Losing Sucks, But…

November 7, 2012

Meat Loaf said it best “Two out of three ain’t bad”.

Actually, he’s wrong. In this case three out of three would have really hit the spot because the one we lost was Joyce Clark. More on that later.

Keyboard Warrior

I hear social media was all atwitter last night and today with joyful and no doubt eloquent dissertations in 140 characters or less about how our band of merry men and women failed miserably because Joyce Clark lost. My technique of immediately blocking these dweebs has paid off immensely, everybody should avail themselves of that option.

Most of those tweets probably originated from the Canadian troll set although a few of the trolls are probably local. Since they remain typical keyboard warriors the extent of their commitment to their “cause” doesn’t include real names and actual effort. They choose to remain anonymous for many reasons, I suppose.

About my failures, they are partially right.

I know our household is extremely disappointed and, yes, we feel we let down the City of Glendale and someone we admire a great deal for her ethics and commitment. But, I digress. The trolls, as is their wont, conveniently forget that our little grassroots movement won two of three battles we chose to enter. If we were playing baseball, we’d be batting a devilishly devastating .666. Pretty good.

Referendum Beatdown

Ken Jones and Joe Cobb (who lost mightily in his bid for a 7th district seat) pulled papers for a referendum to negate the lease agreement negotiated between Glendale and the Jamison group, which had been voted through by the City Council. They were aided in their attempt by the Goldwater Institute, who represented them in suing the City of Glendale. While suing Glendale is a bit of a hobby for Goldwater, this was their latest attempt to send the Coyotes packing. Goldwater, in their complaint to the court, even mentioned that the Phoenix Monarch Group (PMG), a hastily formed group of Norma Alvarez’s pals, could be a legitimate contender to run Jobing.com arena for the city. More on this to come because, as predicted, PMG has resurfaced.

Joe Cobb

A group of Coyotes fans got together and routed Ken Jones and Joe Cobb handily. This is a good spot to state that there are MANY people who have contributed to the daunting task of keeping the Coyotes in Glendale so far. Only one of us had any real political experience, but we all got together, pooled the talents that we have and figured it out.We actually knew early on that the petition for referendum would fail because of a bunch of errors, I remember CLEARLY the minute we figure it out.

We also mounted a successful effort to educate potential petition signers of the true effect of their signature on Ken and Joe’s petition. It worked very well, our people were polite and professional at all times, something we cannot say for at least one of the Cobb/Jones combo. Okay it was Ken Jones.

They didn’t get enough signatures. Even if they did, they would have been thrown out because they didn’t follow the simple directions. We knew it almost immediately but we decided, as “thugs” to stay out in the hot library parking lots so Ken and Joe wouldn’t wonder why we left and perhaps correct their errors.

The end result of a successful referendum attempt would have been the exit of the Coyotes from Arizona. Guaranteed. So, a bunch of us supposedly nonexistent Arizona hockey fans managed to do what our Canadian counterparts have failed to do, at least so far we’ve succeeded.

Proposition 457 Landslide

While most characterize the Proposition 457 as an initiative, the language in it is so flawed that it is actually an “initiarendum”. The petition papers were so error filled they should have been tossed immediately, but weren’t. While the City of Glendale won the first court round, it was appealed.

For the first appeal, the sponsors of the intitiative may have called in some favors with the hit and run accused campaign finance violator convicted State Attorney General Tom Horne, the slightly less entertaining but probably still beholden campaign finance-wise Secretary of State Ken Bennett filing a joint amicus brief imploring the judge(s) to ignore the errors. Which the judges obediently did. Oh and the Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery chimed in as well.

So, the petitions went through despite our own brilliantly executed and expensive amicus brief for the next appeal. It becomes Proposition 457 and is added to the ballot.

Late in the game, after seeing that the budget cuts made necessary if the sales tax disappeared from the Glendale general fund would cost them dearly, the police and fire departments of Glendale joined Glendale First and buckled down hard. Those two departments put our effort to shame when they mobilized.

The end result of Proposition 457 passing would have ALSO been the exit of the Coyotes. At least one councilmember would have undoubtedly switched their vote to approve the revised arena lease deal.

Proposition 457, often characterized as being FOR the Coyotes, was voted down in a landslide. Apparently the citizens of Glendale want the police department, the fire department AND the Coyotes hockey team to remain in Glendale.

Another win for us, and again with thanks to MANY people that stepped up and pitched in to the effort.

Joyce Clark

The one we lost is the one that really hurts. It’s actualy true that the short term effect on the Coyotes of the two that we DID win is more important than that of losing Joyce Clark. The long term effect on the City of Glendale, however, is significantly worse.

There is nobody in the Glendale government the Coyotes and their fans owe more to than Joyce Clark. She stepped into the face of direct attacks knowing full well that it might cost her her job. Yeah, her JOB. She did that NOT because she is a hockey fan or a blind Coyotes toady, she did it because it was the right thing to do.

The fans once again stepped up to help Joyce with their money and their efforts. All I can say is thanks so much to all of you for being there and having the back of the person who has yours. It matters and people will notice the strength of the Coyotes fan base. When I use the word “notice” it doesn’t necessarily mean in a positive way, however. No matter, we love “Hockey The Hard Way”.

I won’t go through a post mortem of why “we” lost, we just did. I should be a better person than I am and congratulate the winner, but there’s no way that will happen. We had people try to intimidate us by FOLLOWING us in their hooptie from the Ice Den to a shopping center and then sitting in the parking spot staring. Sure we know who he is and how he is connected, but some things are better if they’re dropped (at least for now, Ed). Sam’s handlers promised me some documents (after the debate) and blew me off. There’s plenty of other reasons to be nervous about the guy. He also says “liberry” instead of ”library” and can’t do math. Instead I will say “good luck” to the citizens of the Yucca district with their misguided choice.

The fact of the matter is that Joyce took the hit for the team and the long term goals of her city. Glendale lost an extremely valuable asset. Sorry we couldn’t help you get it done, Joyce.

Semper Fidelis

Of Course It’s Her

Rest assured, Coyotes brothers and sisters, this battle isn’t over. There are people working VERY hard RIGHT NOW to throw as many monkey wrenches into the arena lease deal and the Coyotes future as they can. No, it’s not the impotent keyboard warrior Canadian and local trolls, they never leave the house long enough to do anything productive. Think closer.

There is a clue hidden carefully somewhere in this blog that will give you a hint who is the person working diligently behind the scenes like an evil Wizard of Oz behind the curtain. Shots have already been fired and other clues dropped as to exactly what techniques will be employed in the latest game of Battleship to sink the Coyotes. I’m not entirely sure what the next salvo will be, I have an idea (or as Sammy might say “idear”) or two but certainly wouldn’t blab them here.

So, Coyotes fans, don’t start celebrating just yet. The “two weeks” jokes that we have been throwing around for the past millenium may have some validity here. It seems likely, today, that there may actually be an eventual resolution to the NHL lockout in time for an abbreviated season. It also seems likely, today, that it would be a good idea to consummate the arena lease agreement before the end of this year. While the incoming mayor and city council are less likely to be Coyote enemies than is counted on by the interwebs troll population, it still makes sense in a lot of ways to get this thing done before December 31.

I assume that’s the goal of the people involved. I also assume that additional delay and uncertainty, the familiar tactic of the dark side people, is also afoot. It remains to be seen whether the light or the dark will win.

Since we’re batting .666, maybe we have BOTH the light and the dark with us? Time will tell.