2007-09-27 05:56:37 · 15 answers · asked by megalomaniac 7 in Sports ➔ Hockey
he's god awful...just terrible.
2007-09-27 08:03:00 · answer #1 · answered by DC FURY 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Haters of the sport love him and the owners love him.
John C,
You say niche market sport, but Bettman is the one trying to alter that marketing aspect and cater to the non-fans and alienate the “niche”.
You also give him credit for hockey players being professionals on and off the ice, that’s the player’s code and coaches not Bettman.
And doing a great job for what he has been given, that couldn’t be farther from the truth, when Bettman took over the helm in the early 90’s the NHL was poised to make a push and possible become the #3 sport in America but Bettman started to tinker with the inner fabric of the game and expanded it too much in a short period of time. Again stressing over you first statement “niche market sport” Gary Bettman from the beginning has being trying to make the NHL; The NBA on ICE. That is why hockey players and fans hate him.
2007-09-27 14:20:29 · answer #2 · answered by Glen Greene 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Bettman and the many current owners are in it for money not the love of hockey. They need to realize that the current NHL is a niche sport. They over expanded into bad markets and diluted the talent. Its on Vs. that a lot of people probably don't get. There is no advertising. The cure is to cut the bad markets and put those players into a draft. This will weed out the undeserving players who have no business being in the NHL. You could easily cut back to 24 teams and do some rearranging to get rid of 6 bad markets and 6 bad owners (there are good owners in bad markets and bad owners in good markets).
John - Hockey was more than a niche sport when Bettman showed up. It was right up there with the NBA.
2007-09-27 13:48:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't say he's great for hockey, but yeah I think he's done some good. If we can put thelock out behind us. He's tried putting in a better system to make the game better than it was before the lockout. I for one applaud most of his efforts. There's still a long road ahead. He shouldn't worry about the new "fake" fans. Just the ones who have/will stick by the league no matter what.. i.e. the true die hard fans..
There's never 100% popular decisions. No matter what he does there will be some who won't support him.
It's a thankless job no matter what.
I'll keep saying it until people wake up. ESPN is the reason hockey is almost dead in the U.S. WHO cares what the U.S. thinks anyway. There will always be a fanbase. ESPN will be the death of hockey in the U.S. IF we let it. In the major NHL cities hockey is doing quite well. THe very fact the New Years outside game sold out in under an hour PROVES hockey is alive and well. EVEN THOUGH ESPN said It would never work because of college football. GIVE ME A BREAK! I for one am going to find out how to watch that game.. I will NOT waste my time watching college football when I can see the Sabres playing the Penguins..
2007-09-27 22:52:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since he became commish, the NHL has gone from a fairly visible major sports league to an invisible minor sports league. Chicago Blackhawk fans probably won't get to see the Hawks play any games on TV this year. I'd say Bettman hasn't done a good job at all. The NHL has disappeared under his watch.
2007-09-27 13:39:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
No Bettman is the worst thing that has happened to hockey and it will take years to fix the state of the league. He had the lock out and move team out of true hockey cities into cities that should not have teams.
2007-09-27 17:33:58 · answer #6 · answered by C Z 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
even bettman knows he's not good for the nhl
2007-09-27 17:20:55 · answer #7 · answered by The Truth 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bettman is in it for the money not the love of the game. I mean the guy is trying to get 2 more expansion teams to join the NHL.
One of them is supposedly out of Las Vegas...
Are you kidding me, who in Vegas is gonna be all for hockey?
2007-09-27 13:28:35 · answer #8 · answered by bakes63 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
the few, the proud, bettman fans
2007-09-27 13:58:14 · answer #9 · answered by McMoose--RIPYAHS 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
wow sure isn't alot! count me in with the crowd that doesn't think he is doing a great job! i tell you he is in league with the nba to keep the nhl down
2007-09-27 13:14:53 · answer #10 · answered by sshueman 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I Don't Think He's Worth A Darn.
2007-09-27 14:04:02 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