Once again the Blues are making the 3rd page lower right corner of the daily news papers about the sale of the franchise.  (Don't bother looking, it's not really there.)  The Laurie's have been talking about selling this team since the announcement that the lockout was officially over.  Could have fooled me.  Their first deadline was "by Christmas."  Then it was, "by the end of the year."  After the new year passed, it was "by the Olympic break."  Now it is "by the end of the season." 

"I am confident that this team will be sold by (enter deadline depending on which point in the season we haven't passed yet)" is the comments we've heard and read throughout the season.  Yet, here we sit, with the same old boring owners. 

I'll tell you what, if I didn't have a job, or a life, I would be sitting in front of Savvis right now with a sign reading, "FOR SALE, I THINK, MAYBE, WELL THEY SAY IT IS!"  Ok, so the sign needs some work, but you get the point.  This is a franchise that two years ago, when the team was in the midst of a 30 some odd year playoff run, might have been worth $140 Million.  This season, the Lauries commanded a salary dump which started with trading Pronger to Edmonton.  Then throughout the season they traded two more salary munchers in Doug Weight and Mike Sillinger.  Albeit the team has played much better since their departure, but that is not the point.  The point is that the Lauries since day one of this season have been looking to do whatever they possibly can to get salary off the books so they can sell this team.  Drop as much money as they can so they can show as small a loss as possible.  But here's the kicker, they also want $150 Million for a team that hardly resembles the team from two years ago. 

For Sale: 2003 Ford Mustang (Blue)

Runs great despite missing parts. 

Was unused for over a year.

Few miles, could use a tune-up.

Needs wheels (I sold the nice chrome ones)

Paid $27,000

Asking $35,000

Yeah buddy, that car's gonna sell!  Maybe to a dumb-#### teenager looking for his first car.  Yeah, I almost bought an #### ugly Camero when I was a kid just because it had a nice stereo and racing tires on it.  Looking back it was the biggest #### I've ever driven, thank God my dad talked me out of it. 

Back to the story.

Laurie is looking to find a fool to buy this team.  It will take a young billionaire to step in and say "I want to own a hockey team" to come in and pay the money he is asking.  Someone that really knows nothing about hockey or the true value of the franchise at this point in time.  Someone willing to take a risk and try to make this team better without losing his pants for the next ten years. 

Me personally, I would like to see some of the Blues alumni get involved.  How about an ownership tandem stretching from Brett Hull and Al MacInnis to Bernie Federko and Bob Plaguer?  It's a nice thought, but these guys couldn't come up with the money Laurie is asking. 

In any case, the team is back in the news.  It seems that the Checkets group is BACK in the running for the team.  This is something like the 3rd time they've been in the ring, hopefully the last.  I'm just sick of reading about it.  SELL THE TEAM ALREADY! 

All around the league you hear the same old tune, "The Blues are not going to be contenders for a few years."  Bull!  This team could have made the playoffs this season.  They started off horrid, but in recent weeks they have been one of the best teams in the league.  I truly believe that had the Blues been able to adjust to the new rules sooner than they did, that we would be looking at a playoff contender.  In all actuality, I still believe they can do it.  It's a long shot, but I believe in my team and I can see an injury here and a few cold streaks along the way, the Blues can make a serious run at the number  8 slot in the Western Conference.  There are a lot of "IF's" involved, but still it is a possibility.  Wouldn't it be crazy to see the Blues in this season's playoff brackets?  Haha, I'd laugh all the way to the game! 

Ok, I got off track, but the basic point here is this.  Sell the damn team already.  It's not funny, it's not a game, and this certainly isn't an auction for Elvis' underwear collection.  There just isn't enough interest in this team for the Lauries to be holding out to the extent that they are.  Sell the damn team and move on so the team and the fans can look ahead to the future and put the days of the Laurie's reign behind them.