Commissioner Gary Bettman

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I think you must be the only person who thinks Bettman won in 94 but there are lots of excuses why he lost so badly. It took him 18 years to get the finances back in order.

Did the league make money following 1994? This is pretty much the only metric that matters for the BoG.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Did the league make money following 1994? This is pretty much the only metric that matters for the BoG.

Well the Flames didn't.
The Jets didn't.
The Canucks didn't.
The Oilers didn't.
The Canadiens didn't.

[Steveyoto]

He represents all the things that people perceive to be wrong with capitalist society (he is a lawyer who likes to hide behind the letter of the rules/ he is emotionless/ he works for the 1%/ he makes new rules to benefit his cause 7 years down the road/ he squashed little guys (jim balsille)). And like in society there is not much the average joe can do aside from voice his displeasure (in the form of boos)

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Steveyoto

He represents all the things that people perceive to be wrong with capitalist society (he is a lawyer who likes to hide behind the letter of the rules/ he is emotionless/ he works for the 1%/ he makes new rules to benefit his cause 7 years down the road/ he squashed little guys (jim balsille)). And like in society there is not much the average joe can do aside from voice his displeasure (in the form of boos)

LOL. Balsillie represents the 1% you seem to despise. That guy was a total clown and had he got a team and strong-armed a move to Hamilton it would have been a disaster.

[Steveyoto]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

LOL. Balsillie represents the 1% you seem to despise. That guy was a total clown and had he got a team and strong-armed a move to Hamilton it would have been a disaster.

Wrong... he was the 1%....

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Steveyoto

Wrong... he was the 1%....

Yes and by his own doing which is exactly why they were right to not let him in the league. Couldn't even run his own business competently. I hope you are getting the point.

[troutman]

That's just Philly being Philly.

He can still be commish, but other people could MC events and hand out the Cup.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Did the league make money following 1994? This is pretty much the only metric that matters for the BoG.

Initially, but not for long. That - despite Vulcan's irrational hatred of the man - is not Bettman's fault, however. He was a new commissioner and (like the previous presidents) did not have as much control over the owners. Certainly nowhere close to what was required to counter Bob Goodenow on even terms. That's why he insisted on, and got, that seven-owner veto for the 2004 negotiation. Without it, there's a not unreasonable chance that 2004-05 would have ended the way 1994-95 did.

As to the hate, it's part of Bettman's job. One of his roles is to be the lightning rod that draws in all the hate that would otherwise go to the owners, and hell, even the players. Crosby, Giordano and Donald Fehr are as much responsible for last year's lockout as Edwards, Jacobs and Gary Bettman were. But Bettman takes all that in so that you can forgive the players and the owners - or at least forget their roles - and enjoy hockey. Xenophobic Canadians can blame Bettman for their hatred of teams in the American south rather than their own teams that insisted on expansion because they wanted expansion fees and larger TV contracts to line their own pockets. Etc.

Bettman knows his role, and it is obvious from things like last night that he enjoys the response. Boo him all you want. All it says is that he's doing his job well. If he wasn't, you'd be booing someone else.

[etc]

Dude makes as much as an elite NHL player, I'm sure he can handle the boos.

[nickerjones]

As I said yesterday, If the draft ever comes to Calgary we should all cheer him just to be different. I wonder how he would react.

[T@T]

He loves being boo'ed. part of the job I suppose.

Bettman isn't perfect but NHL hockey is more popular in more places than ever before, it is now truly one of the big four with the media and fans of the states..yes, even bigger than nascar and table tennis.

[Huntingwhale]

It's part of the job and it's tradition. Don't change a thing. If I ever get the chance to meet him, I'll be respectful and tell him he saved hockey and the game is better then ever because of him. But if I'm ever in an arena with him presenting something, I'll boo the hell out of him. It's no different then Chara, Pronger, or any of the elite players getting booed. The best of the best always get booed. And Bettman seems to take it in stride. Classy guy.

[Northendzone]

Aren't"t almost all commoners booed?

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

The union is still here, so no it didn't get busted.

Didn't Goodenow get removed less then 2 weeks following the lockout, the union was divided between factions fighting among themselves.

On Topic
Bettman has done a great job being a hired gun for the owners, and also be a lightning rod for the fans while directing that away from the owners and directing it at himself. He's made millions and millions of dollars and if the fans ever change and go after the owners they can easily remove Bettman replace him with another hired gun and win over the fans once again

Bettmen has been amazing for the game of hockey and especially Canadian hockey

[Locke]

Bettman has done a great job when you really analyze his accomplishments in the face of his circumstances.

He'll long be remembered as the Commissioner that dragged hockey into the US limelight kicking and screaming.

I'm somewhat surprised a bigger deal wasnt made of America's 2 biggest markets playing each other in the Stanley Cup Final.

A NYR vs. LA SCF should have been the Commissioner's wet dream.

[Hack&Lube]

To avoid boos when the cup is handed out, a historic/popular player from the franchise's history could be the person to hand it out.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by SebC

I don't think it's hate. It's tradition. The boos are insincere.

Have agree with this. I think it's just one of those things people automatically do because it's been done for so long in the NHL. Most of the time, I feel the fans booing are just having a good time doing it, and not because they actually hate the guy. Plus, it seems like Bettman doesn't mind the booing, and almost seems to relish it. I loved his city of brotherly love comment yesterday.

I, for one, think he's done a pretty good job in his tenure. I'll miss the guy when he's gone.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

To avoid boos when the cup is handed out, a historic/popular player from the franchise's history could be the person to hand it out.

They shouldnt boo if Satan himself is handing their team Captain the Stanley Cup.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

To avoid boos when the cup is handed out, a historic/popular player from the franchise's history could be the person to hand it out.

Worst idea ever.

[Enoch Root]

I love Gary Bettman - especially when he is being mercilessly booed!