not be in the NORPAC next season. That's pretty much been a foregone conclusion ever since the final ruling was handed down. In a semi-related note, Tucson Ice, the WSHL Tilt's home rink last season (well, half of it anyway) is closing after today. The facility has had issues on an off and has not been a particularly strong operator. In addition, the Arizona Attorney General's office has been contacting folks at the rink and who worked with the Tilt and Jon MacWilliams. We'll just have to see if anything comes of it. The USHL and NAHL are both enjoying Michigan State's NCAA title. The USHL has 15 alumni playing for the Spartans, and the NAHL is claiming 11 alumni on Michigan State's roster. However, it would be nice if they counted players who actually played a game in their league. Steven Mnich may have been rostered with the Texas Tornado, but never played a game for them. In addition Matt Shouneyia is not listed on the Spartans' roster... The USHL has also released their list of alumni who were NCAA All-Americans this season... OHA development program to continue on a larger scale... The Waterloo Record had a editorial piece this weekend promoting the idea of moving the homeless Icedogs to Waterloo. Unfortunately, the article is hiding behind a subscription and I can't tell you much more other than there's some concern the Kitchener Rangers might object to the territorial invasion. AJHL final bittersweet for St. Albert - Bound Traders...

O(r)der in the court?

It's been a wild 24 hours for the Fort Vancouver Pioneers. Yesterday they received notification that Chris Kiminki, Kevin Mixon, and Axel Erasmie-Thor were suspended for the remainder of the season. I do not know the reason for Erasmie-Thor's suspension, but for Kiminki and Mixon, it was for Fort Vancouver paying their release fee (isn't that the definition of ransom?) subsequent to the folding of the Tilt. The release fee was required of about a dozen players alleged to have been sponsored by the Tilt, and had not paid their tuition out of their own pockets. I warned three months ago that there would be teams that picked up the tab to acquire the Tilt players, because (surprise, surprise) there were no further requirements or limitations on how and by whom the money was to be paid. The money passed the USAH/WSHL smell test months ago when these two were allowed to join the Pioneers, so I will leave to the reader to determine the purpose behind the timing of the current action. Seriously, did the WSHL bother to look at whose name was on the check? So, this afternoon at 1PM PDT the Pioneers went back into court to seek a restraining order on this round of suspensions, and apparently also to appeal/overturn part or all of their settlement with the NorPac. My understanding is that the judge who heard the case will fax a ruling tonight. Here's where I have a problem with Fort Vancouver's latest action. While I agree they (and the players) are being punished for violating the "spirit" of an unwritten requirement - and I suspect they aren't the only team that did, USAH bylaws require any legal action against them by member organizations be filed in a Colorado court. So at this point I'm left wondering if the judge in Washington had any jurisdiction in the first place (a likely rebuttal argument by USAH). Even if the judge rules completely in favor of the Pioneers, what's to keep USAH from attempting to enforce the sanctions once the team is in Michigan? Wouldn't a Federal Court be required to handle this interstate situation? Also, there's some question as to whether the Pios even bringing action subjects them to a status of "not in good standing," which USAH could then use as justification to pull the trigger and kill the Pios' trip to Nationals. I don't have the answers. I'm not even sure I'm clear on the entire situation... but I hope to know more soon.

A look at the books

The great thing about most American junior hockey leagues being 501(c) organizations is that their annual IRS Form 990 tax filings are public information. So here are the most recently available filings for some of those leagues. These forms provide some rather interesting information about the revenues and expenditures of each league. I'm not going to make a lot of comments at this time about any particular league's filing. The posting of these forms may generate some controversy (no one likes being examined), so why am I doing this? First off, I'm a strong believer in transparency - I'd be surprised if many teams ever looked at the filings of their own leagues. I also believe these forms contain information that each league could find useful. I don't mean that in a political intelligence sense, but a "Best Practices" one. However, I will include the caveat that each league is different in the services they provide directly, as well as how they categorize and/or itemize their revenues and/or expenses. That said, I would caution anyone from jumping to conclusions. In addition, I'm also throwing in the Big 3 NCAA leagues, as well as the NHL and AHL, which recently switched their operations to 501(c)'s. Junior Leagues NAHL: 2004-05 EJHL: 2005-06 CSHL: 2004-05 MJHL: 2004-05 WSHL: 2004-05 College Leagues CCHA: 2004-05 WCHA: 2004-05 Hockey East: 2004-05 Pro Leagues NHL: 2004-05 AHL: 2004-05 In other news... IceDogs headed for Niagara Falls??? OHL All-Star Festival rolls out the red carpet in Saginaw... CHL and NHL partnership to offer officiating development camp... Saskatoon Blades lose director of business operations...

