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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 5, 2001
WILLIAM DAVIDSON
TITLE: Owner
AGE: 78
ROLE: As an owner, Davidson is the anti-Steinbrenner. The owner of Palace Sports & Entertainment doesn't meddle. In fact, he has never sat through an entire Lightning game in person. Davidson, worth $2.1-billion according to Forbes magazine -- which makes him the wealthiest person in Michigan and the 124th wealthiest in the country -- hires sports people to do sports jobs and trusts their judgment. He lives in Auburn Hills, Mich., and often attends games of the Detroit Pistons, the NBA team he owns. He doesn't like to travel and is intensely private. He visits the Ice Palace infrequently. Davidson practiced business law until rescuing his family's wholesale drug company from bankruptcy in the 1950s, turning a profit in three years. He then did the same with a surgical supply company. He took over the Guardian Glass Co., a global glass and automotive supply company, and built it into the world's fourth-largest glass company.
TITLE: CEO and Governor
AGE: 52
ROLE: He handles the day-to-day operation of Davidson's empire. Although it is Davidson's money, Wilson, in a practical sense, is the owner of the Lightning. He was responsible for hiring general manager Rick Dudley and oversees franchise operations. Like Davidson, Wilson believes in surrounding himself with good people, then trusting them to do their jobs. He won't tell Dudley or coach John Tortorella what to do, but if a GM or coaching change becomes necessary, Wilson will call the shots. As governor, Wilson represents the Lightning at league functions and votes on league matters.
TITLE: President
AGE: 45
ROLE: He is responsible for the Lightning's day-to-day operations and was instrumental in Palace Sports & Entertainment's purchase of the team and Ice Palace lease. He must sign off on all player moves suggested by Dudley, but his main focus is on the team's business side and the arena, which is one of the most successful in the country. Campbell is more of a businessman than a sports guy. But he has experience with the Pistons and is deft at handling contracts and understanding collective bargaining agreements.
TITLE: General manager
AGE: 52
ROLE: He is the Lightning's architect. He makes all personnel decisions, and is in charge of the product on the ice. If the Lightning fails, he is ultimately responsible. Dudley has done just about everything a man can do in hockey: He played six seasons in the NHL, he has been a coach and general manager in the NHL and in the minors and he remains a tireless scout. He has traveled the world looking for talent, especially in Europe, though he has a soft spot for Russian players. He is not afraid to make trades, but does not act recklessly. He has worked cautiously and smartly within a tight budget.
TITLE: Assistant general manager
AGE: 39
ROLE: He is the great negotiator, taking care of all Lightning player contracts. He also is Dudley's right-hand man. When Dudley is scouting, Feaster has the wheel in Tampa. He gives input on all player moves. The only lawyer in the Lightning front office, it would be hard to find anyone with a more extensive knowledge of the rules and regulations of the NHL and NHL Players Association and how they interact.
TITLE: Coach
AGE: 43
ROLE: After nine-plus seasons as an NHL assistant, Tortorella got his chance to run a team in January, when Steve Ludzik was fired. Tortorella coached the Rangers as interim coach for four games at the end of 1999-00 after John Muckler was fired. Tortorella joined the Rangers after two seasons with the Coyotes. Before that, he spent eight seasons with the Sabres organization: six (1989-95) as an assistant and two (1995-97) as head coach of its Rochester affiliate. He led the Americans to the 1995-96 Calder Cup championship. Tortorella is detail oriented and values preparation, not only for himself but his players. That's why the amount of conditioning at camp was like nothing the organization has seen. He also preaches accountability. It is a team game, Tortorella said, made up of important individual battles.
TITLE: Scouting coordinator
AGE: 50
ROLE: Goertzen is in charge of the team's amateur scouting and runs the staff that runs the June draft. How good is Goertzen? Consider he has been with the Lightning since Day 1 and has survived three ownership groups. That is especially impressive with current management, which feels much more comfortable with people it knows. Dudley not only kept Goertzen on his scouting staff, he put him in charge. He is based in Seattle.