Question
The distraction of Balsillie's NHL bid could have significantly impacted the strategic planning of RIM during a crucial time in the smartphone market. It could have diverted Balsillie's attention and focus away from the company's strategy, leading to potential missed opportunities or missteps. This could have been particularly detrimental given the highly competitive nature of the smartphone market at the time. Furthermore, it could have raised questions among stakeholders about Balsillie's commitment to RIM, potentially affecting the company's reputation and investor confidence.
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From Balsillie's perspective, "the commissioner played the 'Let's get you in and then we'll see ' card to me many times…" Balsillie wanted confirmation that he could move the team to Canada, whereas the NHL was repeatedly embarrassed by the multiple deals not going through. The NHL ended up rejecting Balsillie's bid due to a statute that owners needed to be "of good character and integrity." Balsillie perceived this as absurd, as multiple current or past owners had been jailed due to bribery or tax evasion, and at least one was an ex-mobster. This fiasco did little but distract Balsillie from re-defining RIM's strategy in an increasingly crowded smartphone marketplace. Outsiders began to question his commitment and focus at a very important time for the company.
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