Gary Bettman earns $8.3m/year

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

People in the states didn't even know there was a lockout recently- thats sad.

You mean like when Letterman asked Obama about it and the President was clearly aware of it?

[Coach]

Maybe Bettman wouldn't hate Canada so much if we didn't vigorously boo him everywhere he went for no apparent reason.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

It's a saturated league full of so-so talent getting paid big bucks, half full arenas in many of the US organizations, and embarrasing lockouts with no future expansion to Canada. I personally am not a fan of Bettman. I would be in favor of a Canadian commissioner instead of an American lawyer who started out in the NBA running this game that Canadians hold very dearly.

God, how people lose sight; this isn't the international hockey steering committee, its the NHL, an entertainment company. It isn't Canada's game he's running, its an international company out there that wants to maximize profits. They can do as they please, and Bettman is what they please. They could make it 10 quarters with a slam dunk competition at the end and you'd have no more say if the owners want it that way.

Call me when Bettman starts dictating how you play your pond shinny.

[flamesfan1297]

That sounds like a fair price, when you consider his job and the fact that some all star players make more than that

[Mr.Coffee]

As an owner obviously he's worth it, hence being paid it, and given his negotiating skill, professionalism, how hard he works, knowledge, etc., I'd be happy with his performance.

As a fan I have mixed feelings on Bettman. In some ways I appreciate the way he's grown the game and brought about a greater "big league" feel with excellence in marketing and bringing in the cap which has made things more competitive. On the other hand all the increased revenues going to players or owners just mean higher ticket prices and bigger spats over league revenues every time the CBA expires. As a fan I HATE lockouts. Immensely. A necessary evil, yes, but brutal. I'm not sure they existed with such regularities before pro sports and the NHL started to surge in revenues. I understand that's not Bettman's fault, but I do believe there are things he could do to prevent lockouts or shorten them in duration.

[McG]

i think he designs 3rd jerseys on the side to supplement his income.

"Come on Bill. I always put the name of the city on the jersey so that i know where i am."

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Maybe Bettman wouldn't hate Canada so much if we didn't vigorously boo him everywhere he went for no apparent reason.

No sympathy here, maybe we should be able to bring tomatoes to the game instead when Gary is present..
Better yet maybe Gary should do the honorable thing for the good of Hockey and resign.

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by strombad

Oh, so it's like every major sports league then? It doesn't even sound like you like the NHL at all. That was the most embarrassingly ridiculous and almost xenophobic anti-Bettman rant I've read in a long time. I couldn't quite tell if you hated Bettman, America, or the NHL as a whole.

Man, eat a Snickers, you're not yourself when you're hungry.

Hate the NHL ? man... you are just like a bunch of others on here who have a short memory and just went through the recent lockout and what a freakin joke it was. I for one didn't like Bettman- I guess you loved him through the process right ? just like a few other lovers of his on here who obviously didn't vocalize their appreciation for him during the lockout with such passion. What a joke. Too many sheep on here at times- monkey see monkey do.

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by Ducay

God, how people lose sight; this isn't the international hockey steering committee, its the NHL, an entertainment company. It isn't Canada's game he's running, its an international company out there that wants to maximize profits. They can do as they please, and Bettman is what they please. They could make it 10 quarters with a slam dunk competition at the end and you'd have no more say if the owners want it that way.

Call me when Bettman starts dictating how you play your pond shinny.

LOL........What ? G'day mate

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

You mean like when Letterman asked Obama about it and the President was clearly aware of it?

No, like when they were interviewing people in the streets of the US, particularily in NY and some people were albsolutely clueless about it. I don't make this stuff up. Like, did some of you not remember stuff like this ? or are you too busy trying to drudge up internet clips ? And you are referencing Obama for pete sakes ? You think he is a huge hockey fan ? he is the President and is fed important info when needed- or even maybe in this case on the show, knew he was gonna be asked that question- c'mon man, I would expect more out of you.

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by valo403

In a series of ridiculous thoughts my favorite is that you've blamed Bettman for inflation.

