The window of opportunity for the Penguins became significantly smaller after yesterday's casino licensing decision. Anybody with even the slightest hint of inside information knew that Isle of Capri, while the darling of the entire Pittsburgh area, was not ahead in the hearts and minds of the Pennsylvania Gaming Board.
In reality, the larger picture in yesterday's state-wide casino-licensing awards was about pumping more money into certain economically-depressed parts of Pennsylvania's cities and generating additional revenue for the state's vacation destinations. It's an unfortunate side-effect of the Penguins' financial troubles that they hung so much hope on just one of dozens of proposals to cross the Gaming Board's collective eyes. While I'm sure there will be cries of Eastern favoritism on the part of Governor Ed Rendell for not pulling hard enough for Isle of Capri on behalf of Pittsburgh, I don't think he cared enough about the fortunes of one hockey team weighed against the economic windfall for the entire Commonwealth - nor should he.
Mario Lemieux has done a superhuman job to keep the Penguins here, and maybe now it's time for him to lay down his financial and psychological burden and watch from the sidelines, knowing he did everything he could - ultimately in vain. PITG, which won a slots license for the North Side, and headed by Detroit-based businessman Don Barden, has offered money on a 30-year plan for a new arena, with the team footing the remainder of the bill - which they are under no obligation to do so in the agreement. Caught between the rock of moving, and the hard place of possibly jumping back into bed with Jim Balsillie, maybe this isn't a bad option after all. Just, please get rid of the name, "Plan B." You're not trying to prevent a pregnancy.
The worst part beyond the fading hopes of thousands of fans, the front office, and the players, is that the sharks in other cities are already swimming, licking their collective chops at the penguin chum now floating in the proverbial water.
Quoth the GM of Kansas City's new Sprint Center: "Let's just say it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas." Rrrriggghhhttt...let's see if a minor league franchise can stay in KC longer than two years, let alone having dreams about an NHL team coming to the city. Remember the Scouts? They of the 27 combined wins in 160 games over two seasons? Apparently no one there does. Winnipeg - shiny new arena, rich hockey tradition, minus-20 in the sun. Las Vegas, Portland, Oklahoma City? Are they serious? Did the NHL just parse the lyrics to Huey Lewis and the News' "Heart of Rock and Roll" and pick cities at random? If so, they forgot Tulsa, Austin, Seattle and San Francisco, too.
The NHL does NOT have the Penguins' back. Further evidence provided by the following statement issued by Gary Bettman yesterday: "The decision by the gaming commission was terrible news for the Penguins, their fans and the NHL. The future of this franchise in Pittsburgh is uncertain, and the Penguins now will have to explore all other options, including possible relocation. The NHL will support the Penguins in their endeavors." Meaning, whatever deal will make our books look the best, we will support. Which is just totally un-fucking-fathomable. If the league rearranged its entire salary structure to allow for 30 teams to survive the post-lockout years, why in God's name can't they step up and fix one weak link in an otherwise strong chain??
I wonder when the final tipping point will come, when all involved simply give over to the fact that putting more energy into salvaging a lost cause is more painful than letting go. The Penguins are now embroiled in its fourth near-fatal situation since 1977. How about you let Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, Recchi and the rest play out the season without the Black Cloud hanging over their heads, get one more year of treasured memories, and give them the freedom to leave?
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