Elkhart's season may be derailed

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

http://www.etruth.com/Know/Sports/Story.aspx?ID=468429

He also said that a potential deal to sell the team to Chicago area businessman Barry Chessick is “dead.” “Barry’s lost millions in the markets,” Beathea said of the entrepreneur who told The Elkhart Truth in August that he was considering buying the team, possibly for a seven-figure amount, and moving it to the Chicago area.

Lost millions in the markets?!? Wanted to buy an IBL team for possibly a seven-figure amount?!? Huh?!? I hope coach Beathea saw the red flags flying. I don't believe for a second that this guy lost millions in the market and was willing to buy the Express for over a million bucks.

Gary is already sitting out 2009. My suggestion is that Elkhart sit out 2009 along with Gary and both teams come back strong in 2010. The state of the economy is leaving the so-called experts scratching their heads, but I've heard more than a few times that the economy should start to rebound in 2010. Sounds like a plan to me.

[CHris902]

Wait... you actually believe that the Steelheads will be back after their "year off"?

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Wait... you actually believe that the Steelheads will be back after their "year off"?

Of course they'll be back. If we were talking about an organization like the PBL Augusta Groove that blows into town without a proper support network (friends), then of course they wouldn't be back. However, we're talking about an ownership group deeply rooted in the community. We haven't heard anything from the owners until now, but soon after their IBL season the mayor of Gary said he would continue to support the team as long as they didn't go jumping from fall to spring back to fall again. That meant the team was coming back. Notice in the Gary article that the owner stressed they were sticking with the IBL. The city can't be as financially generous as it was during the CBA days, but it DOES look favorably upon those bringing sports and live entertainment to the downtown area. What I don't fully understand is why the Steelheads owner is inquirying about a basketball complex outside of Gary. Exploring all options, I suppose.

[besl]

Gary is already sitting out 2009. My suggestion is that Elkhart sit out 2009 along with Gary and both teams come back strong in 2010. The state of the economy is leaving the so-called experts scratching their heads, but I've heard more than a few times that the economy should start to rebound in 2010. Sounds like a plan to me.

I'm interested to see where this will leave the IBL's Eastern Conference as a whole in 2009. The east was already looking shaky at the end of this past season. If I recall, didn't Holland and Grand Rapids follow Gary's lead and decline to participate in the playoffs? Those teams can't be on very solid footing.

And add to that Battle Creek leaving for the PBL, and you're left with Elgin and Windy City if in fact Elkhart chooses not to play.

I'd say the smart move for the IBL at this point would be to drop the East for the time being and focus on having 10-12 relatively solid teams on the west coast.

[misenern]

Wait... you actually believe that the Steelheads will be back after their "year off"?

They will be playing in a new division with the Quad City Riverhawks, Arkansas Rim Rockers and Strong Island Sound.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

They will be playing in a new division with the Quad City Riverhawks, Arkansas Rim Rockers and Strong Island Sound.

You mean, the Defunct Division?!? 8)

This is Gary. We do things a little differently around here. Screw the economy! We're broke around here even during the best of times. The Steelheads should take a year off (heck, maybe two) to market--to twist arms. However, the primary owner will need a front man (a full-time GM) who is also an owner. Too many people confuse the owner, Jewell Harris Jr with Jewell Harris, Sr who got sentenced to jail. That scared away corporate sponsors. People started thinking, Dang! I better not do business with them or someone might start looking at my records a little closer.

Elkhart?!? They don't want a season like Gary's 2008 season...a wreck. Go ahead and take the season off and do some damage control. This is Indiana. The fans will return.