Richard Peddie on the Way Out? Is this a good thing?

[alexintoronto]

I don't know how credible this is, but assuming it's true and Richard Peddie is on the way out do you think this a good thing for MLSE? Is it good for TFC?

http://tomstoukas.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/torsun01_peddie2001.jpg

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/columnists/steve_simmons/2008/11/23/7505321-sun.html



The winds of change are blowing at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., and Richard Peddie soon may be swept out the door.
The change involving Peddie may not necessarily have anything to do with the impending hiring of Brian Burke as president and general manager of the Leafs -- maybe as soon as late this week -- but it's likely. And Peddie likely is on his way out at the end of the season.
Peddie has been under fire for failed sporting decisions -- primarily the hiring of Rob Babcock and John Ferguson as inexpensive and inexperienced general managers for the Raptors and the Maple Leafs -- and has been put on notice with a changing and more aggressive board of directors. And while he has clung to the job on the basis of the financial strength of the company, there are those who look at failed television networks and other problems within MLSEL and figure the time is right for change.
This won't happen quickly. Peddie has been a marvellous survivor, but time is running out.

[OneLoveOneEric]

Grade A moron. Can't hurt to be rid of him. The only good decision he was ever involved in was hiring Colangelo and removing himself from Raptors decision making.
Bye Bye, Dickie. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out :)

[Cashcleaner]

His time has come and gone.

[Roogsy]

Peddie leaving would only leave room for another businessman to come in and make money. That's the point.

The only hope is that whoever comes in doesn't make the same boneheaded decisions Peddie did. But let's not hold our breath. Whoever comes in will first and foremost be there to make money.

Let's not fool ourselves into thinking whoever will be brought in will be there to bring championships to the city. Whoever is brought in will be there to make sure the economic downturn doens't take value away from the business.

[OneLoveOneEric]

^^Of course, but if that's true, the new guy is still unlikely to be any worse.

[Damien]

The guy has his hands in too many people's business, don't let the door hit his ass too hard on the way out.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Peddie leaving would only leave room for another businessman to come in and make money. That's the point.

The only hope is that whoever comes in doesn't make the same boneheaded decisions Peddie did. But let's not hold our breath. Whoever comes in will first and foremost be there to make money.

Let's not fool ourselves into thinking whoever will be brought in will be there to bring championships to the city. Whoever is brought in will be there to make sure the economic downturn doens't take value away from the business.

lets hope its someone that looks favorably on TFC

[Roogsy]

^^Of course, but if that's true, the new guy is still unlikely to be any worse.

Really? I get the feeling that is more hopeful sentiment than anything else. We can't be so sure.

[OneLoveOneEric]

I really don't think so. Peddie was as uncaring about sporting issues as you can get. He really never put a foot right. I don't think we're going to get anything much better, but I truly don't think you could get someone that is much worse. Truly.
I'm not sure how someone could be worse with respect to on-field activity.

[Bobo]

Now here's some rope.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/1850664482_0dd189e926.jpg?v=0

[mlsintoronto]

Say what u will but without RP there would be no TFC. He saw the city as ready and the potential for soccer at a time when the safe move would have been to pass on it. Regardless of the state of the other MLSEL teams - with this one he has been truly visionary.

[Cambridge_Red]

/\ Fair play to you Paul.

[Bobo]

Say what u will but without RP there would be no TFC. He saw the city as ready and the potential for soccer at a time when the safe move would have been to pass on it. Regardless of the state of the other MLSEL teams - with this one he has been truly visionary.

Is that not what good businessmen do? Sure, I'll give him credit for having a special ability to make $$.

[I_AM_CANADIAN]

I don't know how credible this is, but assuming it's true and Richard Peddie is on the way out do you think this a good thing for MLSE? Is it good for TFC?Is water wet?

Though to be fair, it probably doesn't concern TFC as much as it does the Leafs.

[Redcoe15]

I would much rather hear it from someone other than Steve Simmons. Since his story about the severity of Mats Sundin's groin injury, I wouldn't put any stock or give any credit to what that Fat Evil Bozo has to say.

