The Squeaky Wheel

I don’t know who came up with the saying pertaining to the squeaky wheel and it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is how accurate the saying is. We’ve just had another example of it in Winnipeg with the naming of the newly acquired NHL hockey team. Before it was even announced, before it was confirmed to be more than the latest rumour, the usual loudmouths were proclaiming ‘the Jets’ were coming back. Never mind that the franchise that was the Jets was still located in Phoenix and was obviously not coming back. Never mind that any number of names had been suggested and that many of them had a strong connection to the city and province. Never mind any of that. What was important was that the portion of fans who yelled and screamed the loudest were ‘demanding’ the Jets be resurrected from the dead.

Many claimed they had the right to name ‘their’ team since they’d come to the plate and made a commitment to the team and bought tickets (again, never mind Mark Chipman and John Thomson’s cheque for $170 million). Some threatened to chant the irrelevant and uninspired ‘go Jets go’ at games even if the team was named something other than the name of their ‘beloved Jets’. Question: where were the fans of in the 80’s and 90’s? The team only averaged 13, 000 in attendance over their 17 uneventful years in the NHL.

Then there were those that were threatening to boycott the games if the team was named anything other than the Winnipeg Jets (in fact, even calling them the Manitoba Jets was unacceptable to these people). Were they also going to stand outside True North’s offices holding their breath and stomping up and down until their faces turned blue and they got their way?  Please, you people didn’t expect us to believe this, did you? If you were serious, then what exactly is wrong with you? The name of the team was more important than having gotten back into the league? Some of you need to get your priorities in order. Remember, the Jets of Benny Hatskin and Bobby Hull were innovative, exciting and successful, something that came to an abrupt halt as soon as they entered the NHL. And it never came back. Why would you want to revisit where they left off? The 17 years of the NHL Jets already tarnished what the team had managed to accomplish in its first 7 years.

Mark Chipman knew that enough of these people would have made good on their threats of childish behaviour. He knew this would create unflattering coverage the team and the city just did not need. The optics would not have been good. I know you’re happy you got your way, but you shouldn’t be.