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Preds sign Koistinen, Smithson
The Nashville Predators announced Thursday that the club signed defenseman Ville Koistinen to a one-year, $700,000 contract. The contract was based on the award of an independent arbitrator who heard the case on July 28.
Koistinen, 26, played his first NHL season in 2007-08, registering 17 points in 48 games. The Tampere, Finland, native ranked second on the club and tied for third among rookies in plus/minus rating in addition to tying for second among Nashville blueliners in power-play points. The 5-11, 190-pound d-man also earned a bronze medal while representing Finland at the World Championships in May 2008.
Earlier on Thursday, the club announced the signing of forward Jerred Smithson to a two-year, $1.475 million contract extension. Smithson, who was already under contract for the 2008-09 season, will make $725,000 in 2009-10 and $750,000 in 2010-11.
Smithson established career highs in games played (81), goals (7) and points (16) in 2008-09, in addition to tying a personal best in assists (9).
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Great response. However, none of that changes my opinion. If less than 50% showed up to vote, you can't assume that everyone that did not vote was against the Titans (they just didnt have the enery to vote). Name another event where people camp out days before tickets go on sale for an event that happens multiple times a year (therefore concerts do not apply) like fans do for Titans games?? When is it a bad thing to have people from surrounding counties come into Davidson County and spend their money in our local businesses?? You make a good point, maybe I should change my assertion to the majority of Middle Tennesseans prefer to have professional sports in Nashville. Another point on the Predators, they made revenue sharing. They average close to 14k a game in a season where they seemed to be moving. If sports is such a waste of time, why are cities like Oklahoma City paying 75 million dollars to have a basketball team there, or cities like Seattle having rallies to keep the Sonics in town? Let alone have BOOTS put his freedom on the line by forging fake loans in order to have a stake in the Predators so he could maybe move the team to Kansas City??Sports are not the answer to all economic problems, I never claimed that. But they are worth tax dollars and you can't just treat them like a private company because they rely on the public support and their intention is to give ENTERTAINMENT to the public. Again, I haven't heard of an even that brings 14k to downtown 41 nights a year, or an event that brings 70K to downtown 8-10 times a year. I am all for $ to schools, police, firemen, etc. But I will always support Nashville's pro teams because they bring so much to Nashville.
Did ownership check with Boots Delbiaggio on this deal? Plaz took a rolled up newspaper to Willy yesterday when daunic claimed Predators need more ticket sales. The Director was quick to divert that topic. Off air must have been spicy.
Courier- What is your grand idea of making Nashville a better city? Because the large majority of Nashvillians would definitely say the Titans and Predators have united this city more so than anything else could have (besides a major league baseball or basketball team). Don't believe me? The city paper did report that the Titans have sold out all 103 regular season games right? How about 7 thousand people showing up for the Predators rally last July and 500 season tickets sold in one morning?Please, tell the world via a post on Nashville city paper what your grand idea is?
nashbeck, happy to oblige:First I think a majority of Nashvillians really don't care whether or not Nashville has professional sports. As long as television and radio ratings remain around a 10 share, 90 percent ae not watching nor listening.Second, since the Titans have sold out every home game there is obviously a market for 68,000-plus football fans. However hockey seldom sells out. 14,000 is a high and rare number at Sommet for the Fangtastic Six. 7000 people at a rally? Watch out, the 50,000-plus Steeplechase event is shaking in their boots. Boots? Did someone say Delbiaggio? Nashbeck, your Metro pantheon really dropped the ball there. Vanderbilt seldom sells out football, yet does not asks for a government subsidy.To make Nashville a better city I propose (and in no specific order)...school vouchers, zero government funding for stadia and convention center, media that are actually investigating rather than cheerleading or agenda driven (my criticism of Plaz and company), ending the horrible moneypit that is Music City Star, letting tour companies bid for mass transit, market economics, end of subsidized housing, no more handouts (grab a garbage bag and start picking roadside litter), if you got a Freddic Mac or Fannie Mae loan then tough for you, rugged individualism, oil and energy independence, voluntary recycling, repeal of the Patriot Act, ... . I have more but will stop there.Good enough?
