Amerks' new mascot: Joe Camel

A couple quick thoughts on the reported arrival of new Amerks investor Curt Styres:

* The Amerks and Knighthawks are saved by a cigarette tycoon! Hooray! I'm thrilled that our hockey and lacrosse teams will be owned by someone who made his millions peddling cancer!

* So Styres is willing to invest millions of dollars into the teams AND let Steve Donner remain in charge of day-to-day operations? A question for Mr. Styres: Are you completely nuts?

* I loved some of the comments Donner made in Kevin Oklobzija's article in the D&C yesterday: "I'll accept the blame for mistakes I've made," Donner told Kevin. "But I'm not going to step aside now and let people not remember the good I've done." Feel free to insert your own snarky comment.

* Kevin's article on Saturday focused on whether Styres' impending buyout of the indoor teams will result in a new lease to play at Blue Cross Arena.

However, the article leaves out a HUGE piece of the puzzle: SMG, the Philadelphia-based management firm that runs the arena for the city. Technically, the teams' lease is with SMG, NOT the city.

But here's the thing: SMG's management contract with the city expires in a few months as well, and word is that the city is eager to give SMG the ol' heave-ho. With that factored in, the arena situation will probably get VERY complicated very quickly.

Let's also consider that Jeff Calkins, SMG's general manager at the arena, and Steve Donner reportedly LOATHE each other. Or, at least, they have in the past.

But what if Donner and Calkins bury the hatchet and team up to preserve their own joint fates at the area? That could make life difficult for Bob Duffy and the city.