Senators don’t deserve our money
Re: Team officials and Hoffman knew about harassment allegations for weeks, agent says, June 13. The wailing and gnashing of teeth that has accompanied the train wreck Ottawa Senators’ 2017-18 season boggles the mind. Even with the reality that professional hockey is a business (and nothing more), it is hard to believe any business could be so poorly managed and remain viable.
Too many people try to find some “meaning ” in their lives through sports teams — as if their fortunes, or the fortunes of our city, turned on the success or failure of a bunch of millionaires playing a game in the employ of billionaires. Wake up and smell the coffee, folks.
The actions of the current owner make it clear his only concern is turning a profit. If you’d like to change that behaviour, stop buying tickets. It would also be a good time to make it clear to those seeking election to city council this year that they had better commit to spending ZERO dollars on a new arena downtown. We can’t afford to bankroll prima donnas when there are so many other needs to be met.
Chris Purdy, Cumberland
Don’t add to the Karlssons’ troubles
Re: Senators’ organization has lost its way as dysfunction rules the day, June 14.
Good articles by Wayne Scanlan, Ken Warren and Michael Traikos. This heartbreaking situation may be the proverbial-straw.
It’s just so sad that it is so ugly and touches team families off the ice.
But let’s not forget owner Eugene Melnyk’s bombshell when he let go many in the front office, including an original and respected Senators’ founder. And from what the public could glean from news reports, there were a lot of problems in the boardroom. Not paying promised salary bonuses, humiliations, and even turfing Cyril Leeder after he stood up in defence of staff. The tyrant and the rot were visible.
Then we had the fanfare bringing in the Toronto bigwig. Where is he now? Left early.
I just cannot imagine how hard it must have been for Erik and Melinda Karlsson before getting to the state of filing for a protection order. But after seeing how the organization is handling the episode of AGM Randy Lee (charged with harassment), I don’t think they had any choice but to act.
So, please, don’t forget the rest of the long path that led here and let’s not add to the Karlssons’ shoulders the burden of fan dissatisfaction, organization discord, mismanagement and resulting revenue losses. They don’t deserve or own that. That belongs to Melnyk.
Julie Zahoruk Tanner, Barrhaven
True fans should remain loyal
One disturbingly awful year out of the many good ones — including last year when they were one goal away from the Stanley Cup final — and you, Wayne Scanlan, think the Ottawa Senators should be relegated to the lower leagues? That their on-ice performance warrants this?
I agree that this past year the team performed badly. The owner, coaches and players have lost their way and need changes. Relegation to another league is not called for.
A huge reason there is so much angst in this city is the constant over-publication of every issue that has come up within the organization. In the quest for ratings, the press has made every incident larger than it is, has sensationalized any bad news with front page stories and been a constant thorn in the side of the Senators.
A true fan will support the team, will help to build it up rather than tear it down, will show sympathy while still demanding changes. True fans do not abandon the team when things go wrong. Show your support, help lift the Senators up and hold your head high as a Sens fan. I know I do.
Marie Macdonald, Orléans
A true fan will support the team, will help to build it up rather than tear it down, will show sympathy while still demanding changes. True fans do not abandon the team when things go wrong. Marie Macdonald