Ridiculous thoughts ? Last I looked, this is a forum to express your thoughts on a topic and thats what I did. I did it according to my recoglection of things and the progress of things as a Canadian hockey fan who is now 38. Saying I blame Bettman for inflation is just stupid- plain stupid. I was refering to the fact that Bettman seems to get credit for bringing this league from 400 million a year to 3 billion a year during his tenure. Thats inflation. Difference was back in the 80's and 90's, guys were paid what they were worth and to some extent, into the 2000's. It's a gong show now but you seem to think it's all great right ? gimme a break man- you living under a rock ? Guys used to be paid higher due to experience, time put in, and effectiveness. Now, it's being paid on potential and, or, if you happened to score 30 goals once in your 4 years of service then they give you a big contract cause there's a lack of true talent to be spread around the league. Supply and demand.

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Gary took the comish job in the NHL in 1993. Total professional sports work stoppages:

NHL = 3 : 1994/95, 2004/05, 2012/13
NBA = 3 : 1995, 1998/99, 2011 (Technically 4 if you count 1996 which was only a couple hours)
MLB = 2 : 1990, 1994/95
NFL = 1 : 2011

So the NHL hasn't had anymore stoppages than the NBA and only 1 less than the MLB since his tenure.



Well America has/had way more opportunity to expand given the sheer population and number of metropolitan cities. It's still the same today, Canada has 2 great markets to expand: Quebec and Toronto 2/Hamilton/Markham. America has way more options: Seattle/Portland, KC, Houston, Hartford, Baltimore, etc. It's simply a numbers game.



That is utter bull####. Maybe not in the sunbelt, but it made headlines in America.



Like previously noted, can't blame Gary for inflation.



I can somewhat agree here, Phoenix should've probably moved years ago. However, if the new owners end up succeeded, it'll reflect very well on Bettman. Time will tell. Also, if he's trying to help American teams make money, that's good for the whole league, including the Canadian franchises.



What?!? We did lose two teams under his watch and he kept his job. But that was completely different landscape. Bettman's biggest contribution to the NHL was sadly the 2004-05 lockout. With a salary cap in place it has given the league cost certainty and has put every team on an even playing field (except for penny pinchers like NYI, but even they made the playoffs). Also you seem quite young, so maybe you don't remember when both Alberta teams were at risks of moving in the mid-1990's and Bettman didn't just give up on those teams.



Yes every team has an internal cap, however having a cap still prevents teams like NYR, Toronto, Boston, etc. from buying all the best players. If you don't think the salary cap has greatly benefitted the league as a whole, you're nuts.



Again, utter bull####. Quebec is one of the leading candidates for future expansion.



I don't think Bettman has an anti-Canadian attitude at all. He's trying to grow the game and the easiest/smartest way to do that, is to do it in the US, where they have a much larger population. Some of the sunbelt teams haven't worked, but some have. If he was truly anti-Canadian he could've given the Thrashers to KC.

I don't even know where to start with this response- and they said mine was long. Not even gonna start into this one as I dont feel the need to argue my very Simple points to some closet Bettman lovers who are coming out of the woodwork like a bunch of bandwagoners, people who dont read so good when I mention INTERNAL salary caps and says salary caps are good ?? And by the way, I will believe Quebec is in before another american city when I see it- you can't call bull on something that hasn't happened yet.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

No, like when they were interviewing people in the streets of the US, particularily in NY and some people were albsolutely clueless about it. I don't make this stuff up. Like, did some of you not remember stuff like this ? or are you too busy trying to drudge up internet clips ? And you are referencing Obama for pete sakes ? You think he is a huge hockey fan ? he is the President and is fed important info when needed- or even maybe in this case on the show, knew he was gonna be asked that question- c'mon man, I would expect more out of you.

That's funny, because I live there and people sure as hell knew that the Rangers were locked out. Keep on with the cluelessness though, it's always fun to see.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Hate the NHL ? man... you are just like a bunch of others on here who have a short memory and just went through the recent lockout and what a freakin joke it was. I for one didn't like Bettman- I guess you loved him through the process right ? just like a few other lovers of his on here who obviously didn't vocalize their appreciation for him during the lockout with such passion. What a joke. Too many sheep on here at times- monkey see monkey do.

Calling people "sheep" in the same context as expressing your distaste for Bettman is pretty much hilarious. Way to go! You must be one of those "original thinkers" who boos him everywhere he goes with all the rest of the "original thinkers" (drunk morons).

