Without a doubt, Charlie Jacobs is becoming more of a force in the entire family-owned product, including the team and the building (TD Banknorth Garden) on Causeway Street. He was very much behind the ouster of Rich Krezwick, the building's popular and capable former president, who was sacked in December. Saturday, he quickly and firmly threw his support behind Gorton, and made it clear the interim is very much in contention to remain on the job, while at the same time contending there will be a broad search for potential new blood.
Jeremy Jacobs, in an interview with the Globe Tuesday, for the first time distanced himself from the 73-year-old Sinden, initially saying changes would have to be made -- and that he would make them ''with" or ''around" Sinden.
Saturday night, very matter-of-factly, the senior Jacobs said Sinden's time was coming to an end, and almost cavalierly painted the inevitable end as a function of lifespan.
''Statistics tell me that men over 70 don't live as long as men over 40," he said. ''I'm not looking for him to go anywhere, but he's looking at the clock -- same as everyone. He can tell time, like everyone."
It is possible, given Jacobs's tone and candor, Sinden already has told his boss he plans to leave, perhaps once the GM hire is finalized. If he hasn't decided to retire, then his boss's words could be enough for Sinden to seek asylum at the closest AARP boccie-and-punch social. Hardly a cheerful career ending, to have your life expectancy tacked up for all to read in the sports pages.
Short though he may be on sympathy and social pleasantries, Jeremy Jacobs is nothing if not blunt about his business. His days of saying he wants a better hockey product are over. He's now demanding it, and that's something, as noted here recently, he should have sought much earlier in what has been a systematic, excruciating meltdown the last 12-14 years.
Jacobs finally is acting like an owner, a vested owner, something the Hub now takes for granted from its Krafts (Patriots) and Henrys (Red Sox). For nearly four years, Jacobs has had his own flesh and blood on site, reporting back to Buffalo headquarters with the good, the bad, and the ugly on Causeway Street.
Now the fix-up is underway. O'Connell is gone. Sinden, according to the elder Jacobs, is going.
And the circle -- the great circle of strife -- around the spoked-B officially is under repair.
