July 02, 2004
Good Will On The Cheap
Want to know how the Washington Capitals could win back some fans?
How about signing unrestricted free agent Peter Bondra?
Yesterday, despite previous statements to the contrary, the Senators failed to pick up the $4.5 million option on Bondra for the 2004-05 season.
Now, one thing ought to be certain: in the current economic climate, Bondra isn't worth anywhere near $4.5 million a season. But at a substantial discount from that, he'd be a bargain -- especially on a team stocked with prospects and AHL wannabees.
Memo to Ted Leonsis and George McPhee: you ought to be giving Bondra a call, and at least find out what his price is. What have you got to lose?
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.ericmcerlain.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/3418
Damn straight. Sign Bondra, and I might feel like a Caps fan again.
Posted by:
at July 2, 2004 03:16 PM
If the Caps don't sign Bondra, they're the biggest PR iijits in the Western Hemisphere. (Or at least south of Camden Yards.) The guy *is* the Caps of the last decade or so. He *cried* when they traded him to a contender. Now things may have changed on both sides, but still...they've *got* to take a serious run at him. They could make a (sketchy, but not totally implausible) argument that say, he, Olie, and (eesh, who else is left?) say Brendan Witt are the veteran graybeards who will impart wisdom to the young turks.
Plus, re-sign Bondra and you show your fan base that you *get* what it is to be a fan, what it is to maintain a franchise, and what it is to show loyalty even in the mercenary business of professional sports.
Re-sign Bondra.
(And I'm not just saying this because I have a #12 jersey in my armoire. I'm wearing that even if Bondra never plays for the Caps again. But if he does, am I more likely to buy a ticket? Eh? Eh?)
Posted by:
at July 4, 2004 04:07 AM
What have they got to lose?? $4.5 million a season, they traded him because he wasn't producing like he used to - and he sure didn't produce in Ottawa, what makes ya think going back to his old address in the U.S. of A capital is going to be any different the 2nd time around?
Posted by:
at July 5, 2004 11:24 AM
They traded him because he made too much money. Producing or not, all the high salary players were on the block, from what it seemed. (Then again, if they had ANY players who were producing, they might have been in a better position...)
Posted by:
at July 5, 2004 03:18 PM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in,
.
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
12:14 PM