Ahhh Brentwood...life is good in the 37027 aint it courier? Why do you care what happens to Nashville anyways? We're better off without the likes of you. I'm going to propose building a wall along the Davidson/Williamson border.
evilj, I am in the Davidson County side of Brentwood. Curse that angle line south of OHB, ha ha. Oh, and you love people like me who shop, own property and keeps my car tags in Davidson. Hate me on web site, love me for my money.Nashbeck, got a few more for you. I am against welfare. But since we have it, I propose welfare handout should not exceed minimum wage. Workers should get more than slackers. As there is not a school voucher system in place, cost burden should be shifted to tuition and not on property owners. have parents fork out a few bucks for their child's education and suddenly they have a vested interest. Public housing: pick a date in near future and government gets out of public housing. Squatters' rights: congratulations, this project is yours. We are paying nor maintaining for projects any longer.
Courier- Agree with you on welfare. I believe that too many people use it as a hammock instead of its intention as a safety net. However, I am not on welfare thank God and there are some who need it. However, I propose that welfare should only be given to those who reach certain incentives (cleaning the streets, working 60 hr weeks, kids in school, married, etc.) As for steeplechase, yeah it's pretty easy to bring in 50,000 people for an event that happens one day of the year. You think 50,000 would show up 41 nights a year like the preds?Bottom line, you and I will only agree to disagree about the Predators and Titans. I am a huge sports fan, as is America (and the world, but for soccer), and you are not. You are completley entitled to your opinion, I respect it, just disagree.However, you are wrong about the majority of the Nashvillians not wanting professional sports. What happened when Nashville had a vote on the Titans moving here? We voted for it. Vanderbilt does sell out a ton of its football games by the way; the fans just aren't supporting black and gold but rather different shades of red and orange. Go Nashville Predators!!!!
Nashbeck, no problem with what you said. Referendum you alluded to was to allow $4 million public in moving expenses to Oilers. That election less than 50% of Nashville voted. I think you may be figuring middle Tennessee (read: surrounding counties) as Nashvillians who love football. I contend, and statistically so, that most Nashvillians do not have an opinion either way about professional fotball. Your individual fervor does not speak for the majority--that goes for you too TITAN1. However my hypothesis is backed up by media ratings (hard data) and actual election turnout that prove my point. When The Tennessean and NCP dedicate 50% of print pages and web site to Titans, when 50% of radio listeners are tuned into 103 WKDF on football Sundays, when Channel 5 has a 50 share on Sunday afternoon, then it will be a majority. Until then I would say 10% give or take 2 points are professional football fans. The ONLY event that pulls better than a 50 share is the Super Bowl. When you see the casual or non-football fan tune in, it is for the most televised and covered game. Other 364 days these people don;t care. Hence premium ad spot dollars.Regarding the Predators, count 11,000 actual each night, abyssmal television ratings on Fox Sports South, and more people attending (in the past) Dancing in the District, Summer Lights, LP Field concerts, Vanderbilt basketball, Starwood concerts, Nashville Fairgrounds racing, local cinemas, list goes on. Predators are competing for the entertainment dollar like anyone else. Their audience is maximized at 14K, with usual television audience and attendance combined. Add a small spike for Stanley Cup playoffs.
..and if the Oilers referndum had a 50% turnout, the issue was public funds for a private business. We also see refernda like tax increases for schools and Amendment One routinely shot down 4 to 1. I enjoy civic responsibility and referendum votes.I am a sports fan but do not take it to the passion you carry, agreed. There is more to life than this entertainment. And that is all sports are: games. Yes, I am speaking southern heresy. More people should put same passion you have for Preds and Titans into their work, raising kids and marriages. You seem like a good person Nashbeck. Obviously you put some thought into your posts. I hope your sports passion carries into other facets of your life. We need more people like that. Yes we will disagree. Where we differ is while you and the diehard Titans/Predators fans think pro sports is the be all and end all to our entertainment venues and will solve our financial woes, it isn't and it won't. Media ratings, balance sheets, revenue streams, missed projections, poor marketing, niche marketing make it plain, "It (sport) is what it is."
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