MSG asks judge to dismiss Web site case

BY STEVE ZIPAY | steve.zipay@newsday.com Madison Square Garden Thursday asked a U.S. District Court judge to dismiss last month's claim by the NHL that alleged that the Rangers breached NHL bylaws by challenging league rules, a move that the league said could lead to disciplinary proceedings -- fines, suspension or even termination of ownership with a vote of three-quarters of the owners. In documents filed Thursday, the Garden said that the league should have the lead in collective bargaining and on-ice rules, but not on certain aspects of marketing, such as team Web sites. In a letter to the 29 other owners, MSG chairman James Dolan insisted that there was no attempt to undermine the basic business structure of the league, but some off-ice centralization made the NHL weaker by removing fans' loyalty to teams, which generate... [read full story]