As for the lockout, you do realise he's not the magical leprechaun that causes every lockout? You DO know that the NHLPA hired a lockout "specialist" to run the show?

I mean hey, hating on Gary is fine and dandy, guy has flaws. But he's also improved the NHL substantially and really upped the ante.

But yeah, you go be "original" and hate on Bettman, you rebel you.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Hate the NHL ? man... you are just like a bunch of others on here who have a short memory and just went through the recent lockout and what a freakin joke it was. I for one didn't like Bettman- I guess you loved him through the process right ? just like a few other lovers of his on here who obviously didn't vocalize their appreciation for him during the lockout with such passion. What a joke. Too many sheep on here at times- monkey see monkey do.

yeah well i had a severe dislike for Donald Fehr, which then (According to your parameters) makes you a Fehr lover. right? You must be a sheep as well. Such a ridiculous thing to say.

BOTH sides are to blame when labor unrest cannot be resolved in a timely manner, particularly when its patently obvious where the resolution will land as far as $$ etc, which was all to easy to see last time.

LIke him or not, Bettman has served his purpose to those who pay him all that money every year and will be in that position as long as he wishes if i was to guess.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Ducay

God, how people lose sight; this isn't the international hockey steering committee, its the NHL, an entertainment company. It isn't Canada's game he's running, its an international company out there that wants to maximize profits. They can do as they please, and Bettman is what they please. They could make it 10 quarters with a slam dunk competition at the end and you'd have no more say if the owners want it that way.

Call me when Bettman starts dictating how you play your pond shinny.

As long as they maintain control over the Stanley Cup, which was gifted to Canada and not the NHL, then they have a responsibility towards Canada's game, imo.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

As long as they maintain control over the Stanley Cup, which was gifted to Canada and not the NHL, then they have a responsibility towards Canada's game, imo.

That absurd argument over awarding the Cup to a beer league team was settled 2 lockouts ago. The Stanley Cup is controlled by it's trustee's, who have no duty to Canada. In fact, they have an agreement to award it to the NHL Champs, with the small caveat of being able to award it to an Non-NHL team if they wish in any year that the NHL does not compete for it.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

As long as they maintain control over the Stanley Cup, which was gifted to Canada and not the NHL, then they have a responsibility towards Canada's game, imo.

1913 called. It wants its xenophobia back.

[mister__big]

$8.3M/yr is overpayment for Bettman, the league is clearly paying for potential and for locking him up during his first UFA seasons. They should've tacked on an additional 10 years to the end at $1M/yr to bring the average down by a couple million. But then Bettman would probably have to void his own contract for cap circumvention.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Ridiculous thoughts ? Last I looked, this is a forum to express your thoughts on a topic and thats what I did.

"Expressing your thoughts" does not somehow shield you from criticism. Your entire anti-Bettman rant was largely ridiculous, short-sighted, and wholly unoriginal.

Originally Posted by cowtown75

...back in the 80's and 90's, guys were paid what they were worth and to some extent, into the 2000's. It's a gong show now but you seem to think it's all great right ?

This sentence here pretty clearly reveals that you are pretty clueless. The mid-nineties to the mid-2000s practically spelled the death of NHL hockey in Western Canada precisely because the inflation of players salaries was BADLY outpacing revenues. You have railed against the earning power of the average NHL player in a few posts now, but seem to hold this opinion in contravention of the fact that a mechanism now exists which ties salaries directly to revenues, and prevents the inflationary imbalance that thrust the league into crisis a decade ago.

Originally Posted by cowtown75

...Guys used to be paid higher due to experience, time put in, and effectiveness. Now, it's being paid on potential and, or, if you happened to score 30 goals once in your 4 years of service then they give you a big contract cause there's a lack of true talent to be spread around the league. Supply and demand.

The on-ice product has ALWAYS been tied to supply and demand, but I think that your perception is poor to believe that the talent level, speed, and over-all quality of the game is not substantially superior now to what passed for NHL hockey in the "high flying eighties". Moreover, I also think that your preference for paying top-dollar for +31-year-old past-prime players over the current system, which rewards players in their prime playing years between 25–30 is also archaic. You sound like a dinosaur.