the 4th star

The poor Winnipeg NHL hockey fan. First, he/she gets teased by the prospects of the league returning every time a franchise comes up in the news as ‘struggling.’ Now, in a new twist, he/she is being subjected to not new rumours, BUT RECYCLED ONES. The Atlanta Thrashers are coming to Winnipeg! Right on! I better apply for a new VISA!

Yes, Al Strachan is on top of it. Four months after the fact.

Sources have told ESPN.com that a number of groups, including one from Winnipeg, have explored the potential of buying the Thrashers and moving them out of Atlanta. However, the reality of the situation is that there are a number of factors that likely mean the team will remain in Atlanta for the foreseeable future.

Saturday’s *revelation* that the Atlanta Thrashers are coming to Winnipeg found some space in the local papers. The Sun threw some much-needed water on the topic, while the Freep went one step further, giving readers a history lesson of the NHL rumours, telling us who the Winnipeg connection is in Toronto, and how this *latest rumour* should be digested.

This is what I take from both: Until Mark Chipman says something about the NHL returning — as he will be the point person here in Winnipeg — why should anyone care about another *rumour* that finds the public broadcast airwaves?

This latest *hot-button conversation topic* comes on the heels of Dan Don Cherry’s ridiculous proclamation last month that the Phoenix Coyotes will be playing in Winnipeg next winter. I say “ridiculous,” as it was a total pander to a Winnipeg radio audience. To put his statement in a different context, if I close my eyes and throw a dart at the board, eventually I’m going to hit the bulls-eye. Of course, when pressed on the basis of his statement by yours truly, Grapes had little to add or expand on.

“I was here in the spring and all everybody talked about was the Jets. I see Jets hats, I see Jets T-shirts. They got a 15,000-seat arena. They didn’t build that for the American Hockey League. What I say is the truth. That’s what I base it on.”

Cherry then went on to call me “negative.” Upon hearing that I thought to myself, I wonder why he would call someone who is just questioning the basis of his statement negative. That’s the funny thing about our exchange at City Hall that day. It’s almost like he was looking off camera for direction when the heat came on. Further into my tape recorder, when pressed more on the subject, he says this beauty, deflecting the topic with a little playful sarcasm.

“Whaddya want me to say — that they’re not coming? OK, the NHL’s not coming!”

Got to hand it to the old guy — he knows how to keep the room. The 50 or so city hall staffers in attendance laughed. The people standing up by the podium beside Cherry laughed. I laughed, too. But for a different reason, I suspect.

UPDATE: According to the Freep, the Thrashers are big fans of old rumours, too.

UPDATE#2: PF jumps into the rumour quagmire, questioning the speculative skills of the Thrashers beat writers and the resilience of ice in southern climes. Or something like that. The only thing Winnipeg needs from Atlanta is Matt Ryan.