Russian Billionaire looking to buy Leafs

[MacK_Attack 108]

Russian-born, Toronto raised billionaire Alexander Shnaider recently approached Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum with an offer to buy his shares. Tanenbaum declined, with the reason being that he was looking to acquire more shares of MLSE.

This is where it gets interesting....

It now appears that Tanenbaum, Shnaider & media mogul Ted Rogers will make a pitch to purchase the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund's 58% share in MLSE.

The teachers are not actively trying to sell off their shares, but have made it known that they would do so for the right price, which would be in excess of $1 billion.

This would give Tanenbaum/Rogers/Shnaider 71% control of MLSE, which includes, but is not limited to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Air Canada Centre, BMO Field & Toronto Marlies. (And soon, the Buffalo Bills)

Tanenbaum has been the driving force in MLSE behind trying to hire Scotty Bowman to run the hockey operations, so this would stand to be a fantastic development for the pathetically-run Leafs.

Edited January 5, 2008 by MacK_Attack

[irishtemper14+25 11]

scotty bowman will never join their orginization,

as for them being bought, i only think a change in management will help out the team

[daniel1 32]

http://www.imagehosting.com/show.php/14883...scotty.JPG.html

[akustyk 84]

Meh - didn't do well with Jordan F1.

exactly my first though. either he lacked vision or determination,

but he pretty much screwed all that Eddie Jordan achieved and

then jumped off the ship.

I sure hope he doesn't get his hands on the Leafs. yes, this franchise

sucks as of now but it can be even worse, and Shnaider is one of those

ppl who can make it worse

[Uniblab 12]

Okay, let me get this straight.

Ferguson wants to drop Mats Sundin.

Peddie wants to drop Ferguson.

And now a Russian billionaire wants to drop Peddie and the teacher's union.

Is anyone mentally picturing a line of fish, each one getting gobbled up by a bigger fish?

This could only happen to the Leafs. What a train wreck!

[MacK_Attack 108]

Okay, let me get this straight.

Ferguson wants to drop Mats Sundin.

Peddie wants to drop Ferguson.

And now a Russian billionaire wants to drop Peddie and the teacher's union.

Is anyone mentally picturing a line of fish, each one getting gobbled up by a bigger fish?

This could only happen to the Leafs. What a train wreck!

Ferguson would ideally like to keep Mats Sundin, but may not have any choice in the matter but to move him.

Peddie wants to keep Ferguson. Peddie has a say in hockey matters as long as Ferguson is around. As soon as he's gone, Peddie's going to lose his influence, which would be the best thing to happen because he doesn't have a f^%$*# clue.

[union drone 0]

http://www.imagehosting.com/show.php/14883...scotty.JPG.html

Scotty must have using the transporter in the movie Space Balls! His head is on backwards!!!

[Barrie 900]

Oh man, more Bowman to Toronto rumors. I wish when the Toronto media talks about rebuilding and making changes with the Leafs, they would leave Red Wings employees out of it. Develano even commented about this and said. "the Leafs are dreaming in technicolor" if they think they're getting guys from the Red Wings to rebuild their club.

If the Leafs want Bowman, I don't understand why. Sure it's Scotty Bowman, but he's in his 70's. When talking about a 10 year rebuilding program, hiring a guy who's in his 70's is to old. Bring in someone in their 50's who can see this thing from start to finish.

Let Scotty be a Red Wings consultant and spend time with his wife an kids, enough already! Leave him out of it!

Edited January 5, 2008 by Barrie

[MacK_Attack 108]

Develano even commented about this and said. "the Leafs are dreaming in technicolor" if they think they're getting guys from the Red Wings to rebuild their club.

He was referring to the Toronto media when he said that, not the Leafs themselves.

[Shockwave180 0]

The biggest surprise in this story to me is that a teacher's union owns 58% of Maple Leaf Sports. I wasn't aware of that. Does that strike anyone else as incredibly odd?

[toby91_ca 620]

The biggest surprise in this story to me is that a teacher's union owns 58% of Maple Leaf Sports. I wasn't aware of that. Does that strike anyone else as incredibly odd?

Doesn't strike me as odd at all. Do you realize how powerful they are? Their assets are close to $100 billion currently.

[up2here 41]

scotty bowman will never join their orginization,

as for them being bought, i only think a change in management will help out the team

I think they need both. An owner that actually cares about winning along with making money would be an excellent start. Hey having a Russian Billionaire buy their team worked out well for Chelsea FC.

[Shockwave180 0]

Doesn't strike me as odd at all. Do you realize how powerful they are? Their assets are close to $100 billion currently.

I know they're powerful. But I've never seen a teacher's union own a majority share in a sports franchise. Power to them for seizing the opportunity. I've just never seen anything like that before.