The NHL needed to be allowed to choose its owners - not have them chosen for them.
It will be hard to swallow this in Hamilton today, that another bid to bring the National Hockey League to the city has failed. That cold, familiar realization that Steeltown was once again the crowbar in an unsuccessful power play; the hearts and hopes of Hamiltonians chalked up as collateral damage alongside millions in legal fees.
I know - this isn't a surprise in Hamilton. But it's still got to hurt a blood-and-guts sports town that hasn't won much in the past 25 years.
It is less difficult for Canadians to swallow Jim Balsillie's failure, however. As this thing went on with the Phoenix Coyotes, Balsillie looked less and less the consummate Canadian that he portrayed, throwing his weight - and excessive bank roll - around in an attempt to barge into the NHL with a style that was anything but ours.
We would never say that Balsillie is finished, because the guy is a billionaire bulldog who will certainly be back. And Lord knows - there are so many NHL franchises floating belly-up on the surface that any guy with a net and a few million has a chance to be an owner.
But with the following words written by Judge Redfield T. Baum, it would seem that Balsillie is done for now in his pursuit of hockey's sorriest franchise, the Phoenix Coyotes:
"This conclusion," wrote judge Baum in his ruling released Wednesday afternoon, "effectively is the end for the efforts of PSE, Balsillie, (Jerry) Moyes and the Coyotes to force a sale and relocation of the hockey team.... Those motions are denied with prejudice."
Judge Baum's ruling upheld the NHL's right to approve its franchise owners, after the league's board of governors had unanimously rejected Balsillie. He also respected the league's right to approve any relocation, and to charge a relocation fee. Although Baum's is not the ultimate voice on the legality of those issues, were he to allow Balsillie to move the team, a future judge may uphold the NHL's rights.
And then, Baum wrote, "How do you un-ring the bell?"
Therefore, status quo must be upheld until those basic tenets of the NHL's constitution are put to the test somewhere other than in an Arizona bankruptcy court.
It must be said that Baum rejected the NHL's bid for the Coyotes as well on Wednesday, but in doing so noted that the bid could be massaged into acceptability. And let's face it: if Balsillie is out, the only one left standing is the league.
Who else wants this pathetic shell of a franchise, destined to lose at least US $50 million this season?
The NHL wants to pay off certain creditors, but would exclude the current owner, Moyes, and interestingly, Wayne Gretzky. The court has some issues with that, but it appears to be small potatoes. If we're reading this right, Baum is not asking for more money from the league. Just that it be spread differently among the creditors.
All of that is what tends to make our eyes glaze over on this issue.
What really counts here is PSE and Balsillie were counted out by the judge on Wednesday. Which we're not too proud to say we predicted all along.
You may believe, as I do, that Southern Ontario should have another team. Personally, I think a second team in the Air Canada Centre is the place to start.
We can discuss that all night long.
What can't be argued is this: the NHL must be allowed to choose its owners - not have them chosen for them.
The NHL must be allowed to choose its own cities - and sink or swim on their own decisions.
You may think Bettman is failing. That is your right.
But once you start to have decisions as crucial as these ones decided by judges and billionaire blow-hards, then you'll really see a sports league that's in the soup.
