Gary Bettman, Please Save Hockey in Atlanta!!!

Open Letter to all specifically addressed to Gary Bettman and the NHL Board of Director

Dear Gary Bettman,

I am writing to implore you to save Atlanta Hockey. As you know even the inflated reported attendance numbers have dropped. If I were an advertiser using the Thrashers as media vehicle, I think i would seriously want an audit or check the numbers my self before I paid another ad invoice . Now I have no proof, other than watching TV and comparing the numbers reported by the on air color to what I see in the stands, ( plus I have my suspicions backed up by several blogs about Atlanta Hockey, including the Ice Man who backed up his statement with photographic proof)
The reason the numbers are down is simple, us Thrashers fans are in protest. Ever since the Atlanta Spirit Group took over things have been going down hill. I say as a fan that has seen since the beginning. I was in College during the first season and took full advantage of the program that allowed valid student ids to be shown for deeply discounted rates. Second Seaon I was working as a temp at Turner Broadcasting and the main perk was full time employees would gladly give up their free ticket vouchers to rather than to watch the sorry ole Thrashers lose again. Seasons 3 and 4 I worked on the Thrashers Concourse staff to receive complimentary tickets to most of the Home games .This experience is one of the reasons I feel qualified to say the attendance numbers are inflated.
After the take over, I noticed the prodcut dropped off quickly., The Atalnta Spirt Group has made a less freindly atmosphere among arena personnell, raised prices lowered the quality of product both in give away merchendise and in entertainment value. Being a fan from the beginning I am used to the Thrashers losing, I am not used to them being broken.
We have failed to secure A strong center and left most of the star players be traded away or left unsigned. The coach position has switched hands 3 times( not including Don Waddlel) including former Stanley cup winner Bob Hartley. These coaches have all been let (sorry John Anderson , it is coming) to cover up incompetence at the GM Level. All these bad seasons the only key piece still in play in the down ward spiral is Don Waddell . The Thrashers fan base is currently screaming for Don Waddell to seek employment elsewhere but the Atlanta Spirit Group will not pull the trigger.
There are rumors floating around of a conspiracy by the Atlanta Spirit Group to tank the performance of the Thrashers, Hawks and of the Phillips Arena it self in an attempt to devalue the team in effort to screw partner Steve Belkin out of a fair buy out. This rumor is a very nasty one, and one I hope is not true but it would be one of the few reasons for not firing Waddel.
Anyway , A blog on the AJC.com has printed the revelation that any fan that either publicly crys "Fire Waddell" or dares to wear a bag over his head will be headed towards a confrontation with Phillips Security.(as shown in one of the article links below)
Well, this "Fire Waddel" proclaimer has had enough. I am asking for NHL Intervention. Please , as the NHL please step in and intervene in daily operations of the Atlanta Thrashers. When the NHL stepped in and ran Buffalo they were able to save the team from bankruptcy and make the team viable again. Please if you cannot mange the team place pressure on the owners to FIRE WADDELL and save the Thrashers. I know of the talk for Hartford area to get a team, but Atlanta is a way bigger Media outlet and would do more to open hockey up to new fans. Atanta hockey is still in its infancy and will be until a generation grows up seeing the Thrashers in action. With out your Direct intervention, there will not be Hockey in Atlanta.

Gary Bettman, I beg you to personally get involved

I have wriiten similar not so public letters but have always been ignored.Maybe a good public shaming will motivate the NHL to get involved. Thank you for your time