Here's what Michael Franke had to say when I asked him about Brendan's column:
``95 percent of the column was bogus. I've never heard of the stuff. Nobody has heard of the stuff. I don't know who his source is, but the Flint Generals and other teams do buy sticks through Komet Kuarters. If that's what he's talking about, I don't know. They bought some today. I don't know what he's talking about.
``However he wrote that article and whoever his source is, he could not have been any more incorrect. He's obviously talking to someone who has a vendetta.
``I don't know where any of that stuff comes from. I will tell you this, this last summer, anything we could do to help the Flint Generals or anybody in this league, we've done. Outside of that, I don't know what to say.''
Do the Komets own part of Flint? ``No, we don't.'' Do they own part of the rest of the teams in the league? ``No, we don't.''
Stephen Franke owns a minority share in Bloomington. Michael Franke has always said that any questions pertaining to that should be addressed to Stephen.
More from Michael Franke: ``It's in the bylaws, you cannot own a majority of more than one team. Can you own parts of other teams? Yes, you can, but we do not own any of Dayton or any of those teams.
``How can it be our fault if we are helping them? I read the thing where he talked about the Saginaw pucks on the ice. The pucks were like 19 cents apiece. Heck yes, I'm going to do that if I can save 81 cents a puck. Why wouldn't you? How's that any different than General Motors or Chrysler or the banks or the newspapers or anybody? I don't get it.''
Franke also said there are no legal documents anywhere that say the Komets own any part of Flint which is what would be required by Michigan law.
Comments
Blood pressure is just fine, thanks....
All Franke admitted to was not having an ownership stake in any other team; but did affirm that they were helping anywhere they could... An interesting way to dodge any real answer to the issue; but a great way to give the blind hockey fan a warm fuzzy feeling....
Its obvious by the posts above that the Franke hero worshipping will continue strong and the bashing of realist hockey fans will also continue... So be it; but you may want to ask Mr. Franke to make sure he authorizes his stunt double, who stands in at press conferences in other cities promising that the past woes will not continue, what he can and cant say....
Savage was just trying to get his blog hit bonus up, I've got about 5 pucks laying around the garage that I would gladly give to Flint to help them out, what's wrong with that? I'll even pay the postage.
Schebig drinks pink foo foo's with Savage.
When the ECHL started it consisted of only five teams and three of them were owned by the same person.
There are people out there who won't be happy until the Frankes are close to bankruptcy again, the Komets are in last place (although we also have some who can't be happy unless we're in first place) and the future of hockey in Fort Wayne questionable.
Thanks to the Frankes these people will have to continue to be unhappy.
There is a saying, "Everyone loves a winner." My experience in life, in world politics, and sadly even more recently in this country is that this isn't true. People love to see the most successful, the winners, brought down.
And some will always be happy paying porterhouse prices for chopped steak....
some people just dont get it, oh well i guess if you dont like the game or the prices then why the hell do you go ????? realist hockey fan? far from it or you would understand the economics of what is currently happening in all of minor league hockey. nuff said before i lose it.. good post alan, you got it all correct!!! ah yes i remember fitch and the nordiques!!!
Burgee--I have never had a drink with Mr. Savage. I don't like Foo Foo's. Thanks for thinking of me. Would I drink with him? you bet. My experience with him is he is a stand-up guy. (I know he likes doughnuts). I also know that reporters get things wrong almost as often as they get it right. The exception to that comment would be Blake . In all the years I have known and worked with the Franke family I have never had even one of the brothers lie to me about anything. I have refused to get into this issue because there are bloggers who just have know idea what they are talking about. They spit their vitral here because they can. That is alright they must vent someplace. All that hatred will cause them to explode if they didn't. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it. Those of you who feel I am addressing you "Cheer up! don't take things too seriously; no one gets out alive anyway"
Some of you people are soooo arrogant! chuckitt believes that if you dont see things his way, then you just dont "get" it... What a load of crap... Dennis thinks that if your not a ra ra cheerleader, then your full of hatred. Some of you people need to get over yourselves and realize that people have differing opinions and just because they dont match yours doesnt mean they are any less relevant... So go ahead and lose it because it will only show how intollerant of others ideas or opinions you truly are... I believe they call that close-minded...............
"The believer is happy; the doubter is wise."
I still think the Franke's are responsible for Flint playing this year, therefore, Quad City being a new member in the IHL. I am a Generals fan and love what Mr. Franke has done for the leauge!!! The league has many daunting challenges ahead this summer. However, a Saginaw Spirit puck, or anything from Saginaw, Flint's longtim heated rival, is never a good idea in Flint or on Flint's ice!
Alan great post!!!!! A little long but sometimes it takes a long one to get your point across ....very good Alan!!