A New Kind Of Buzz

I know many of my readers also read Eklund's Hockey Buzz. Can any of you shed any light on this item?

Thanks to Tom Benjamin for the pointer.

UPDATE: I've done some more digging on this story, and there aren't a lot of details. So far:

*Called directory assitance in Philly, and there is no "Attorney Offices of Grant Mullen" in any listing.

*I checked Matindale-Hubbel, a directory of attorneys, and found a Grant Mullen in California, but the person answering the phone there said that the suit had nothing to do with them.

*Did some poking around Hockeybuzz.com, and found an entry in the message boards where Eklund boasted about the prizes that fantasy league winners would receive:

The fantasy prizes are as follows...

1. Weekly winners get a Hockeybuzz t-shirt
2. Monthly get a authentic customized jersey of their choice...And I will try and get it autographed if it is a guy I know
3. Overall points winner and the runner play-off winner will win an x-box 360 with NHL 06
4. The Hockeybuzz Cup Winner will win a 52" Hitachi HDTV...just like mine...it is awesome..plus they will also have their name engraved on the HockeyBuzz Cup...And they will get to hold the cup for one year. They will be required to take the cup to wild partys and do crazy things with it...they will have to write of the cups journeys...If at all possible i will deliver the cup to them personally...they will have to sign a legal document stating they will return the cup...we will of course either pick it up or pay for shipping...

Interesting. I'll check some more, and I'll let you know what I find out.

UPDATE: This is getting more interesting. Here's a whole string about unhappy pool winners complaining and getting no answers. A sampler:

last week you posted that you were trying to get a hold of the pool winners and if we didn't get an email from you to send you one. I don't really understand why it is so difficult to go into the winners accounts, find their email address and send them a notification in the first place, but we don't have to get into that.

http://hockeybuzz.com/eblog/ArchivePost.aspx?post=1644

I sent you an email with some questions and haven't heard back yet. I'm the monthly winner for January. Just want to make sure you got it since it came from a hotmail account. The one registered with my account. As long as there is some sort of communication and acknowledgement (and ultimately the prize) I will be happy.

I would have expected a response from you by now since it's so "slow" in the trade rumour department. A simple email saying you received my email, and perhaps even and answer or two to my questions would be great.

(snip)

Monthly winner from December, and I too, did not receive an email from Ek as he stated in his blog post. I have since e-mailed him and haven't heard back either. This wasn't the first time I have e-mailed Ek about the prizes, but since he actually posted a message saying to email him this time, I thought that I might get some sort of response. Not so much.

Love the site and the fantasy game but not holding my breath on getting any sort of prize. Hope the person that wins the X-box or the HDTV doesn't have this much trouble.

Later in the same thread, Eklund claims there's a problem with a third party hired to handle the prizes. Some folks were not amused:

Ok, if you don't handle prizes, then why did you offer to have the monthly winning prizes of Pro Jerseys signed by a player if you knew him? How would you get it signed if you don't handle the prize?

So what else is "normal in these situatiobs"? Will the company contact me to ask which player and Jersey I want?

And a little suggestion about acting and running a company professionally. A quick note would have been nice to receive from you describing the situtation. There aren't that many prize winners that it would have taken you much time. I had personalized questions meant for you, not a "prize fullfilment company"...

I wanted to know which Flyers you knew that could autograph my Jersey.

(snip)

Eklund, a few months ago you stated that you sent out a jersey to a winner. So does this company send you the prizes and you mail them out?

Your stories are not flowing very well, come out and tell us the truth.

And I see you have another major announcement to make, is this just like the last one on late January where you said the press release was allready written and would go out in a few days?

Never saw that release, time to come clean.

I dug into my email archive and sent Eklund a note to see if he'd be willing to comment. If I hear anything, I'll pass it along.

YET ANOTHER UPDATE: Surprise! My email to Eklund bounced.

OT UPDATES: Vancouver Canucks Op Ed and Paul Kukla have more.

Eric 12:02 AM

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Posted by: at May 24, 2006 05:26 PM

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