NHL Sues MSG
Folks, welcome to middle school bickering…corporate style.
The NHL is filing suit against the Rangers ownership group for breach of contract. The NHL is seeking disciplinary action against MSG that could result in ownership suspension or termination.
All of this stems from a suit originally filed by MSG against the NHL. The suit claimed that the NHL was in violation of anti-trust laws because it claimed control of the Rangers team website. A judge found this to be an illegitimate claim and ruled in favor of the NHL.
The NHL has now countered that argument with a suit of their own. This suit claims that because MSG accused the NHL of violating anti-trust laws, they were in breach of contract for challenging the leagues rules.
Now, just how serious is this?
Honestly, I am not too sure. It’s never good when ownership is feuding with the league. It’s also never good when the league is threatening to terminate the ownership of the team.
What worries me the most is the timing of this whole thing. I don’t really think that Rangers ownership is in jeopardy of losing the team. But, if Dolan is focused on fighting a legal battle instead of spending money on free agents, than it becomes a problem.
Hopefully this whole thing can be resolved quickly…but don’t count on it.
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Tags: Eric Rothman
3 Responses
UB BULL June 19th at 4:41 pm
There is more on the topic here:
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/FREE/55976430/1084&category=FREE&nocache=1
I think that this is a first salvo by the NHL and NBA to get the Dolans out of both leagues. Lets face it, the Knicks were an embarrassment to the NBA with Sanders law suit. The NHL was happy that the Rangers settled their case with the former cheerleader.
It would be nice to see the Dolans unloading the Garden, Knicks, Rangers and MSG Network to bring class back to the organization.
Michael June 19th at 5:17 pm
There’s no way this will be resolved quickly; nothing in the court system ever is.
This whole thing is, as Eric said, so petty. It started over the Rangers website, and the Rangers should’ve just let the NHL take control like they did with every other team in the league. Now instead of a “do you like me or do you like me like me” debate, it’s become the complete opposite.
Not good news.
Michael June 19th at 5:20 pm
Maybe the Rangers can offer Perry Pearn as sort of a sacrificial lamb to appease the NHL’s thirst for blood..