Dolan must have a crazy legal plan and wants to use it often!

MSG is the wealthiest owner and challanging some rights that other teams don't have the juice to try. Bettman is cut from the same arrogant cloth Stern is from.

NEW YORK -- The NHL is threatening to kick the owners of the New York Rangers out of the league or force them to sell the team as punishment for accusing league officials of violating antitrust laws.

The NHL filed court papers Wednesday that included a draft letter from commissioner Gary Bettman proposing discipline against Madison Square Garden, L.P. that could lead to suspension or termination of its ownership of the Rangers. The Garden responded by accusing the NHL of using "bullying tactics."

In its court filing, the NHL asked a judge to agree Madison Square Garden breached its contract by challenging league rules.

Madison Square Garden sued the NHL in September, saying it violated antitrust laws by monopolizing control of team promotions. A judge ruled in November that the league seemed within its rights to take control of the team's Web site.

Madison Square Garden, which is owned by Cablevision Systems Corp., owns the Rangers, the NBA's New York Knicks , the WNBA's New York Liberty and several venues, including Madison Square Garden -- the home of the Rangers, Knicks and Liberty.

MSG spokesman Barry Watkins said Thursday that the league was consistent but wrong in its handling of the dispute.

"Not surprisingly, the NHL is once again proving why an independent judge must address our claims. Despite trying to resolve our differences privately, the league has responded with excessive fines and now threats that have nothing to do with the merits of our position," he said.

"The NHL shouldn't be afraid of the judicial system. We will pursue our case vigorously and will not be intimidated by the NHL's bullying tactics," he said.

MSG first went to the courts just as the league was preparing to fine the organization $100,000 per day if the company did not give the hockey league complete control over the Rangers' Web site and other promotions.

Madison Square Garden had accused the hockey league of having "veered into unlawful behavior" by seeking to control the licensing of teams for all commercial purposes and to stop teams from marketing apparel, merchandise and memorabilia.

MSG asked a judge to order the league to stop limiting team promotions and to clarify the boundaries of hockey league rights.

In its court submission, the league asked the judge to agree that MSG had violated its contract by violating a provision that bans owners from going to court to challenge the NHL's constitution or its league rules or procedures.

The league said such a breach can lead to disciplinary proceedings in which a vote of three-quarters of the members of the league can decide to issue fines, suspend or terminate membership in the league, order a sale of the club to a new owner or suspend or expel individuals involved in the team's management.

At the end of his letter, Bettman noted that the NHL constitution also prohibits league members from resisting or trying to prevent termination in the league through the courts.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

The NHL Don't Play Dat!

that would be interesting to see the league try to force MSG to sell the rangers. I couldn't see that happening. First, it would kill the value of the franchise because who is going to pay for something they don't own, but merely rent by the good graces of the league.

I don't think the NHL would be doing this if they didn't have issues with Dolan and the way the franchise is run. I am sure David Stern has looked into every possible scenario that would allow him to force Dolan to give up control of the Knicks and he would force this if he could.

Posted by Ira:

Is Dolan wrong for wanting to control his own team's website?

Would you want someone else controlling your website?, how and what you merchandise for YOUR team? I wouldn't!! I know there's a big hate out there for the Dolans and MSG but the league is overstepping here.

Maybe many of the 29 other teams want the larger revenues of the New York franchise split 30 ways.

Posted by Ira:

I'm not trying to discount the idea of getting rid of Dolan, but I don't see how the league
1) has the right to take over revenues that should belong to the Rangers
and 2) remove the guy because he has the audacity to complain about it and take it to court. This is still the United States of America - not the United States of Bettman.

The Rangers are just 1/30 of a league and the league will do what is in the best interests of the 30 teams and the NHL as a league. This is not Jim Dolan's carwash--he only owns 1 of 30 franchises in the NHL--if he doesnt like the rules--then sell the team. He's playing against a very stacked deck here--I think I would stop and make a deal that quell's the situation--but he doesnt do that--he makes things worse and throws money at it--cant do that here.

Posted by Nalod:

Yanks tried that crap years ago when their stuff outsold everyone else!

Bettman and Stern are as thick as theives.

In the end its about posturing.

Maybe other teams also want to do this and Jimmy is leading the way?

The rangers are a cash cow to the NHL that is the only reason that they want control over the Rangers basically to support all the other failing franchises. How bad has the NHL fallen just recently on ESPN they said the Spelling Bee out did the NHL finals in ratings. I know all the Knicks fans are probably all giddy by what the NHL is doing but I find it to be wrong.