Is Tim Johnston Serious?

[Chewy]

This just on fox sports website

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23405971-23769,00.html

Personally i don't think i can take much more waiting on this saga that we have now at the Kings.

He wouldn't have to stop people from saying negative things in the media if he did the best thing by the Players, Coaches and Staff in the first place.

You don't hear too many other players bagging their owners while they are still employed by them. I wish he would just pull his finger out, and get this sale happening now!

[bonehead181]

Daily Telegraph Link

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 23,00.html (http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23404770-5001023,00.html)

I agree. Get out Tim.

[curious]

There is an NBL Board meeting today.
Maybe Tim Johnston might attend his first one!!!

[Earnie Shavers]

What a fucking ****.

[bucky]

There is 8 more days before free agents can begin negotiating with other clubs (but some probably already are), which means if Johnson doesn't sell the team in that time the players will start looking elsewhere. It sucks for the Kings and there fans, they deserve better than Johnson.

[Earnie Shavers]

SMH:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/basketball/j ... 82117.html (http://www.smh.com.au/news/basketball/johnston-exerts-his-firepower-and-bans-his-kings-from-speaking/2008/03/19/1205602482117.html)

[Earnie Shavers]

There is 8 more days before free agents can begin negotiating with other clubs (but some probably already are), which means if Johnson doesn't sell the team in that time the players will start looking elsewhere. It sucks for the Kings and there fans, they deserve better than Johnson.

There's apparently only one player on the team that doesn't have an out clause if Goorjian is not the coach. I don't know who wouldn't exercise that given all this. I certainly would. How many vacant spots do the Dragons have?

[bucky]

There is 8 more days before free agents can begin negotiating with other clubs (but some probably already are), which means if Johnson doesn't sell the team in that time the players will start looking elsewhere. It sucks for the Kings and there fans, they deserve better than Johnson.

There's apparently only one player on the team that doesn't have an out clause if Goorjian is not the coach. I don't know who wouldn't exercise that given all this. I certainly would. How many vacant spots do the Dragons have?

Even if they don't all follow Goorj you would think that they would want to sign elsewhere to give them some stability. Lots of teams out there who could use the experience of some of there players. I as a Blaze fan would welcome Draper on my team :wink:

[Stumps]

Can you blame him for wanting to remind them of the anti-poaching rules? The team is apparently about to be gutted. I'd love to see somebody test them in court for once, given the NBL obviously hasn't got the balls to enforce them.

[Lemon Custard]

I think the worst part of the whole article is the part where it says the reason he bought the team was because "he loved them so much". Yeah. Sure.

[King of Kings]

There is 8 more days before free agents can begin negotiating with other clubs (but some probably already are), which means if Johnson doesn't sell the team in that time the players will start looking elsewhere. It sucks for the Kings and there fans, they deserve better than Johnson.

There's apparently only one player on the team that doesn't have an out clause if Goorjian is not the coach. I don't know who wouldn't exercise that given all this. I certainly would. How many vacant spots do the Dragons have?

That is not correct. The issue of the Goorj clause.

[bucky]

[quote=bucky]There is 8 more days before free agents can begin negotiating with other clubs (but some probably already are), which means if Johnson doesn't sell the team in that time the players will start looking elsewhere. It sucks for the Kings and there fans, they deserve better than Johnson.

There's apparently only one player on the team that doesn't have an out clause if Goorjian is not the coach. I don't know who wouldn't exercise that given all this. I certainly would. How many vacant spots do the Dragons have?

That is not correct. The issue of the Goorj clause.[/quote:lwgge8cb]

So wanna tell what is correct?

Can you blame him for wanting to remind them of the anti-poaching rules? The team is apparently about to be gutted. I'd love to see somebody test them in court for once, given the NBL obviously hasn't got the balls to enforce them.

I thought the letter was to stop them talking to the media :?

[Stumps]

I thought the letter was to stop them talking to the media :?
One of the linked articles reproduced the whole letter.

[Lemon Custard]

What do you mean? That legal action can be taken against the person who sent it to the Daily Tele?

[Stumps]

No, I mean I'd love to see Johnston sue somebody for breaking the NBL's anti-poaching rules due to the loss it has obviously caused him in the devaluation of the asset he is trying to sell.