Weekend News

The WSHL has provided what appears to be the final word with regards to the Tucson Tilt players. It's clear to me that the WSHL is trying to distance itself from the scholarship issue through their interpretation of the rules and by the interposing of "scholarship" with "remaining tuition obligations." I would not be surprised if a few Tilt parents file suit against the WSHL and USA Hockey to obtain the release of their players, on the grounds that it was the responsibility of the franchise (not the players) to provide the work assignments in lieu of paying tuition. In addition, I find it interesting that the release omits any statement as to where the collected ransom money will go. CHL and USHL to battle for Rapid City... Langley looking at new 4,000 seat arena... Fairbanks to host NAHL's Robertson Cup... Year-end diagnosis for Vancouver Island Hockey League... Seguin Bruins operations staff let go... Junior hockey players arrested over sex tape... Hockey coach suspended in flag-signing incident... Ninety-four percent of QMJHL players attending school... Williams Lake player commits to... Texas Tech?!??? Apparently so. Someone might want to let the BCHL know that Tech hasn't played Oklahoma in a couple years now, and likely won't again until/unless the Red Raiders move up to D1. I guess Brad Morgan's not talking up Oklahoma for me...

WSHL Dispersal

It's posted on the WSHL's website, but I'll toss it here as well for discussion purposes: The following is a list of the Tucson Tilt Draft List. Only the team who drafted the player may contact the player. If the player chooses not to participate or wants a trade from that team, the normal compensation claim fee will be paid if the player ends up at another WSHL team. Any team that contacts a drafted player prior to notice from the league office will pay a $500 tampering fine. ANDREWS TIM, Phoenix Polar Bears BILOZERTCHEV ALEXANDER, Peoria Coyotes BOYLE WILLIE, Valencia Vipers BRENNAN COREY, Bay City Bombers COLE JAKE, Peoria Coyotes EGAN RYAN, Valencia Vipers ETHELL BILLY, Bay City Bombers FRANK BRAD, Capital Thunder GILLINGS MARK, Phoenix Polar Bears JACKSON TREVOR, Valencia Vipers MACDONALD RYAN, Peoria Coyotes ROYKA EDWARD, San Diego Surf SASUNKEVICH NIKITA, Peoria Coyotes WILSON ANTHONY, San Diego Surf I have a couple of issues with this. First off, is there any reason why the Midwest Division is not allowed to participate? After all, they are in the league, aren't they? It can't be due to the players universally residing in the Western Division footprint, because at least two players, and possibly more, don't. I guess this makes Midwest Division teams second class citizens. Second issue, coming as no surprise, is that a number of players are noticeably absent... presumably over the issue of scholarships/unpaid tuition (however you'd like to frame it). In my opinion, the WSHL and USA Hockey effectively have turned these players into free agents. How is that, you might ask? Well, if the players owe approximately $2,000 (since we're about a third of the way into the season) to get them "up to date," what is to prevent an enterprising team from paying it on behalf of the player? Ahhhh, the law of unintended consequenses. Rather than disperse everyone equitably, the league has assured the "haves" of possessing a greater opportunity to acquire the Tilt's top talent than the "have nots." As the Guinness boys would say... "BRILLIANT!"

