Howard Baldwin is back and this time he insists he's
not leaving. He has moved into an office at 100 Pearl Street and dug in
for long days of work. Maybe the address is only fitting. For Baldwin
will continue to swim out in the sea of his biggest dreams, 100 percent
committed to finding the great pearl in the mouth of the whale.
"Am I optimistic?" Baldwin said Friday. "I'm always optimistic. I just hope everybody sees the wisdom in what we're trying to do and all work together."
Make no mistake, the end game for Baldwin is to bring the NHL back to Hartford. The team would be called the Whalers.
"Absolutely right," Baldwin said. "That's everybody's dream. But the only way to make that dream a reality is to create a tremendous amount of excitement in the hockey we currently have at all levels."
Speaking publicly for the first time since word emerged last month that he had taken steps toward gaining management of Hartford's AHL team with an eye toward the NHL, Baldwin also confirmed his interest in building a state sports network and in other entertainment and merchandising plans.
"Am I optimistic?" Baldwin said Friday. "I'm always optimistic. I just hope everybody sees the wisdom in what we're trying to do and all work together."
"Absolutely right," Baldwin said. "That's everybody's dream. But the only way to make that dream a reality is to create a tremendous amount of excitement in the hockey we currently have at all levels."
Speaking publicly for the first time since word emerged last month that he had taken steps toward gaining management of Hartford's AHL team with an eye toward the NHL, Baldwin also confirmed his interest in building a state sports network and in other entertainment and merchandising plans.
On this day, however, he was much more interested in talking about the beginning game than the end game. The NHL isn't coming this year or next year or maybe even the year after that. And that's why Baldwin wanted to get out a simple message loud and clear.
