Gary Bettman Needs to Resign

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Passe La Puck

You claimed widespread sexual assault at the NHL level. You were politely asked for examples. You cited one WHA predator and the one NHL on we’ve all been talking about.

Maybe you could provide some more before you accuse people of having their heads in the sand.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

You claimed widespread sexual assault at the NHL level. You were politely asked for examples. You cited one WHA predator and the one NHL on we’ve all been talking about.

Maybe you could provide some more before you accuse people of having their heads in the sand.

We may never know the extent of abuse in the NHL as reporting this type of activity can be very difficult for victims and many may choose to avoid bringing it to light. Maybe the NHL is pretty squeaky clean and cases are few and very isolated. What I do know is that the NHL has been in the past and still is pretty lax when it comes to dealing with matters of misconduct in the league. Look back at the NHL response to the various cases and allegations of domestic or sexual assault involving players. I don't think it is much of a stretch to believe that there are many cases and stories being suppressed.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

We may never know the extent of abuse in the NHL as reporting this type of activity can be very difficult for victims and many may choose to avoid bringing it to light. Maybe the NHL is pretty squeaky clean and cases are few and very isolated. What I do know is that the NHL has been in the past and still is pretty lax when it comes to dealing with matters of misconduct in the league. Look back at the NHL response to the various cases and allegations of domestic or sexual assault involving players. I don't think it is much of a stretch to believe that there are many cases and stories being suppressed.

It was claimed as a fact it is widespread. That there were “multiple cases across generations coming up”. I think it fair to ask for more than the one example.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Based on how the Flames handled the Peters situation; without a doubt different clubs would have handled it differently.

The Flames situation was much different. It was out in the media already. They couldn't bury it. I suspect Chicago would have handled this differently if Beach went to the media and said I got sexual abused by a coach.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

The Flames situation was much different. It was out in the media already. They couldn't bury it. I suspect Chicago would have handled this differently if Beach went to the media and said I got sexual abused by a coach.

This one was in the media since June. While Chicago (on purpose) didn’t do anything way back when, they could have in June, and so could Florida.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

This one was in the media since June. While Chicago (on purpose) didn’t do anything way back when, they could have in June, and so could Florida.

I don’t believe specific people like JQ and Bowman were mentioned in the original lawsuit.

Why would Florida have done anything?

I do think it’s a bit convenient to say Calgary handled their situation well but both Florida and Chicago didn’t. They came under different circumstances. In truth, we don’t know.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I don’t believe specific people like JQ and Bowman were mentioned in the original lawsuit.

Why would Florida have done anything?

I do think it’s a bit convenient to say Calgary handled their situation well but both Florida and Chicago didn’t. They came under different circumstances. In truth, we don’t know.

It didn’t name them as defendants, but the lawsuit claimed an assault by the video coach, named the mental skills coach as a defendant and made specific claims which directly implicated Bowman and inferentially implicated Q. Q was in charge of Gary and Aldrich, and Bowman was in charge of everything. Maybe a little more diligence was required. I mean, on this site, since the suit was filed, I was saying Quenneville must be implicated, it was just common sense.

It may be convenient to say Calgary handled it differently. But even when the Q allegation was made public, he was still behind the bench for a game. Peters wasn’t.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It didn’t name them as defendants, but the lawsuit claimed an assault by the video coach, named the mental skills coach as a defendant and made specific claims which directly implicated Bowman and inferentially implicated Q. Q was in charge of Gary and Aldrich, and Bowman was in charge of everything. Maybe a little more diligence was required. I mean, on this site, since the suit was filed, I was saying Quenneville must be implicated, it was just common sense.

It may be convenient to say Calgary handled it differently. But even when the Q allegation was made public, he was still behind the bench for a game. Peters wasn’t.

Q was out two days after he was directly implicated. Peters was out four days after. Q was accused of being one of four men who did not do enough to investigate a potential claim of sexual assault carried out by someone else and instead sweep it under the rug, Peters was accused of making racist remarks and abusing players.

