Paulie Walnuts
Well-Known Member
Apologies if this has been posted before, but l only stumbled across it at the weekend.
A programme called 30 for 30 "Big Shot" on BT sports.
It's a documentary labelled "One of the biggest scams in the history of professional sports" about John Spano, Dallas businessman purchased the NY Islanders Ice Hockey team in late 90s only to be exposed as a fraud.
Trust me, it is a disgrace, but one which makes you realise just how much damage that bastard done to our Club through all the similarities between Spano and Whyte.
* This is a long post, and if you either can't be bothered reading it all, which l understand, or you don't want to know the outcome etc, l strongly suggest you watch the documentary l have mentioned, as it's really worth watching.
The similarities between this guy Spano and Craig Whyte at us are frightening.
It is not identical however, but still amazing to see the similarities.
See if any of this reminds you of a certain little goggle eyed wrongun who tried to destroy our Club.
I was in disbelief watching it as so many of that snakes behaviour was alarmingly similar, to the point that whenever we win 55, a documentary or film of some sort HAS to be made to highlight the issues we as a club/fans had to endure.
Spano appeared from nowhere, almost a complete unknown.
Came in...said all the right things r.e investment and taking the club even further.
The Board believed him...but more importantly, the fans believed him (maybe wanted to believe is more accurate).
He produced false documents (which all seemed extremely valid even to the professionals at the time) exaggerating his net worth, wealth and capital.
No proper due diligence was carried out prior to his acceptance as new owner of the team (keeping in mind the banking structure in the early 90s wasn't as thorough as today).
Secrets were put in place to avoid being exposed, bringing in several other high profile people from within the team and outside.
His opportunity just happened to fall into the "Right place right time' category, as the team he was looking to by was actively being sold by someone who WANTED to sell.
Bluffed his way in, fooling thousands.
Although he was relatively unknown, he had connections in finance and sport industries who happened to speak up for him, labelling him as a "Huge hockey fan" (didn't Whyte start trying to tell us all of his lifelong love for Rangers, a love that not many could certify?).
After realising he had bit off more than he could chew, Spano felt he couldn't admit it so carried on with the lie, digging a deeper and deeper hole for himself and the Club.
Finally, once all of the lies all spiralled out of control, the press dug deep into background and finances.
People started noticing holes in his lies.
He was then public enemy No.1 for the press, the media, the fans.
Once exposed properly there was no hiding place and his tenure at the team was forcefully ended.
Unfortunately this resulted in poor results and displays from the Islanders.
Players and board members who had been unsettled by all the chaos, left the team.
The strange thing about the documentary is that he actually appears on it himself!
Yet l think Whyte would also have the nerve to do similar.
He says in hindsight he wishes he put club into bankruptcy as opposed to handing it over.
So, the con artist was exposed.
Arrested for numerous fraud cases but went on the run.
Plead guilty of fraud and received 71 months in prison.
After his release he ended up getting 4 more years jail time for further fraud after release for different fraud.
It will make you angry, but it's worth a watch for sure.
Also makes you realise how lucky we are to be in the position we find ourselves in today.
A programme called 30 for 30 "Big Shot" on BT sports.
It's a documentary labelled "One of the biggest scams in the history of professional sports" about John Spano, Dallas businessman purchased the NY Islanders Ice Hockey team in late 90s only to be exposed as a fraud.
Trust me, it is a disgrace, but one which makes you realise just how much damage that bastard done to our Club through all the similarities between Spano and Whyte.
* This is a long post, and if you either can't be bothered reading it all, which l understand, or you don't want to know the outcome etc, l strongly suggest you watch the documentary l have mentioned, as it's really worth watching.
The similarities between this guy Spano and Craig Whyte at us are frightening.
It is not identical however, but still amazing to see the similarities.
See if any of this reminds you of a certain little goggle eyed wrongun who tried to destroy our Club.
I was in disbelief watching it as so many of that snakes behaviour was alarmingly similar, to the point that whenever we win 55, a documentary or film of some sort HAS to be made to highlight the issues we as a club/fans had to endure.
Spano appeared from nowhere, almost a complete unknown.
Came in...said all the right things r.e investment and taking the club even further.
The Board believed him...but more importantly, the fans believed him (maybe wanted to believe is more accurate).
He produced false documents (which all seemed extremely valid even to the professionals at the time) exaggerating his net worth, wealth and capital.
No proper due diligence was carried out prior to his acceptance as new owner of the team (keeping in mind the banking structure in the early 90s wasn't as thorough as today).
Secrets were put in place to avoid being exposed, bringing in several other high profile people from within the team and outside.
His opportunity just happened to fall into the "Right place right time' category, as the team he was looking to by was actively being sold by someone who WANTED to sell.
Bluffed his way in, fooling thousands.
Although he was relatively unknown, he had connections in finance and sport industries who happened to speak up for him, labelling him as a "Huge hockey fan" (didn't Whyte start trying to tell us all of his lifelong love for Rangers, a love that not many could certify?).
After realising he had bit off more than he could chew, Spano felt he couldn't admit it so carried on with the lie, digging a deeper and deeper hole for himself and the Club.
Finally, once all of the lies all spiralled out of control, the press dug deep into background and finances.
People started noticing holes in his lies.
He was then public enemy No.1 for the press, the media, the fans.
Once exposed properly there was no hiding place and his tenure at the team was forcefully ended.
Unfortunately this resulted in poor results and displays from the Islanders.
Players and board members who had been unsettled by all the chaos, left the team.
The strange thing about the documentary is that he actually appears on it himself!
Yet l think Whyte would also have the nerve to do similar.
He says in hindsight he wishes he put club into bankruptcy as opposed to handing it over.
So, the con artist was exposed.
Arrested for numerous fraud cases but went on the run.
Plead guilty of fraud and received 71 months in prison.
After his release he ended up getting 4 more years jail time for further fraud after release for different fraud.
It will make you angry, but it's worth a watch for sure.
Also makes you realise how lucky we are to be in the position we find ourselves in today.
