(Found this old rant of mine on archive.org … thought I’d re-post it just for kicks.)
(Original posting date May 2000)

What should we talk about today? How about hockey? How about the fall of the Toronto Maple Leafs?
No. Although the commercial brand of hockey sprouting from Toronto is fun to laugh about, how about the fact that the Calgary Flames will be leaving town in three years, on the outside?
Is this official? Not yet. But let's face it. With the deadline to renew season's tickets less than a week from now, the Flames have a 30% renewal rate. That's approximately 3000 tickets. They've sold 1500 new seasons tickets so far in their drive to ensure "Flames Forever". All said that's 4500 people paying for the seat even if they aren't there.
That's almost 10000 short of the number they've demanded that they have sold by June 30th.
Are 10000 Calgarians going to show up in the next 7 weeks to buy tickets? No. In order to be successful, the Flames need to spend some money and sign some bigger name players to lead this team into the post-season. And the fans know it isn't going to happen.

Why would it happen now? Why, after all these years would the Flames announce that they are both cash strapped and willing to spend more to improve the quality of the players on the team? Why didn't it happen last year when the Flames were confident that a strong season would land them in the playoffs? Why not spend a few dollars at the beginning of the season, sign a free agent or land a higher salary through trade to ensure that the team does get beyond the 82 game limit? If everything was almost sure to come up roses, why didn't the management spend a few bucks to make sure?
Because they were scared to spend money. Just in case it didn't work they refused to make the investment, to take any chances save the chance they took that the existing team MIGHT do it. And after Fuhr was proven to be a mistake, after Smith and Stillman were injured, after defenseman after defenseman went down in the last few weeks of the season, nothing significant was done.
And now, the names that are being mentioned as possible new Flames next season. Verbeek. We could have signed him last season. He spent the first few months waiting for someone to pick him up. Then he scored 20+ goals for Detroit. What the hell?
Insult to injury: according to the papers in Calgary the Flames are concentrating on finding themselves an untested, rookie General Manager. Ah swell. Thankfully Risebrough is already employed. I can just imagine who the coach will be. Thankfully, again, Pierre Page is also working.
Why hasn't anyone mentioned Ted Nolan? The man was coach of the year with the untalented, over-achieving Buffalo Sabres a few years back. Then, fired. Or Terry Crisp? He was fired from the Flames in 1990 because he was too hard on his players. After Brian Sutter for three years, Crisp might be just moderate enough to get some better performance from the team, while still maintaining some of the discipline that the team is already used to. Honestly, I don't even know if those guys are interested, but I haven't heard anything to tell me they've even been considered.
Instead the Flames will likely hire their rookie GM and then throw in an uninspiring minor league coach. Then spend way too much on the wrong players (Coates offered $3 Million to Wendel Clark for the 1999-2000 season.)
And next year's excuse for not making the playoffs? "We spent too much money on the players, and had nothing left to sign a half decent front office and coaching staff."

The Calgary Stampeders meanwhile have sold over 21000 seasons tickets. Why? Four appearances in the Grey Cup game, two victories, and being constantly in the playoffs for the last decade. Throw in ticket prices at basically a third of what the Flames want. The NHL and the NHLPA have killed professional hockey in North America. And apparently the CFL is reaping the rewards.