Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk fires back at Blackberry billionaire Jim Balsillie
By APFriday, August 21, 2009
Senators owner Melnyk fires back at Balsillie
OTTAWA — Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is firing back at BlackBerry billionaire Jim Balsillie.
Melnyk has released a statement Thursday that reads like an open letter to Balsillie. He addressed claims by the Research In Motion co-CEO that Melnyk lacks personal integrity and expressed dismay over Balsillie’s attempt to buy the Phoenix Coyotes.
Melnyk acknowledges in his statement that he’s paid fines to the Ontario Securities Commission for “administrative oversights” but notes that it was a far from the sanctions that have been levied against Balsillie and his company Research In Motion.
In the statement, Melnyk indicates he once felt bad for Balsillie but now understands why he shouldn’t be allowed to own an NHL team.
