The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 11

I The Province A80C Thursday, April 9,1998 Not the time for Messier to rest uuslilfl GD (i VTV scores big Orca Bay coup Leadership is really the issue This is written for the sole purpose of giving Tony Gallagher some ammunition for his next column. I have one question. If Mark Messier is the best leader in all of sport, when are we going to see it? If it was necessary to pay would have simply brushed it off by saying that Odjick is no longer a part of the team and all that matters are the players that are here today, not the ones that have left. Slamming Odjick and taking a back-handed swipe at Linden only belittles the image that Messier has spent years trying to create. If Messier has any feel for this city and how many have turned By Terry Bell Sports Reporter "We got a call from them (Orca Bay) and it was pretty much 'Either pay us what we want or it's 'You want it, then pay That's pretty much what it came down to." BCTV-CHEK president Art Reitmayer this guy $6 million to ensure that the Canucks finish with the fourth worst record in the league, they should do one of two things.

Revoke the franchise or move them to Portland. I haven't been at ajl impressed with anything Messier has said or done this season. He was way off base by inferring that on him he will play out the remaining five games of the fact is when they still were alive in this non-playoff race Messier was playing, which meant he wasn't hurting his elbow any more than it already is. This is when he can show some leadership and show he's not just giving token lip service NEIL MACRAE Orca Bay grabbed the remote control on Wednesday and switched channels, moving the Vancouver Canucks and Grizzlies to upstart VTV for next season. And after a 27-year marriage between BCTV-CHEK and the NHL's Canucks, the parting was less than smooth.

Orca Bay and VTV agreed to a two-year deal that will see the station air 3Q Canucks and 24 Grizzlies NBA games next season. That deal, which includes a third year at the station's option, has left people at BCTV-CHEK feeling frustrated and more than a bit disappointed. "We got a call from them (Orca Bay) and it was pretty much 'Either pay us what we want or it's Art Reitmayer, president of BCTV-CHEK, said on-Wedriesday. 'You want it (Canucks and Grizzlies), then pay That's pretty rriuch what it came down to. "I'd dealt with the Griffiths family for eight years," continued Reitmayer, referring to-former team owner Arthur Griffiths.

"There was a different kind of sense to the negotiations, a different objective. "Now dollars are where it's at. I know they're in financial difficulty (at Orca Bay) but I'm not going to be part of that because of them." on BCTV captured 1 1.5 per cent of the extended Vancouver market (just over three million viewers). In the fall of 1996 it was 1-6 per. cent.

Now everyone's left to wonder what kind of package Canucks fans will get from VTV-. Kevin Gass, vice president of communications for Orca Bay, said the station, which doesn't as yet broadcast throughout the province, is working to change that situation. "They're investigating ways to do that," said Gass, who added it's Orca Bay's goal to eventually have all 82 regular season Canucks games on regular cable (non television. Gass also added it's Orca Bay's preference to retain broadcasters Don Poirier and Jay Triano for VTV Grizzlies telecasts, but was less certain about the Canucks tandem of Hall of Famer Jim Robson and ex-Canuck Ryan Walter. "There's been no decision on the Canucks side," Gass said.

"VTV will have the final say." A source at Orca Bay said his company was confused at Reit-mayer's stance. "Basically, he came in and said 'here's our offer, take it or leave the source said. "We expected a recognition from them that there was another competitor in town and there wasn't. We were surprised by their reaction." Reitmayer said falling ratings for Canucks games were a factor in his decision. "The cost of doing business is too high," he said.

"Ratings are down from last year, making it even more difficult to justify paying the higher broadcast fees that Orca Bay was looking for." Reitmayer said his company paid $1.7 million for the rights fees last year and that Orca Bay was demanding $3 million this year. Reitmayer also explained the network covered the $800,000 pro duction costs. Ratings obtained by The Province showed that during the 1997 fall period Canucks hockey when Gino Odjick popped off he was simply lip synching what Trevor Linden was telling him to say. For someone that has been around as long as Messier has it showed a complete lack of class, and how dumb and insensitive he can be. If Trevor Linden had anything to say I honestly believe- he would have the jam and the courage to stand up and speak his mind rather than getting Odjick to do the talking for him.

Messier was also dead wrong to respond to Odjick's comments because all he did was lower himself to Gino's level. A "when he claims the team is getting its act together and are-starting to feel better about themselves. I don't begrudge the money the Canucks are throwing at Messier or the fact he's cashing their cheques. Given the same situation we would all do the same thing. My bitch is with ownership for being so naive as to think that at this point in his career Messier was capable of coming into this nuthouse and actually making much of a difference.

The money they are paying hinv and the results they got have been an even bigger waste of good captain and a good leader time than the season. Jl COMMUNICATIONS CELLULAR SATELLITE Choose from 3 state-of-the-art, dual-mode phones for just $199. Unlimited free local calling on weekends. Starting Friday night at 6:00 pm and ending Monday morning at 7:00 am. 100 free minutes a month, anytime.

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