I don’t think there’s much substance in being overly proud of how Peters was handled vs how Q was handled. Certainly not to the extent that we could predict how they would be handled if the teams were reversed. I think it’s either naive or just too convenient to believe Calgary is far ahead of Florida here. The truth is we don’t know and can’t know.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The reason the ad was being discussed because it was brought up with the follow up: "does she need more?"

The answer, obviously, is yes. Not that there isn't more, but that the mere suggestion that people shouldn't need more than a Scotiabank advertisement as a means of showing seriousness about an issue is ridiculous.

The problem Slone brought up is that the NHL is reactive, not proactive. Issues like racism persist until it is called out and brought to light by people pushed out. Sexual assault gets covered up and homophobia runs free until the victim files a lawsuit ten years later. Ten years! And no one said anything!

That's the silence she's talking about. Ten years and not a peep. Not from the people who covered it up, obviously, but neither from bystanders like Chevy, or the players who knew and the players who were still calling Beach a f***** years later. Absolute silence. And who speaks up every time? People outside the league.

Culture is tough to change. But telling me it takes more than a decade to make racism, homophobia, and sexual assault unacceptable? I'm not buying that, sorry.

People have been speaking out on these issues for decades. We are living in a very broken society and I truly have no hope of things being fixed in my lifetime.

[powderjunkie]

A worthwhile question regarding Wirtz family knowledge of the incident...Rocky's son Danny has been in a [senior] leadership role for the past "decade"...when they fired McDonagh in April 2020 Danny took over as interim pres/ceo (and is still CEO; and they hired Jaime Faulkner (female) as president, business ops.

In the interim, Daniel Wirtz, 43, currently Vice President of the Chicago Blackhawks and alternate Governor to the NHL, will serve as the team's President. Danny Wirtz has been an active advisor with the Blackhawks for the past decade, serves as the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation Vice Chairman and is a representative for the team with the United Center Joint Venture.

Perhaps intentionally vague about Danny's role circa 2010? I couldn't find anything, but didn't dig very hard.

Originally Posted by GioforPM

This one was in the media since June. While Chicago (on purpose) didn’t do anything way back when, they could have in June, and so could Florida.

Didn't they order the independent investigation into everything? Or maybe that was mutually agreed as part of the proceedings?

Which isn't a defence...but I can see how it would be tough to take decisive action after 11 years.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Q was out two days after he was directly implicated. Peters was out four days after. Q was accused of being one of four men who did not do enough to investigate a potential claim of sexual assault carried out by someone else and instead sweep it under the rug, Peters was accused of making racist remarks and abusing players.

I don’t think there’s much substance in being overly proud of how Peters was handled vs how Q was handled. Certainly not to the extent that we could predict how they would be handled if the teams were reversed. I think it’s either naive or just too convenient to believe Calgary is far ahead of Florida here. The truth is we don’t know and can’t know.

Q coached a game. Peters didn’t. And if Bettman doesn’t step in I am not sure at all that Fla does the right thing. Bettman didn’t have to do anything with the Flames.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Q was out two days after he was directly implicated. Peters was out four days after. Q was accused of being one of four men who did not do enough to investigate a potential claim of sexual assault carried out by someone else and instead sweep it under the rug, Peters was accused of making racist remarks and abusing players.

I don’t think there’s much substance in being overly proud of how Peters was handled vs how Q was handled. Certainly not to the extent that we could predict how they would be handled if the teams were reversed. I think it’s either naive or just too convenient to believe Calgary is far ahead of Florida here. The truth is we don’t know and can’t know.

There is a major distinction between the two - and it isn't "time until the guy is out". Peters was immediately suspended and fired by the Flames - without outside intervention. Q was forced to resign...by the Commissioner...FLA allowed him to coach, so obviously saw nothing wrong with him remaining in place.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

There is a major distinction between the two - and it isn't "time until the guy is out". Peters was immediately suspended and fired by the Flames - without outside intervention. Q was forced to resign...by the Commissioner...FLA allowed him to coach, so obviously saw nothing wrong with him remaining in place.