WSHL Press Release

As posted on the WSHL's website: At a meeting held earlier today, with two members of the Western States Hockey League Board of Governor's, Managing Partner Jon MacWilliams confirmed that the Tucson Tilt was ceasing operations effective today. A preliminary financial review, conducted today in Tucson by the WSHL Board Members, did conclude that the ownership of the Tucson Tilt, as represented by Jon MacWilliams, were not going to increase their investment in the enterprise to cover the existing deficit in cash flow to operate the Team. Based on that decision, the WSHL had no alternative than to act upon the purported insolvency and suspend the Team’s participation in the remaining schedule for the 2006-2007 season. The preliminary financial review, although still ongoing, points to an ill-advised business plan based heavily on donations and sponsorships that heretofore had not materialized. In addition, the Team has outstanding receivables from "player tuition contracts" that total more $70,000.00, from players who have not made payments due under the contracts. It would appear, based on preliminary investigation, that Coach Jeremy Law and Jon MacWilliams were not successful in the collection of the delinquent players tuition's (sic), that are outstanding. The continuing investigation will consider all creditor claims and review of expenses paid to date. The player roster of the Tucson Tilt has been frozen by USA Hockey in accordance to the request made by the WSHL. A dispersal draft will be held to place all players, who have met their financial obligations to the Team. Players with delinquent tuition payments will not be released until payment has been made satisfactory to the WSHL. It is the intention of the WSHL, in accordance with USA Hockey policies, to pursue the collection of the outstanding player tuition's. The WSHL dispersal draft will be held prior to Tuesday, Dec. 13. Okay, a few high points... Ever seen a WSHL contract? The Tilt's contract have no language stating when (or how) the tuition is to the paid. It could be mid-season, end of season, or years from now. Thus, the contracts became null and void when the team folded. Secondly, which USA Hockey policy obligates the WSHL to collect revenue from players? I'm looking for the exact chapter and verse. If someone has it, I'll post it. I'm just trying to figure out why the league is pushing this issue for a reason other than to cover their own backside. The latest on the financial audit of the Tilt is that $93k in tuition was collected. Another $70k in revenue was collected from the poker group and other sources, of which $50k was flagged for player sponsorships. On the other side of the ledger, only $60k of the team's approximately $200k in expenditures and debt appears to be related to the normal operations of a hockey team. For all of the demonizing of scholarships in this affair, they are NOT illegal under either USA Hockey or NCAA regulations. The USA Hockey limitation is that they cannot be tied to the talent of the player, and if sponsorships are to be utilized, "meaningful, productive work" is to be performed "off the ice and away from team competition." The NCAA has no requirement for meaningful work in exchange. Their new Amateur Certification Clearinghouse only asks players if they have ever "competed on any team where anyone received more than their expenses to play on the team." and there's nothing in the regulations of either body about equity (a common counter-argument) Dave Tyler, I know you are a lawyer. As such it would seem reasonable that you understand that reimbursement of expenses is not payment. Stop using the "NCAA prohibits it" argument when you talk about the evils of scholarships. Reimbursement of expenses - by way of a scholarship covering tuition - is perfectly legal in the NCAA. Scholarships didn't kill the Tilt, free spending did. The black eye on the WSHL has been caused by a lack of institutional control by the league of their member teams. The WSHL's ineffective policies, standards, and practices have allowed an owner to mis-manage a franchise into the nightmare we see today. Unfortunately, many Tilt players are being held hostage... unable to continue their playing careers. Jeremy Law's coaching career is being held hostage by threats of suspension by the WSHL and USA Hockey. The players didn't embarrass the WSHL. Jeremy Law didn't embarrass the WSHL. Do the right thing and set them free.

Let's not blame the players

Well, the WSHL held a conference call to deal with Tucson, and the good news is that nothing was decided concerning the fate of the players. Yes, that's a good thing. The league will likely not hold a dispersal draft until early next week. When they do hold the draft, the league is considering only allowing those players who paid their tuition to participate. Those who received scholarships will be forced to pay up in full before they can enter the draft or even play anywhere else in USA Hockey. I'm not sure this makes a lot of sense. For one thing a lot of players pay their tuition on a monthly basis. So my first question regarding this process is, are players who were on a payment plan going to be allowed to be in the dispersal? If so, then it makes no sense to require the scholarship players to pay in full. They should be allowed to pay for the first three months of the season, getting "up to date" so to speak. There is a lot of talent on the table here. Teams should be allowed to acquire it through the dispersal. No offense to any teams out there, but you could use both the talent and the revenue. If players were on a payment plan, they can simply resume their payments with their new team. If they were on scholarship, then allow them to pay to get current, then continue payments with their new team. Those who paid in full can simply pick up with a new team. The players are not at fault here, and have already been through enough (some for the second year in a row), and scholarships had nothing to do with the demise of the team. Remember, this team earned more tuition revenue than any other team in the league. The demise of the team was due to excessive expenditures, not a lack of revenue. Neither at fault are the teams who under the current plan will be unable to acquire all the available players (and their potential tuition revenue). Allow the players who owe to get caught up through November, use that money to pay off the ice bill and anything else (NOT the apartments, which were paid for through billeting fees - Jon simply didn't pay those bills), get the players to their new teams, and get on the road to putting this debacle behind us.

What's next? I'm not sure...

