Worst Owner in Sports History?

So is Tarasenko really that good? I've only read some about him - is he good enough to make an immediate impression in the NHL?

 

BWIP, let's take this over to the NHL thread.

 

Tose was a good guy who couldn't handle booze, women and gambling. He always gave the team what they needed. Now the guy who followed him, Norman Bramen, well let's just say there's a special place for him.

 

I don't think there's ever been a greater disconnect between an owner and his players.
Buddy Ryan called Braman "The Guy in France."

 

In the modern era, everyone is playing for second place behind Sterling. That said, shout outs to Bruce McNall and the multi-headed abortion that was Atlanta Spirit.

 

Do owners of racing teams count? Good Lord. There's been some doozies in just about every form of racing.

 

Yet, from what I understand, he still owns the rights to the name "Ottawa Rough Riders." Tragic.

 

I've heard and read some doozies about Harold Ballard. Just the fact that he served a prison sentence for nearly 50 fraud and tax offences involving Maple Leaf Gardens should get him high on the list of worst owners. Of course, there was so much more about Pal Hal. He even played his convictions for laughs, conning the Toronto media into believing that he had been living a country-club lifestyle behind bars.

Not long after he was released, he agreed to rent the Gardens to the Toronto Toros of the WHA. Normally, Ballard had no use for the WHA, but when it came to making money, he was willing to deal. On his own terms, that is. That's how the Toros found out they'd have to pay extra for the lights of the Gardens to be turned on for their games, among other silly expenses.

Ballard pulled the same shit with the Beatles. They were booked to perform at the Gardens; Ballard, entirely on his own, scheduled afternoon and evening shows, both of which predictably sold out. When it was pointed out to Ballard that the Beatles had only agreed to play one show, he told Brian Epstein something to the effect of, fine, you go out there and tell the fans you're only playing one show. Naturally, both shows went ahead, during which time Ballard cranked the heat in the building (it was August), shut off all the water fountains and sold soft drinks in large cups only.

He gave a radio interview to the late Barbara Frum, one of Canada's most respected journalists and broadcasters, and proceeded to tell her (and a nationwide audience) that women belonged on their backs and nowhere else. When women flooded the Gardens phone lines with complaints, Ballard actually took their calls and heckled them, saying they must not be able to attract men and did they want his body?

Depending on who's telling the story, he either sold the Leafs' original Stanley Cup banners or had them used as drop cloths during painting jobs at the Gardens. Maybe it was both.

He had Foster Hewitt's historic gondola dismantled and burned in order to create additional seating at the Gardens, the classiest building in hockey which progressively became a dump under his ownership. For the same reason he also tore out the iconic picture of the Queen, scornfully saying she didn't belong there unless she could play hockey.

All this and I have yet to mention the fact that Ballard was the league's most meddlesome owner who, all by himself, destroyed what had been one of the NHL's marquee franchises. It's almost impossible to believe this today but, in 1964, the Canadiens and the Leafs were dead-even in Stanley Cup victories - 12 apiece. Today the franchise has 13 Cup wins, but none since he became the sole owner.

For all this and more, Harold Ballard is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame - as a builder. Oh, the irony.

 

And wants a shitload of money for the rights. That's partly (at least) why the second Ottawa team ended up being called the Renegades. And the new team probably isn't going to be able to afford to pony up, so they'll have to come up with another name because I don't think Renegades will be accepted.

 

What was his vision? Al makes a boatload of money and fuck everybody else?

 

The reserve clause didn't help the Cubs and Washington Senators much.