Cleveland call it Quits

[chardale]

As of Dec 15 according to a text just recieved the Cleveland team will be shutting down, now what does that mean for the others but this season is going to be a bust it looks like. 6 teams want to play, 4 want to close up shop and the other 6 are on the fence. Now what to do :cool:

[Caballo Diablo]

Did the text come from Brian?

Bernie didn't sound very confident on the radio.

[chardale]

Caballo, you almost know where the info comes from. And no he didnt sound confident. I guess after all the money they lost in Vegas was still there on the books, dont know but to say they were calling it quit's or to cease operation's on the 15th without a release from the league tells me that the league will not play. My ? is if the board of directors votes NOT to play but there are still 8 or 9 teams that want to, could they on their own still form some half ass schedule between them and still do 10 or 12 games with each other, that I have heard also. ????? Could they and legal out on their own so they dont go black for the yr witch might hurt them more to do so.??????

[Caballo Diablo]

There's a clause in the CBA pertaining to the obligations of any teams
"IN OPERATION" after December 15th. Since the owners vote isn't supposed to happen until Dec 19th some are concerned how the legalities could work out.

It would be a question for the lawyers to sort out but I'm not sure the CBA really matters, let alone that clause.

If the entire league ceases operations that clause could be moot.
If the league continues on without some of the teams, those teams not playing would more than likely fold and file bankruptcy to erase the obligations in the clause. If the entire league (or most teams) play in 2009 that would mean the entire CBA was renegotiated and said clause would be rendered moot.

Remember much of the stuff going on and being leaked by "sources" are just politics as they are all posturing for their plan on dealing with the financial problems and trying to gain more owners to their side of the fence.

They have known for a few years that drastic changes needed to be made and had expected the Platinum Equity Group to ride to the rescue. Once they saw the books and the huge debt load of the league and yearly losses of all the teams the PEG withdrew their $100 mil buy out proposal and sent the league and owners scrambling on short notice for the 2009 season.