Editor's Note from Jordan:  Promoting this to the front page to give it the views it should receive. My thanks to Greg for putting this together after contacting me yesterday. This is certainly an interesting dialogue and despite our feelings regarding GWI and their motivations, seeing them attempt to express them on "paper" is informative. So thanks again to Greg for taking the initiative on this one and getting it put together as a FanPost.

I'm Greg Dunaway and I'm a longtime Coyote fan. I was at the first game in 1996 and while I've split time between CA and AZ because of work and school, I've always been passionate about hockey both as a fan and as a player. Over the last year, Coyote fans have had their collective hearts ripped out by the constant ups and downs of ownership issues. We've faced it from all sides- from smug Canadians, from other NHL fans about our perceived "lack of knowledge" to angry missives by local politicians. 

To make matters worse, all we really hear are secondhand rumors from not so trustworthy sources. To that end, I decided to email the Goldwater Institute's Clint Bolick to try and see if he would engage me and answer some of my questions. Clint answered all of my questions and I am grateful to him. Throughout our conversation while I acted antagonistic, he returned with calm, cool and rational answers. It certainly turned my attitude from a "F*&* these guys" to a "Sh** we need a solution- fast."  

I still think it is in the best interests of EVERYONE in Arizona for the Coyotes to stay in Phoenix. However, as I wrote to Clint, that while we may disagree, at least I understand why. I hope this helps other Coyote fans in understanding why there is seemingly no end in sight for us (that's my opinion after our exchange- the GWI doesn't seem willing to budge), but you can tell that Clint is passionate in why he is against the sale and that it is not an easy thing for him to do as a sports fan, but instead is a matter of principle for him.

My thanks to Clint Bolick for taking time to answer my questions when he didn't have to. While I fired off email after email, Clint remained calm and understanding- something I doubt I could do if I were in his shoes. Here are the unedited emails and at the end- statement from the GWI's president. 

UPDATE 03/09/2011 - Added reaction to Bettman's statement.

Continue reading this post »

Hey, I'd like to get a viewing party together for anyone in the Los Angeles area. I figured that Coyote fans across the U.S. would like to get together as well. 

As for Los Angeles, I'm in the South Bay-  how does the Hermosa Pier sound for anyone in the area? Sharkeez has something like 20 screens, all HD. 

Feel free to add thoughts/ideas for every Coyote fan in every state.