Given that he's blocking attempts for Canadian businessmen to move teams up north and remains determined (to the point of retardation) to push hockey in the southern states where Nascar, Football, and other American sports rule.
2007-11-12 14:27:23 · 19 answers · asked by Rich Z 1 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Gary Bettman has made no attempts to block any Canadian businessmen from placing teams up north.
The League APPROVED Balsillie's application to buy the Penguins. Mario Lemieux (a Canadian) asked that certain riders be placed on the deal...not Bettman.
Harley Hotchkiss (a Canadian) sent the initial email to Leipold asking him not to sell to Balsillie. Only after the NHL owners convened and sent Bettman an email, did Bettman send an email to Leipold.
Balsillie made both email chains (Hotchkiss and Bettman's public).
2007-11-12 14:38:55 · answer #1 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 15⤊ 3⤋
Personally I think John Ziegler was the worst thing to happen to the NHL
Ziegler put teams in San Jose, Anahaim, Tampa Bay and Florida
Bettman put teams in Nashville and Atlanta (as did Clarence Campbell). Bettman at least had the foresight to put teams in Minnesota and Columbus.
Under Ziegler's watch, the NHLPA was robbed blind by it's director
Under Bettman's watch, the NHLPA has actually strengthened (primarily because of the hard-nosed antics of the owners).
Personally, I don't care who the NHL commissioner is
- he'll never be able to get a US television deal similar to the other sports
- he'll never have owners who want to expand into Canada
As long as there are rich people in cities who are willing to throw away millions of dollars on an NHL franchise, the NHL will expand there. Whether they are a success or not remains to be seen.
I've been to Canada many times, I've read Canadian business magazines. There is very little 'free' money there as compared to here. People are beating this to death.
If you want to blame someone for the Southern expansion, blame Ziegler, 4 of the expansion teams were on his watch.
Oh................I remember SportsChannel America, and I remember Ed Snider and John McMullen saying how that would revitalize hockey on TV. What a joke that turned out to be.
2007-11-13 01:37:39 · answer #2 · answered by J S 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
While I disagree with the policy of continuing to expand the NHL and especially expand into markets that make no sense I do not think it is the worst thing that has happened to the NHL. The worst thing that has happened is the bastardizing of the game with the addition of the shootout and the three point game.
It's totally ludicrous to have one game be of more value than another. They must all carry the same weight. Either make all games three pointers or none of them.
2007-11-12 18:01:41 · answer #3 · answered by PuckDat 7 · 9⤊ 0⤋
Blaming Bettman is a waste of time.
30 representatives sat in a room one day and decided that he should be commissioner. If they had a problem with him, they'd have fired him by now. Don't blame him, blame the one's who decide such policies. He's merely the front man.
There is more money to be made in new markets in the south of the United States, and the NHL is determined to make it a success. If and when they think they aren't making money there, they will do something about it.
The sentiment that hockey is Canada's game and that they "deserve" to have another franchise is lost on the owners. They don't care about that.
2007-11-12 14:50:16 · answer #4 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 13⤊ 2⤋
Bettman's job is to make sure the league makes money for the owners. He seems to be doing that. While I think his methodology sucks, I can't argue with his results. It is a good thing he doesn't get paid for his charming personality. Pretty much like Richard Peddie, all the Leaf fans hate him, think he's an idiot, but his job is to make sure MLSE is making money. That, they do. In abundance.
2007-11-12 16:30:18 · answer #5 · answered by cme 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
As much as I dislike the little puke, I have to agree he is the front man for the owners. Many of the very poor decisions have been approved by the owners.
However, he doesn't seem to mind what they are doing either!
2007-11-13 02:01:04 · answer #6 · answered by jeffwar03 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Bettman is truly the WORST thing to happen to hockey! Someday, a book will be written about how he mismanaged and sabotaged the league. I'm sure there are a lot of mouths that are being held shut out of fear of this guy. The list of mistakes that he's made or led in making is far too long. I can't wait until he's gone!
2007-11-12 23:38:43 · answer #7 · answered by someguy_with_an_opinion 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋
You couldn't have Gary without two incredibly stupid people breeding. So I would have to say that his parents decision to "reproduce" may be the worst thing to ever happen to the NHL.
2007-11-13 04:05:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, the worst thing that happened to NHL hockey is helmets. There are MORE head shots, with elbows, sticks, you name it, since the advent of the mandatory helmet. As far as Canadian business men and southern US push, etc., take LITY's word on that. None of these (Bettman, et al. ) are stupid. I have to believe that the powers that be will move teams or expand the league to where ever the market will sustain them. Long term of course.
2007-11-12 15:30:30 · answer #9 · answered by Theolicious 4 · 2⤊ 6⤋
yes, it doesnt matter if he is just a "front man" as others suggest. fact is on his shift hockey has been destroyed as most fans knew and loved it. i still think the game is great although i long for a great bench clearing brawl, since unlike other sports hockey players can fight and fight well. he has made horrible financial mistakes as well as new ideas like increasing net size. the people who will like hockey already do, adding more scoring or making it a pussy sport will not attract new viewers, it will just appease the b*tches out there who need something to complain about. all he has done is alienate loyal hockey fans.
2007-11-12 20:19:10 · answer #10 · answered by Brandon 2 · 1⤊ 5⤋