[Lemon Custard]

Oh see, that's what I thought.

Carry on. :D

[hendrix]

I know Goorj refused to answer any questions about the Kings situation at the Boomers announcement yesterday. Not sure if this development played a part in that?

[Lemon Custard]

Nah. He's been pretty tight lipped the whole way. He likes to focus on what's important. First a run at a championship. Now, the Olympics. I doubt it's him doing the negotiations anyway.

[Earnie Shavers]

NBL Awards are on tonight, no? Would be interesting to hear what Goorjian says when accepting his award.

I don't have any problem with the anti-poaching stuff in the letter, you would assume - as hypocritical as it may be considering everyone does it - such a warning is issued at the end of every season. Of course there's a lot more at stake right now.

I think that if you were a Kings player or staff member you'd find the whole tone and disconnect in there absolutely blood boiling. "Tough times hey, 'administration difficulties', right? But we're all in this together, right guys? Now, don't go talking to anyone about how shit I am or I'll take you to court and get back that money that I gave you late, okay? I fucking mean it. Okay team, let's help me out, okay? Go team!"

[isaac]

Is the owner trying to drive the coach and players away?! Can't see how he could've made a sillier decision considering the circumstances.

Anyone reckon more than 5 of the current 10 will stay?

[LegoSHAQ]

The fact that the letter was given to the media and the SMH has a copy of it shows how pissed the Kings are at Johnson.

[Earnie Shavers]

Depends I guess on the truth re Goorj out clause stories, or any other legal out's they may have due to late payments possibly being contract busters?

The intent behind the letter is somewhat understandable, in that if he wasn't a complete tool, and this were a regular sale, its understandable that you'd want a lid on any talk of key pieces of the team walking. Especially when, IMO, 50% (being very conservative) of the value of the Kings is simply Goorjian. He paid $2million for the team, they're $1million in the red. I'd suggest that without Goorjian and half the team, he would have great difficulty selling them at all, let alone anything near a recovery of what he paid for them. That said, the tone is absolutely terrible in every way. Would have way more success if he'd said something along the lines of "You want me gone. I'm trying to facilitate that. Just sit still and stay quiet for a week to help that along. Not for me, and if not for you, then for those at the club who aren't one phone call away from another more lucrative job." Instead, it's another arrogant challenge that would only drive people to, well, leak it straight to the press for starters.

[Katisha66]

The Kings' and the Bullets' respective off seasons are sounding more and more like an episode of Days of our Lives. :(

[isaac]

Johnston will go straight to the top of Cowan's xmas card list after this.

[coast2coast]

Tim Johnston need some PR help real bad. The number of hits he has taken with Firepower and now with the Sydney Kings are unbelievable. I cannot belive, a guy who has pumped so much money into sport in the last couple of years, is getting so much bad publicity. He would have been better off hiring a PR firm to polish the image of Firepower and himself rather than keep throwing sponsorship dollars around. Mind you, I can understand why he is getting the bad publicity in regards to the Kings. I just wonder what sort of business plan he has to find himself on the end of so much bad publicity.

[DICKO]

I just wonder what sort of business plan he has to find himself on the end of so much bad publicity.

I think he went to the world famous Peter Fiddes School of Public Image.

[singy]

NBL Awards are on tonight, no? Would be interesting to hear what Goorjian says when accepting his award.

Yeah, I sort of wish I forked out the $150 to attend now, it could be an exciting night with all this carry-on happening. It's at the Aquarium as well, which is an interesting choice of venue.

[AngusH]

It's at the Aquarium as well, which is an interesting choice of venue.

Did the NBL actually book the Aquarium, or just pull a cheapy and buy everyone an entry pass?

[Earnie Shavers]

Haha, I can just see it now. Everyone turns a corner...

Guide: And here in our tropical north exhibit...
Chuck Harmison: Ooh! Ooh! Who's that standing next to the tank? Is it NBL Hummer Championship Hummer Coach of the Hummer Year, Brian Goorjian?!? I think it is!! How about a round of applause everyone! Brian, do you have anything to say?
Goorjian: Fuck you all, you amateur bastards.
Harmison: Outstanding.
Guide: Next up, Endangered Species.
Harmison: Oh shit.

