Union Dopes Dash Disney Magic

Although Walt Disney is based in Anaheim, California, the Walt Disney World theme park here in Orlando is a worldwide tourist attraction central to the local economy. Central Floridians take great pride in Disney, and the NBA's Orlando Magic are named as such. On Tuesday, the Walt Disney Corporation (DIS:NYSE) released earnings which surprised to the upside, beating expectations across the board.

Maria Bartiromo of CNBC discusses the earnings report:



This is great news. It has been a rough decade for shareholders, beginning with 9-11, which drastically reduced theme park traffic, followed by the Michael Eisner episode culminating with the recent financial crisis.
For the first time in over a decade, Disney has recently traded above $40 per share. With revenues up, out come the useful idiot employees under the direction of the unions protesting for Disney to "share the wealth".

Union president Eric Clinton is president of one of the six unions trying to strike a new deal for the thousands of Disney World employees.

Clinton said "We've known for a long time Disney's image is something that's very near and dear. One way to get them to move is to attack that." For Disney employees, this a real bad move to attempt to sabotage their employer, but for union thugs
attempting to engage in a shakedown, it is all good.

WFTV ABC Orlando spoke with Disney World Representative Andrea Finger, who said "We have proposed a very fair and competitive offer that's a very good deal for our cast members."

Union leaders claimed rising health care costs would wipe out salary increases for Disney workers. With apologies to Dopey, what a bunch of dopes! Unions were central in the compilation of the health care package, as well as the failed stimulus. In fact, labor unions are "going after" those who did not support Obamacare.

But it is Disney's fault.

They have the money to do it; it's just that they're cheap. They didn't get rich by giving their money away, we understand that, but our members are struggling," Clinton said. Welcome to the world under Obama! Most everyone is struggling, and you should be thankful there are enough folks who still have money who can come to Disney and enjoy themselves. For the company to excel in this environment is a testament to management and the fantastic job the cast members do.

Because I am a big supporter of Disney, I am going to waive my consulting fee for the employees and issue the following three recommendations:

A. If you are unhappy as a cast member, seek employment elsewhere. I recognize, due to current idiotic policies of the Obama administration, that jobs do not currently exist, so you must use the ballot box at your earliest opportunity to expedite your departure.

B. Invest in the 401K package the Mouse House makes available to you. And by all means, invest in your own company, so a rising stock price benefits you along with the company.

C. Form your own theme park, and run it as you see fit.

As it turns out, I do not recall as revenues and the stock price were in decline anyone over at The Magic Kingdom contacting the local media to offer to work for decreased wages. Where was Mr. Clinton, a fine American I am sure, at the shareholders meeting? Voting present?

It is far time for these dopes to distance themselves from the cancer that is the unions and get some skin in the game. Then, as it should be, everyone associated with Mickey and Minnie would be celebrating a job well done.

NOTE: I AM A LONGTIME SHAREHOLDER OF WALT DISNEY CORPORATION. WFTV USED A SOURCE.

Sunday Night Song

A big win for the Orlando Magic today, handily beating a tired Los Angeles Laker team behind another monster game by Dwight Howard. The new Amway Center is top notch and I am a believer in Magic!

Thinking of tunes I like about Magic, this gem from the past by The Bay City Rollers came to mind. For Sunday Night Song, from The Bay City Rollers, You Made Me Believe In Magic!

Disney World vs. Disneyland

The 2009 NBA Finals begin tonight with the Orlando Magic facing the Los Angeles Lakers. ABC, owned by Disney (DIS:NYSE), has the coverage.

With Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland out in Hollywood, this is an advertising bonanza for the company.

As a shareholder, I hope the coverage will promote the parks with video whenever possible. No matter, the Magic reaching this point is a good thing for Orlando and I will be pulling for them. Go Magic!

Gators Escaping Media Scrutiny

Just this past week, from a perspective of the Miami Hurricanes, Sun Sentinel Columnist David Hyde wrote a column blasting the media for not playing fair when covering the states police blotter.

While over time Miami has a well deserved reputation as a team some real unsavory characters, it is Florida that is the states problem child these days. And, you would never know it. "Florida players have punched women, stolen property and been involved with guns and drugs. Yet nobody on ESPN is so much as reporting this. Nobody at Sports Illustrated is saying the Florida team picture should be taken from the front and the side" opined Hyde.

Since Randy Shannon became coach, the 'Canes have had only one arrest. Just prior to that, a player was murdered and there was that hideous brawl with FIU on the field. Miami will have to really work to overcome their reputation.

Sadly, Florida State has had several recent issues, with most members of the receiving corps having been arrested. Preston Parker, perhaps the Seminoles best player as 2008 approached, was booted from the team after a second arrest. But, Florida State does have a Rhodes Scholar defensive back in Myron Rolle and graduates more football players than any other BCS state school.

While Florida has a great story Heisman winner Tim Tebow, Florida does lead the state in arrests over the last couple years and added to the list last night as cornerback Janoris Jenkins was tasered and arrested. It will be on page 5 above the classified ads in Tuesdays Orlando Sentinel. Hyde issued a warning to Urban Meyer and Florida: "You're one ugly story or video moment from turning those 23 arrests under Meyer into national fodder. He better get a handle on this."

Well, there is this. As reported by larrybrownsports.com, Tim Tebow was sitting courtside for Saturday nights Orlando Magic win over Cleveland in seats you and I cannot afford. And, he is unemployed, for the time being. As you may imagine, those courtside seats down there in Tiger Woods neighborhood are rather expensive. But, hey, its all good in Gatordome. At least for now, but all good things come to an end, and it can't come soon enough for us anti-gators here in O-Town.

H/T THE WIZ OF ODDS BLOG

I Believe In Magic

Congratulations to the Orlando Magic in defeating both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the NBA referees in winning the Eastern Conference Championship. Now, it is off to the NBA finals to take on the Los Angeles Lakers.

I used to love the NBA when I was a kid back in the days of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson and the early Magic days, but I have not been following the league that much in recent years. I have gotten involved and taken in this entire playoff run.

With a new arena on the way, it is great for the community for the Magic to be challenging for a championship. Although they are hurting for sure in providing adequate HD television coverage, the Wingshack Conway was slammed for the game Saturday night, as likely were several sports bars across town. This is fantastic news and a huge assist to the bottom line for these small businesses during these economically contracting times, which as a former owner of a small Orlando sports bar, I am quite familiar with.

I'll be cheering the Magic on during the finals, and I think they have a great chance to win the title. Go Magic!