[Wagner]

I would much rather hear it from someone other than Steve Simmons. Since his story about the severity of Mats Sundin's groin injury, I wouldn't put any stock or give any credit to what that Fat Evil Bozo has to say.


Simmons is a Grade A douche Bag.
I can't stand that windbag on the Reporters.
I love it when Cox calls bullshit on him and he recoils like the snake that he is.

[Wagner]

Say what u will but without RP there would be no TFC. He saw the city as ready and the potential for soccer at a time when the safe move would have been to pass on it. Regardless of the state of the other MLSEL teams - with this one he has been truly visionary.

When you put it that way, he should get some respect from TFC fans.

It's the media portrayal of him as meddling that will do him in.

The success of Colangelo with the Raps after his "no meddling" clause...
and the apparent same clause that Burke wants....could show that word is out on him...

Who knows if any of it is true though...could be all media BS.

[Redcoe15]

Simmons is a Grade A douche Bag.
I can't stand that windbag on the Reporters.
I love it when Cox calls bullshit on him and he recoils like the snake that he is.
Anybody watch the Reporters this morning where they were all wearing toques and FEB Simmons was wearing shades? I'd say he was halfway complete in covering up his ugly face.

[Wagner]

Anybody watch the Reporters this morning where they were all wearing toques and FEB Simmons was wearing shades? I'd say he was halfway complete in covering up his ugly face.

Libberace called, he wants his shades back.

[Canary Canuck]

Ever hear them discuss soccer on that show? it's painful when the whole panel knows zilch about soccer and half the panel hates the sport. I long for the day when Toronto journalists aren't selective on their knowledge.

[deeznutz]

The guy has his hands in too many people's business, don't let the door hit his ass too hard on the way out.


So true!!!! you hit the nail on the head loser!!! :p

[BakaGaijin]

Say what u will but without RP there would be no TFC. He saw the city as ready and the potential for soccer at a time when the safe move would have been to pass on it. Regardless of the state of the other MLSEL teams - with this one he has been truly visionary.


Convincing the city to give MLSE the naming rights to the stadium in exchange for their investment in the project was the biggest con job. Was that his doing?!?

[Roogsy]

Con job or good business?

Without MLSE there is no TFC. Securing the MLS franchise is what put the BMO Field project over the top in addition to the U20 World Cup.

[Cashcleaner]

Say what u will but without RP there would be no TFC. He saw the city as ready and the potential for soccer at a time when the safe move would have been to pass on it. Regardless of the state of the other MLSEL teams - with this one he has been truly visionary.

For that fact alone he gets my grudging respect. Thanks for mentioning it, Paul.

[BakaGaijin]

Con job or good business?

Without MLSE there is no TFC. Securing the MLS franchise is what put the BMO Field project over the top in addition to the U20 World Cup.

It would be good business if it were another private company or corporation they were ripping off, however, they ripped off the city. They ripped off you and I...........the taxpayers. That's not ethical.

[ensco]

To be fair, Peddie's job has three components:

1) Make money
2) Determine a fair split between returns to the owners and investing in the team
2) Spend the share of the money allocated to the team well

Peddie is very good at number 1.

Number 2 is not bad - Leafs and Raptors have always been at or near the cap, and I don't blame Peddie for holding back on a DP

Number 3 is where Peddie has failed, especially in terms of hiring management for the teams. Quinn was Stavro's hire. Everyone Peddie put in was a failure.

I blame the Board of Directors (ie Teachers) for allowing such a politicized culture around personnel decisions to exist.


Teachers is going to come in for a lot of criticism with respect to their stewardship of MLSE. Teachers have blown a big hole in their balance sheet and have big problems now. MLSE should have been sold for a ton of money a couple of years ago but the directors enjoy jock-sniffing too much. Value of MLSE is severely diminished now given economic environment.