Not much new to report this morning. As I mentioned in the comments section, the rumors of Jeremy Law being suspended by the WSHL/USA Hockey are untrue. I'm not sure how that one got started, but there is simply no basis for it. On the player side, there's supposed to be a league conference call today to determine what to do next, and I suppose this will lead to a dispersal draft. I'm sure the league will find some way to complicate things, however. I'll go way out on a limb here and put my money on the communication being less than exemplary, but I hope I'm wrong. From Topeka this morning there's a post-mortem column in the Capital-Journal on what happened - from the perspective of the relocation. It's also includes a "what's next" for Topeka hockey in general. I spoke to the author, sports editor Kurt Caywood, while he was working on it, and am a little disappointed he made no reference to the NAHL. Topeka's market size, history of support levels, and facility quality would seemingly make it an ideal NAHL market, and I told as much to Caywood. Oh well, at least he referenced the blog. Update: Whoops... my early morning sleepy-eyed glossing of the column missed this: "A low-budget junior team — those who know say that a North American Hockey League team would be the best option; I say whatever — would give them hockey and still be able to survive without widespread commercial appeal, the hockey version of a hearty houseplant that greens up a room but lives in spite of neglect." I still think Caywood could have done more to present the NAHL as the best option, especially at a modest (say, 3,000 seats) sized facility such as Topeka Ice has been conceived to be.

Number of the day

$198,000. I'm being told that, upon further review, was how much spent "on" the Tilt. "On" is in quotes because, surprise surprise, many of the expenditures were questionable. Wow... For players/parents emailing me asking what happens next, I can't say for sure. My suggestion is to contact Ron White.

Tilt Roster Frozen

Well, this has been anticipated... Here's the email from John Cowley, USA Hockey's player registrar: USA Hockey has frozen the protected list of the Tucson Tilt (WSHL) team. NO contact may be made by any other team to players on this protected list. The only surprise is that it took this long.

Vaya con dios

Before Ron White travels to Tucson tomorrow to survey the wreckage and administer last rites to the Tilt, here's a picture we all thought was possible at the start of the season, and is now probably the last picture of the team (well, part of it) we will ever see.Yes, that's the Thorne Cup...

Tilt Update

UPDATE - 8:04PM CST: Okay children, I'm turning it back on... for now. Behave yourselves. As most of you are aware, I've turned off the comments. The rhetoric was getting out of hand and I don't have the time to babysit. I may turn it on again in the evening when I get home, but no promises. My understanding is that Ron White will be in Tucson tomorrow to go over the situation with Jon MacWilliams. I'm not sure what else Ron can do other than look at both sides of the ledger, throw up his hands, and revoke the franchise. I'm sure he'll be rethinking his comments to HR Cook (manager of Landon Arena in Topeka) Friday, which gave little indication of any problems with the franchise.

MacWilliams Responds

First off, Blogger seems to have fixed whatever bug existed in the comments feature. I only ask that people post responsibly and generally behave themselves. Secondly, last night I received an email response from Jon MacWilliams: Marc, I'm not sure why you are intent on slamming me constantly. I have made some mistakes but nothing criminal, you posted last night that I didn't return calls and I have since called you twice with no response from you. The story is simple, we ran out of money, the league is doing an audit this week and it will exhonorate (sic) me of any of the alleghations (sic) that your posters seem to think. Please lay off until the true story comes out. Thanks, Jon To address his points: At no time have I called Jon a criminal. He says the money, by most accounts approximately $150k, ran out. Of course, the next question becomes: How? If there is indeed a league audit, I suspect it is going to say "yup, Jon blew threw all the money." That's, of course, assuming a league that doesn't announce that Idaho folded and that has a publicist who can't explain why Lafayette is not appearing at the showcase in Utah say anything at all. The only thing I have said directly about Jon is that he appears to be the sole proprietor of the franchise. This has been backed by numerous reports and by the fact the poker group seems unwilling to give him another marker. The lack of commentary by the poker group (here's an example by Daniel Negreanu) in the wake of the positive news about moving to Topeka was rather revealing. Has MacWilliams attempted to call me twice? Yes. The first time was Sunday night around 11:30 PM (five or six hours after the initial call to Jon), second was Monday afternoon. Both times my ringer was off as I was either in bed or a meeting. This entire semester has been a busy one for me, with lots of 12 hour days like the one I had yesterday (Jon, that's why I never took you up on your offer to fly me out to Tucson for a weekend, remember?), and my ringer will continue to be turned off. In the meantime, feel free to use the comments feature to tell your side of the story.