Reminder: Isles 30 on 30 documentary on ESPN tonight

[ron_duguays_hair]

The story of Wong. This is the only redeeming programming of ESPN.

[shafnutz05]

...I thought it was the story about the John Spano scandal/saga? I'm pretty sure the documentary has little or nothing to do with Wang (I'm assuming that's who you were referring to)

[Idoit40fans]

I thought it was about the failed relocation to brooklyn and subsequent move to kansas city

[ron_duguays_hair]

I was wrong. But watch anyway!

[shafnutz05]

Wow...had no idea

On January 28, 2000, he was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution of $11.9 million to his victims, including the Islanders ($3.4 million), two Dallas businesses ($4.4 million), and Mario Lemieux ($1.25 million).

[PghSkins]

Grew up in Ashtabula and went to Duquesne

[JS©]

Looks like it was part of an investment scam

The case the government is building even includes a claim that Spano bilked recently retired hockey great Mario Lemieux out of $1.25 million in an investment scam.

http://www.dallasobserver.com/1997-07-3 ... tdown-man/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From Islanders scam until now

1997

Spano briefly takes control of Islanders, only to plead guilty that year to fraudulently inflating his wealth to buy the team, and siphoning money from it. He also pleads guilty to two other fraud counts involving other victims.

Sentenced in April 2000 to 5 years, 11 months in jail, he's ordered to pay $11.9 million in restitution, undergo counseling and serve a 5-year probation on his release.

Among the victims: the Islanders ($3.4 million); a Dallas pottery importer ($3.4 million); a Dallas loan lender ($1 million); former hockey player Mario Lemieux ($890,000).

http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-To ... _again.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Obviously, the NHL's background check on Spano failed. But how?

His checks were rubber: reportedly bouncing business checks of $1 million to Mario Lemieux, $300,000 to Penguins owner Howard Baldwin, and $85,000 to pay back taxes. He also reportedly handed over financial statements attributed to a bank employee who didn't exist.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-0 ... nis-potvin" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[shafnutz05]

Holy crap Spano telling Milbury he would get a couple girls for "pleasure" reasons...unreal

[ron_duguays_hair]

this is great but really shows the NHL as being clown shoes.

[PghSkins]

"Mike Milbury is very passionate about one thing: That's Mike Milbury."

Nice!

[ron_duguays_hair]

"Mike Milbury is very passionate about one thing: That's Mike Milbury."

Nice!

INDEED

[DontToewsMeBro]

That was quality. Spano has some serious issues--literally landed himself right back in jail after a 5 year stint...wat.

Also the NHL is the only league inept enough to let a guy with a net worth of Craig Adams and zero credentials actually get away with buying a team.

[Staggy]

That was phenomenal. Spano couldn't any more full of himself. He almost seemed proud of himself as he was talking and extremely distraught that he got so close to pulling it off.

Bettman didn't come off great, a lot of lapses by the NHL.

[Spangler]

Great show. I didn't know Mario got scammed by him too.

On a side note, how about that clip of one of the Islanders slashing away a Mario? Wow! Talk bout garage league.

[PghSkins]

That was phenomenal. Spano couldn't any more full of himself. He almost seemed proud of himself as he was talking and extremely distraught that he got so close to pulling it off.

Bettman didn't come off great, a lot of lapses by the NHL.

I kept expecting him to say "I would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for you meddling kids!"

My favorite was that he was supposed to do a wire transfer for $17m and only did it for $1,700, attributing it to clerical error. Hey it's not millions but it will probably buy you a 10 year old Oldsmobile with some body damage.....

[IanMoran]

Haha, I saw he was responding to a lot of ppl who asked him things nicely on twitter, so I gave it a try

Aaron Kearns ‏@Kearns_12 6h
@MrJohnSpano as a pens fan, curious of what your interactions with Mario were like?

John Spano ‏@MrJohnSpano 5h
@Kearns_12 He is a great guy. Best player ever.

Lol, I'm guessing Mario wouldn't say the same about him