[MG42]

Say what u will but without RP there would be no TFC. He saw the city as ready and the potential for soccer at a time when the safe move would have been to pass on it. Regardless of the state of the other MLSEL teams - with this one he has been truly visionary.


Richard, how did you get into Paul's account? :)

[Roogsy]

It would be good business if it were another private company or corporation they were ripping off, however, they ripped off the city. They ripped off you and I...........the taxpayers. That's not ethical.

I definitely would not call that deal a rip-off considering the exposure the team has given the city, not to mention the revenues the city is earning and the jobs it created. I see nothing unethical in what the team did. A good business deal sees both sides achieving or acquiring advantages it could not have otherwise. That is the case here. Both sides have benefited, it is silly to accuse one side of being unethical when both have profited and could not have without each other.

[Roogsy]

I blame the Board of Directors (ie Teachers) for allowing such a politicized culture around personnel decisions to exist.


Teachers is going to come in for a lot of criticism with respect to their stewardship of MLSE. Teachers have blown a big hole in their balance sheet and have big problems now. MLSE should have been sold for a ton of money a couple of years ago but the directors enjoy jock-sniffing too much. Value of MLSE is severely diminished now given economic environment.

I agree 100%!

[Detroit_TFC]

IMHO changes in business strategy typically ping-pong between diversification and focus on core product. If the new MLSE direction is toward focus on core product, where does that put TFC? Probably up for sale. I can't see how that would be good for us in any way, in the current economic environment.

[TFCREDNWHITE]

Change HIM!! Honestly, He has had ample time to prove himself as a worthy chairman of sports champion, WHICH he has failed!!! FAILED FAILED!!! Toronto deserves WINNERS!! We are in dire need of winners....He has had his chance, now its time to move on to the next.

[BakaGaijin]

I definitely would not call that deal a rip-off considering the exposure the team has given the city, not to mention the revenues the city is earning and the jobs it created. I see nothing unethical in what the team did. A good business deal sees both sides achieving or acquiring advantages it could not have otherwise. That is the case here. Both sides have benefited, it is silly to accuse one side of being unethical when both have profited and could not have without each other.

MLSE was supposed to put up funds to assist with the building of the stadium in return for the right to use it and manage it. They ending up con-ing the naming rights from some dumb city councillors and turned into a profit.

I guess we'll just agree to disagree.

[tfcmanu]

It cost MLSE $18 million just to start up Peddie’s latest gem, Toronto FC. Despite so-called “experts” dismissing the idea that a professional soccer team would work here. In a city full of immigrants, many from South America and Europe—soccer’s hotbeds—Peddie thought he knew better. He was right.

One of the main attractions of the MLS league was that Peddie felt it was a good league with a good Collective Bargaining Agreement, but he wouldn’t have done it without the construction of BMO field. Field sharing wasn’t an option. Peddie knew that to establish TFC, they needed their own stadium.

“[In the first two seasons TFC] has far exceeded our expectations,” said Peddie. “We had 97% renewal [of season ticket holders] first year, 95% renewal second year with13,000 [people] on the waiting list.”

Peddie believes that one day TFC could even be the hottest ticket in town due to soccer’s affordability and its recognition world wide.

Peddie and MLSE’s dalliance with Soccer almost extended to England’s Premier League. Last year, Peddie led executives on a mission to England to evaluate the prospects of perhaps buying a team in the world’s richest soccer league.

“It was a flawed model and we didn’t go near it," said Peddie. “[But] I still get calls.” Newcastleand West Ham both tried to sell to MLSE, but Peddie swiftly told them that he was not interested.


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/87761-toronto-sports-teams-safe-in-richard-peddies-hands

[Blazer]

Ummm, Simmons is a douche bag first and foremost.

That being said, the board of directors need to give their collective heads a shake and find themselves someone who can make dollars and cents while also enacting the right personnel along the way. Something Pettie hasn’t done sufficiently well.

[t.o_moose]

...where's that Israeli billionaire that wanted to buy MLSE earlier in the year?

the Leafs, Raps, and TFC could use a sugar daddy