Matthew in Toronto asks…
I know that you don’t cover football, but what is your take on the Argos ownership situation? Do you think that by being silent and not completing the sale of the franchise that David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski are being unfair to the fans?
Answer: Absolutely not!
The majority of sports pundits are not business or legal experts. They can criticize sports-related decision. But, almost always, their knowledge of behind the scenes workings is equivalent to a kindergarten student’s vague understanding of simple addition. Frankly, they do not have J.D. or M.B.A. degrees.
Many Canadian Football League analysts have lambasted the owners of the Toronto Argonauts, Mr. Cynamon and Mr. Sokolwski, for the “slow process” of the team’s potential sale. Perhaps they do not realize that boardroom deals are quite different than the dramatizations on television. Indeed, fine print does not appear by waving a magic wand. Moreover, being “clear and transparent” with the fans, à la Don Waddell, is not an appropriate acquisition tactic. The parties involved must remain quiet until a sale is completed.
If the Oklahoma City Thunder played in the Eastern Conference, the club would be in fifth place. But, with a respectable26-21 record, the NBA’s newest franchise is tied for the last playoff spot in the tough West. The bulk of that success ought to be attributed to this week’s athlete, Kevin Durant. The third-year pro is having a most valuable player type of season, averaging 29.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, with a 48.8 field goal percentage. In his past three games, the Washington, D.C. native scored 28, 30, and 45 points and pulled down 11, 4, and 11 boards respectively. He led Oklahoma City to a couple victories, including an impressive 101-84 triumph over the 32-15 Denver Nuggets. Durant, 21, provides Thunder fans with a sound reason for optimism.