this guy is the worst thing that has happened to hockey. The sooner he gets fired the better the NHL will be. I know there are alot of fans that hate him but what can we do about it?
2007-09-25 13:30:24 · 13 answers · asked by petrobomb 3 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Bettman has made a lot of money for the players and the owners, and in June both groups voted him an extention. He's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Bob,
The players have always had a say in who the President/Commissioner is. He is the head of the organization that sets the rules for the corporations that employ them. His primary responsibility is to carry out the owners wishes however
Bettman was hired to
a) Increase revenues
- he's done that to the tune of 340% over 1993
b) Increase media coverage
- he's done that, in 1993 less than 40% of North American dailies carried NHL standings and summaries. Today that number is over 80%
He's grown the game. He has done what he was hired to do. One of the reasons he was hired is that he was the only candidate who told the owners that he would forego a season if that is what it took. That is what got him hired.
As a fan, one needs to understand that in order for the game to exist, there needs to be some sort of fiscal responsibility at one end of the spectrum. Revenues are limited. Most fans don't take that into consideration. Quebec and Winnipeg (and Carolina) were all in finacial ruin before Bettman ran the show, and unfortunately, their owners were unable to adapt to the present NHL as fast as other cities.
Do I think putting franchises in Atlanta....Miami......Phoenix.....Nashville were good ideas? Heck no. Atlanta failed as an NHL city in 1979, nothing has changed in the meantime, and those close to the franchise says it is headed in the same direction.........despite having some of the brightest stars in the game. Miami? Failed in the WHA. Phoenix? Failed in the WHA and has had several incarnations of minor league teams which have failed.
The problem is the owners want money and the players want money............and Gary Bettman has made both groups (and the NHLPA Pension for retired players) a LOT of money.
From the players and owners p[erspective, that is the bottom line.
As I said before, there is very little difference between John Ziegler and Gary Bettman other than Ziegler did his thing out of the spotlight and Bettman is very out in the open.
2007-09-25 14:17:37 · answer #1 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The irony of this all is that the best way to voice your opinion is not to buy anything NHL-related. However, in doing so, you will only help the causes that likely make you (like everyone else) dislike Bettman. If attendance and TV ratings keep dropping, the nets will get bigger and a whole assortment of other preposterous rules will be implemented. And, on the other hand, continuing to attend will only show up positively for the front office of the league. It is quite a conundrum.
That said, don't listen to what anyone says about "it not mattering" with regards to writing a letter. Don't do E-mail, as that is pointless unless everyone does it en masse. However, writing a letter and mailing it will help to make a statement, albeit a small one. This is especially true since nobody mails **** anymore. Send it certified, too. It helps it get attention.
2007-09-25 23:16:58 · answer #2 · answered by bpstyles 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's how you do it:
1. Buy an NHL team, preferably in a major market to increase your influence and clout.
2. Behind the scenes, build a coalition of owners against Bettman.
3. Find out what you have to do to fire Bettman, as per league rules.
4. Start whatever process there is to fire Bettman and bring your coalition of other owners against him out into the open to support you.
Other than that, there's nothing that you can do about it. Boycott NHL merchandise and sign all of the pointless petitions that you want, it's still the owners who will decide his fate and they obviously like what he's done.
So start saving your money, you've got a team to buy.
2007-09-28 00:52:01 · answer #3 · answered by lupin_1375 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like I'm Telling You- the players have a say on Bettman? I thought it was just the owners.
Shouldn't the fact that the vast majority of fans hate him and think he is bad for the game (even if it were misguided) be enough for a change?
Also, to this point, I see alot of money lost by the players in the form of 2 work stoppages, roll back of salaries, etc.
2007-09-25 22:19:41 · answer #4 · answered by Bob Loblaw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There really isnt not much we can do.
Emailing the league would certainly be a start, but most of us dont really have the time to do that.
My solution is to just continue my support and passion for hockey, and not be shyed (sp?) away from the game that bettman has created. This may sound like i'm gary bettman, but do your best to embrace the current game.
2007-09-25 20:36:23 · answer #5 · answered by TBL 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't go to games, don't buy the merchandise, and above all, don't watch any NHL stuff on tv. It's like those silly gas boycotts a couple of years ago. "Don't buy gas from so-and-so store at this date and MAYBE we'll bring the prices down." Just buy a fuel efficient vehicle instead of some V8, 7 litre engine, gas guzzling SUV because you have a microscopic di'ck and gas prices will lower on its own.
Oops...sorry, did I rant that gas part? Teehee...
And another thing, how about getting out of your goddamn vehicle and get your fat-as$ into the building instead of staying inside it with the a/c pumping while you sleep or chow down on a Big Mac or some other crap? People whine and whine about gas prices but they're too stupid to do anything about it on their own. Okay, I'm done!
Sorry, going through a heat wave in in September Toronto because of these morons in the city....
2007-09-25 20:48:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pretend you get him fired, have a cold beer in the cheap seats to celebrate your accomplishment, and enjoy the game.
Why worry about something you have no control over? That's like having a job that's pretty easy, pays well, good hours, etc. but complaining because the boss is a jerk. Just do it like you're at the top of the food chain and pretty soon you realize its a good job.
2007-09-25 22:22:01 · answer #7 · answered by cme 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He was hired by the owners. He made them a lot of money with his over expansion. Most of them don't know or care anymore about hockey than he does.
Sadly he isn't going anywhere.
2007-09-26 08:55:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could boycott games....but good luck in getting any of your fellow Canadians to back you.....they are famous for sticking together like feathers in the wind when it comes to taking any action that might be deemed positive.
2007-09-25 20:35:10 · answer #9 · answered by Wee Shuggy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
openly hate him and voice your hatred with legitimate reasons not slander. if you use real reasons you are more likely to be listened to, and let's face it it's not like its hard to find legit reasons to hate Bettman.
2007-09-25 20:36:17 · answer #10 · answered by DC FURY 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