The timing does matter. Peters resigned from the Flames four days after being directly named in allegations. Q resigned two days after being directly named in allegations. The NHL stepped in immediately and said they would handle it in the case of Q, and did not do so in the case of Peters. Once Beach's interview came out, safe to say things changed, as Q was not available to the media and Zito said it was troubling and that they'd be working with the NHL.

Trying to say one team handled it far better, given the differences of who was involved, the timing, and the allegations themselves, is just complete bias. I get as Flames fans we want to believe otherwise, but the Flames took four days to get Peters to resign with pay. The NHL and Panthers took two. If the situation was reversed, Peters would have been out before he even had the opportunity to sit out a game.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The timing does matter. Peters resigned from the Flames four days after being directly named in allegations. Q resigned two days after being directly named in allegations. The NHL stepped in immediately and said they would handle it in the case of Q, and did not do so in the case of Peters. Once Beach's interview came out, safe to say things changed, as Q was not available to the media and Zito said it was troubling and that they'd be working with the NHL.

Trying to say one team handled it far better, given the differences of who was involved, the timing, and the allegations themselves, is just complete bias. I get as Flames fans we want to believe otherwise, but the Flames took four days to get Peters to resign with pay. The NHL and Panthers took two. If the situation was reversed, Peters would have been out before he even had the opportunity to sit out a game.

The suspension is the issue, not the formal termination, which always depends on the willingness to negotiate and settle. The Flames could only completely control whether Peters was behind the bench. The fact Q settled quicker is on Peters, not the Flames.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The suspension is the issue, not the formal termination, which always depends on the willingness to negotiate and settle. The Flames could only completely control whether Peters was behind the bench. The fact Q settled quicker is on Peters, not the Flames.

We're talking about a difference of 24 hours. My point is that it's ridiculous to suggest Florida is terrible and Calgary is great because of 24 hours. Especially given the fact that one guy was accused of being part of a group whose egregious act was doing nothing, and the other guy was directly accused of racism and physically abusing players.

It's asinine.

[PeteMoss]

To get this back on topic - my feeling is Bettman is a previous era commissioner. The bad cop guy who can rip down the PA's will and 'win' the labour disputes. He's the David Stern of the NHL.

Those issues around cap and %s of revenue are largely resolved now. Now you need more of visionary who can make changes and grow the game. Turn the players into stars outside of the hockey bubble. Someone who can win in the PR world and show some empathy when needed.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

We're talking about a difference of 24 hours. My point is that it's ridiculous to suggest Florida is terrible and Calgary is great because of 24 hours. Especially given the fact that one guy was accused of being part of a group whose egregious act was doing nothing, and the other guy was directly accused of racism and physically abusing players.

It's asinine.

We are talking a difference of 24 hours, participation in a hockey game and intervention by Bettman. And Q was accused in the report of actively discouraging action on it until the cup was over. He also lied about it to the press. That’s not just “doing nothing”.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

We are talking a difference of 24 hours, participation in a hockey game and intervention by Bettman. And Q was accused in the report of actively discouraging action on it until the cup was over. He also lied about it to the press. That’s not just “doing nothing”.

We'll just agree to disagree, since this is off topic. I think people want to believe the Flames are above all this, I want to as well. But we can't really know.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

We'll just agree to disagree, since this is off topic. I think people want to believe the Flames are above all this, I want to as well. But we can't really know.

All we know for sure is that the Panthers allowed Q to coach one more game, the Flames didn’t.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

To get this back on topic - my feeling is Bettman is a previous era commissioner. The bad cop guy who can rip down the PA's will and 'win' the labour disputes. He's the David Stern of the NHL.

Those issues around cap and %s of revenue are largely resolved now. Now you need more of visionary who can make changes and grow the game. Turn the players into stars outside of the hockey bubble. Someone who can win in the PR world and show some empathy when needed.

Where are they going to poach that person from? They don't grow on trees and the reality is that other people in NHL headquarters are prehistoric compared to Gary. People that want Bettman out must consider if they think Jim Daly is a better alternative because he would be a frontrunner.