The judge ordered Bob and Kirby Schlegel not to relocate the AHl franchise from Des Moines.

“The issues are clear,” O’Meara said. “By virtue of the non-relocation agreement that the hockey team has with Polk County, they shouldn’t be allowed to relocate the team. We believe that there are events going to happen over the next week that could allow that to happen without an injunction.”

[DMRegister.com]

The group wants to move the AHL franchise and bring in a lower level CHL team to Des Moines.

John Mauro, another county board member, said that it was difficult to know how what the solution might be, but he said that the country board members and Global Spectrum are intent on keeping AHL hockey in Des Moines.

“It’s tough to know how this will turn out,” he said. “Right now, I just don’t know.”

Des Moines needs to make some moves.

First, do we want/need AHL level hockey in Des Moines, or is CHL good enough? If AHL is desired, then perhaps something can be worked out to keep a franchise here that has a chance to make money. Polk County will have to loosen the purse strings on concessions and parking. I can’t believe I am saying this, but the Polk County Supervisors did a good job protecting the citizens interest with the original deal they put together. It does seem though that it is weighted to far in the county’s favor making it hard to run a team.

Second, find a way to get away from the Schlegels. What is the old saying, fool me once….. Des Moines is a tough market to crack into, but once you’re here you can thrive – Bucs, Cubs, Barnstormers, etc. The Schlegel’s aren’t buying into the team/local concept and need to realize this and move on. You see Michael Gartner at the ICubs, you Shawn Edwards at the Bucs, you see John Pettit, Jeff Lamberti and the boys at Well’s Fargo. Can anyone pick out Kirby Schlegel out of a lineup?

[read more at dmregister.com]

* Why stay in a zone? UNI shot almost 50% from three point range in the first half and 42% for the game. The Bulldogs sat back in zone defense the whole game while UNI threw skip passes over the zone and got wide open looks. Come on coach mix it up. Drake was getting pummeled from the outside. Drop back to man-to-man a few series and get physical. When you are getting punched in the mouth on the offensive end, return the favor with a little belly up man-to-man of your own. Knock a shooter of his shot once or twice. Get in their heads. Drake sat back and got burned repeatedly.

* There were still open seats at the Knapp Center. I understand that the economy stinks and dollars are tight, but pound for pound your sports dollar buys more at Drake. Good basketball (at least your got to see a great performance from one team Saturday), cheap concessions and a nice family atmosphere.

Iowa/Iowa State Basketball
Ummm…..ummm…226 days until Coach Rhoads debut and 228 days until UNI at Iowa.

Iowa Chops
* I hit the Chops game Saturday night and I think the morgue might have had more excitement that night. Something needs to be done with that building. There is no life.

First place Milwaukee was in town taking on second place Iowa. I am guessing no more than 20% of the building knew that fact. The loudest the crowd got during the game was actually during a timeout when the scoreboard was showing the Kiss Cam. (Still a great gimmick, but for the love of Moses Malone could the camera operators zoom in on people – wide shots during the kiss cam are pointless).

* The hockey product is very good, but man does that building need some life. Why not try a dollar night – just one night. Every ticket that isn’t sold goes on sale 2 hours before the game for $1. Special $1 concessions. Try to fill the place. I guarantee more people would go to games if there was life in the building.

* Towards that end – it is too expensive. I understand the ticket prices are set at a certain level, but the prices at the concessions need to be adjusted. If someone is trying to take a family of four to the game you can very easily rack up $100. A few beverages, a few snacks and a novelty item and pretty soon you could buy out a bank or two.

Spending $100 for a Chops’ game is crazy in my book. I think if you ask most people they would spend $100 on 10 others things before a night out at the Chops.

* Last thing on the Chops. I am not sure who the timeout talking head is, but at least for me, when you are trying to get the crowd excited and pumped up for the game – don’t tell me to cheer louder because you are taping this for a promotion. You job is to have things in place and put out a decent product so I will be excited – not to tell me to cheer loud so your TV commercial will look good.

Random Items
* The Cubs “quick centerfield, good defense” Craigslisting was purchased…again. Seems like Baltimore loves the Cubs sloppy seconds in center. Corey Patterson never fulfilled the hopes of the Cubs brass and was sent packing to Baltimore and now Felix Pie is doing the same. The Orioles signed Pie after the “next big start” struggled to make it out of Des Moines. Good luck in Baltimore. Hey MacPhail, the Cubs will have another center fielder for you in a few years. Just wait.

*Zach wins outside of Georiga. Ok, he has won once in Texas, but Georgia seemed to be the only place Zach could win with wins in the AT&T Classic, BellSouth and the Masters.

A quick look at the 2009 money leaders:
1 Zach Johnson $1,161,250
2 Geoff Ogilvy $1,149,237
3 Adam Scott $552,867

It is early, but still fun to be on top. Not a bad start.

“I love the name, the Chops,” she said.

She said she might even stop back for a game. Hopefully she means she will stop back to “Des Moines” for the Chops game and not Grand Rapids to watch the Griffins.

Palin was in Grand Rapids Cedar Rapids today with John McCain.

Yes, that Brett Farve. Since making a splash with their new logo and colors, Chops Prez Steve Nitzel is making a grab at more off season headlines, by offering Green Bay’s waffling quarterback a chance to keep playing professional sports.

“Brett is one of the greatest American athletes of the past 50 years and deserves a place to play, so we are extending an offer to him to become the newest member of the Iowa Chops Hockey team of the American Hockey League,” said Nitzel.

“All we have to do is sharpen his skating skills and after that his athletic instincts will take over and he’ll be one heck of a hockey player.”

Nitzel said the Iowa Chops have contacted and will be sending a contract to Brett Favre’s agent, James ‘Bus’ Cook Jr., in hopes that the quarterback will consider signing with the Iowa Chops.