I talked to Michael Franke about Flint rumor No. 8793: "Everything in Flint is fine, and they will be at the league meetings in June, and they will be a member of the IHL in the 09-10 season. That's all we need to say."
Looks like Shreveport-Bossier of the CHL is in trouble. Maybe they'll end up in the SPHL.
Pascal Morency is likely returning to Bridgeport.
Here's a story about Dayton hockey.
Kevin Kaminski has re-signed in Memphis.
Comments
Dschebig: But if we don't argue on here and get each other riled up, no one posts on here and Blake doesn't get paid. Don't you want to help him out for all his hard work??? See, I just earned him another quarter!
RunningKomet......Make that 50 cents. Just be polite to each other.
Yes, Mum :)
LOL. I just *love* the off-season rumor mill.
That little link that Primis posted to the wingsstadium site is now gone. Fascinating. Allow the whilwind of rumors as to why its gone now start.
It's all a conspiracy!
Ya well I heard Patrick Roy didn't take the Avalanche coaching job because he wants to play goal for the Komets. BEAT THAT ONE!! Another 50 cents for Blake....
How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?
4 bits headin to Superfan.
Great comments all around, but I would like to clarify just one minor thing here. Some of you are taking the "using your real name" comment entirely wrong. Blake is not asking anyone to do the job, to find the info, or anything else. See, as journalists we are supposed to operate inside this little box called truth, and as we all know that box has different parameters from time to time. But the fact is there are consequences for stepping outside of it.
When one steps outside that little box there is this other area called Libel, and that, my friends, is why Blake implores you to use your names to see if you are operating within the truth. As journalists if we print things that are not true and can do damage to someone or some entity, a libel lawsuit and possible loss of a job generally follow.
Now that blogs are considered part of the new media, guess what, all of you who write on a public forum, such as this one, can also be sued for libel - as well as Blake and/or the newspaper because it is an official representative of The News-Sentinel.
So, if you've got information you emphatically believe to be true and are willing to stand up for it, then great! Print it! We'd love to see it. I'm all for the free flow of information.
But understand that contributing to a blog is just the same as printing in a newspaper, and there are consequences if your info is not true. Most of all, be prepared to attribute your sources, assuming they don't demand anonymity, to cover your own arse ... unless you don't mind the possibility, remote as it may be, of going through a trial, paying attorney fees and ultimately having to pay someone for the rest of your life if the judge decides you harmed their reputation.
**Disclaimer ... I am not an attorney, and I didn't sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Now back to hockey news ... I hate Detroit.
Thank you Dr. Ryan!!!! You do a great job also. Actually you make Sir Blake look great and without any makeup. What you posted is said very well. Maybe you should have been a lawyer. I use my name for just the reasons you so perfectly stated. Mean what you say and say what you mean. Words to live by. Sorry you do not like the Red Wings. I do not think they will sweep. The Pens will win tomorrow, I think!
Chad: Good work this year. However, your explanation of libel is not 100% accurate.
For one to be sued over libel, an attack must be made on a person's (or team or organization's) standing or profession. The statement must hurt the entity's reputation in some way. For something to be considered libel, it must rise above the level of incorrect facts. So, people stating things they've heard on a blog would not be considered libel. Now, if you, Blake, or any of us came on here and said that a hockey team was no longer going to have operations and no one should purchase their tickets, and it could be proven somehow that people did not purchase tickets for that team based solely on the fact that they read the team had closed operations on here, then someone MAY have a case of libel. No lawyer in his or her right mind is going to take that case though because there is no way to get a significant number of people to attribute not purchasing tickets based solely on a blog without checking any other sources.
On the other hand, if someone was on here and said something that turned out to just be an incorrect fact, without the intention of hurting a team or entity, then it's not libel, regardless of the name attached to the statement. For example, if I came on here and said that the Komets lost to the Cubs last night, that would be a mistake, not libel.
In other news, I agree on Detroit. Go Pens! Thank the Maker that Malkin didn't get that suspension for instigation!
I think all of you were just proven wrong. Kalamazoo is dumping the IHL...
Those of you who blasted me and Primus for posting what we were hearing need to eat your words.
Darn, that sucks. Kzoo has always been one of my favorites.
Great post Chad. I go back to the pre-internet (and early internet) days of direct dial BBSes, message relay packets, etc. Most of the reputable, serious minded BBSes would not allow screen names and new members were verified before being allowed to post. Opinions were allowed but they were closely scrutinized and you could get ripped pretty good (and booted) if you strayed too far of the path of truth and fact, generally speaking. But then again you also had to have the ability to run a computer with command line prompts because operating systems like Windows weren't around yet.
For that matter it hasn't been that long since blogs were more or less a diary and comments were limited. More and more blogs seem to be replacing forums in more limited areas of interest.
But those were the old days (notice I didn't say the good old days) and things have changed considerably.
For those that want to get a better idea of what Blake and Chad are talking about I suggest looking at "The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law".