[singy]

It's at the Aquarium as well, which is an interesting choice of venue.

Did the NBL actually book the Aquarium, or just pull a cheapy and buy everyone an entry pass?

Well for $150 a head, I figure they actually booked it.

[Daevo]

Well I'm glad somebody else noticed this coz you sure as hell don't see any comment about he Kings in the Kings thread :roll:

It certainly sounds as though Tim has had bad news regarding coach & player negotiations so is desperately trying to sell before prospective buyers realise they are getting little more than a brand & a lion suit.

[DoubleA]

It's at the Aquarium as well, which is an interesting choice of venue.

Did the NBL actually book the Aquarium, or just pull a cheapy and buy everyone an entry pass?

Never thought my year 12 formal venue would be the same place as an NBL awards dinner.

[meg]

Haha, I can just see it now. Everyone turns a corner...

Guide: And here in our tropical north exhibit...
Chuck Harmison: Ooh! Ooh! Who's that standing next to the tank? Is it NBL Hummer Championship Hummer Coach of the Hummer Year, Brian Goorjian?!? I think it is!! How about a round of applause everyone! Brian, do you have anything to say?
Goorjian: (Extremely Naughty Word!) you all, you amateur bastards.
Harmison: Outstanding.
Guide: Next up, Endangered Species.
Harmison: Oh shit.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[curious]

The fact that the letter was given to the media and the SMH has a copy of it shows how pissed the Kings are at Johnson.
Johnson may end uP with a licence, no coach, and little to no team.
Stupid man.

[gangsta boo]

And all the fans can get fucked with that as well :cry:

[Bench Warmer]

Deary me. What a stupid letter. Apart from the obvious scolding tone, it has this gem:

"Effective immediately no staff member is to make any comment to media and/or members of the public regarding the ongoing operations of the club," the letter states.

"This includes information related to player contracts, staff entitlements and management. Should the club find any evidence that staff have breached this policy we reserve the right to take legal action."

Hate to tell you Tim, players can legally talk publicly about their own contacts and/or entitlements if they want to, and the relevant clause of the Standard Player Agreement doesn't prevent this (it can't).

Out of interest, here's a look at clause 4.5 of the Standard Player Contract, which is a Schedule to the NBL Player's Agreement, a pre-WorkChoices Certified Agreement publicly available on the internet:

4.5 Publicity and Sponsorship

The Player must:

(a) not, without first obtaining the approval of the Club and the NBL

(which approval must not be unreasonably withheld), write (or ghost write) a column for publication in a newspaper or any magazine or printed publication or appear on television or radio or write (or ghost write) a column for or appear on the internet for fee, gain or reward;

(b) not comment publicly on:

(i) the Club or another NBL club;

(ii) the NBL or the NBL competition;

(iii) the performance of a Match Official; or

(iv) any matter which is, or is likely to be, the subject of an inquiry by the NBL or any committee or tribunal established by the NBL;

For the purposes of this clause, "comment publicly" means to make any comment, statement or representation, whether orally or in writing, including on the world wide web, or perform any action that is contrary to the best interests or detrimental to the welfare or image of the Club or another NBL club, the NBL or the NBL competition. Without limitation this includes comments:

(i) to, or in the presence of, any person that is known or ought to be known as a member of the media; or

(ii) when it is known or ought to be known that the comment or action may be reported in the media.

What is in the best interests or detrimental to the welfare or image of the Club or NBL club, the NBL or the NBL Competition is determined by the NBL in its reasonable opinion:

(c) not promote, advertise or endorse any Basketball competition, other than the NBL competition without the written consent of the club;

(d) not enter into any contract, arrangement or understanding to:

(i) promote the Player's Image; or

(ii) advertise, endorse or sponsor any product or service using the Player's Image,

without first obtaining the written consent of the Club (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld); and

(e) inform the Club in writing of any pre-existing commercial arrangement with any entity prior to the execution of this Contract.



Full agreement available at http://www.airc.gov.au/awards/tracee/agreements/pdf/AG842247.pdf

[fan since the old snakepit]

The fact that the letter was given to the media and the SMH has a copy of it shows how pissed the Kings are at Johnson.
Johnson may end uP with a licence, no coach, and little to no team.
Stupid man.

His team would be like his product wouldn't it.