Bartender, Make Mine A Jamison

With the news swirling that an owner for the Phoenix Coyotes could be announced soon, I thought it was appropriate to bump this article I wrote on Greg Jamison on December 9, 2011 to the top of the post. I truly hope that he does strike a deal with the NHL and fans can emotionally invest with the Coyotes. Once they emotionally invest, they will financially invest. And that is what the team and valley needs. Emotionally and financial stability brought about by competent hockey people.

The City of Glendale and the NHL have two suitors for the Coyotes. One is led by Jerry Reinsdorf. He of the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls fame. He of six titles courtesy of Michael Jordan, one World Series in 2005. He started as a tax attorney for the IRS. Do I need to go any further in why he is not the owner we want or need? I don’t, but I will. He make his fortunes thanks to a Supreme Court decision that let him buy land, sell it and lease it back, writing off the depreciation. He broke up the Bulls by not bringing back coach Phil Jackson, which prompted Michael Jordan to leave. How do you think he will be in contract talks with Shane Doan at the end of the season if he let Michael Jordan go? Tax Attorney, IRS employee, drives off Jordan. That is all you need to know.

Let me contrast that with Greg Jamison. He of the San Jose Sharks. This is from his biography “Initially hired in 1993 for his proven leadership and ability to mesh the unique needs of all franchise supporters — including fans, businesses and corporate partners — with the talents of the club’s front office personnel, Jamison’s leadership role extends to working closely with Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson on a variety of organizational and hockey department issues, including major player and personnel decisions and issues relating to overall company objectives and philosophy. In addition, Jamison, 53, oversees all HP Pavilion at San Jose functions including facility operations, fan development endeavors, ticket sales, advertising, sponsorship sales and facility marketing.” The entire biography is here:
http://www.sharksahl.com/GregJamison.asp

In Greg Jamison, you have a guy who handled all aspects of the hockey team. From ticket sales to advertising. From sponsorship sales to personnel decisions. This guy has done it. What do the Coyotes need? Someone who has done it all. Not a person who owned a team. But a person who has built a team in a non-traditional hockey market and succeeded. The HP Pavilion is not only one of the toughest arenas to play, but it is sold out every game, hosts many other events, and is the anchor to the community. Read the Forbes magazine article last year on what the ownership and management group in San Jose did to make them successful, profitable, and STABLE. This is what the Coyotes need. Do you want an owner who is out there pressing the flesh with sponsors and fans?

What can you  do as a Coyote fan? Call the City of Glendale and voice your support for Greg Jamison. Contact information for the mayor is below:

Mayor Elaine Scruggs | Profile
City Office: (623) 930-2260
City Fax: (623) 937-2764
E-mail: mayorscruggs@glendaleaz.com
Letters: City of Glendale, 5850 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, AZ 85301

And yes, I know the whiskey is Jameson. The next time the NHL Board of Governors meet, I pray it is to vote and approve Greg Jamison as the new owner of the Phoenix Coyotes.