Bettman should be fired immediately

[chernobylwraiths]

BETTMAN SUGGESTS TO NHLPA SIDES TAKE A BREAK IN NEGOTIATIONS

TORONTO -- After a lockout spanning almost nine weeks, the only thing the NHL and NHL Players' Association are talking about is taking a break.

Commissioner Gary Bettman has suggested placing a two-week moratorium on stalled collective bargaining negotiations, multiple sources told The Canadian Press on Thursday night. The offer came after Bettman received a phone call from Donald Fehr on Wednesday in which the NHLPA executive director said he didn't know how the sides could proceed from their current stalemate.

Rather than providing an immediate answer, Fehr told Bettman he would need to bounce the idea off his membership before responding. The union has repeatedly taken the position that it would prefer to meet rather than having breaks during the labour dispute -- and suggested again Thursday it will continue to favour that position.


If this doesn't change the owners minds that Bettman should be fired, I don't know what does.

[OpIv37]

Here's the problem though: Bettman probably did that because the owners WANTED him to.

The owners are still getting their TV money during the lockout, and they firmly believe that any money lost will be made up in 3-4 years if they get the deal they want. They have no real motivation to come to an agreement soon, other than not pissing off the fans. I miss hockey- and I'm REALLY going to miss it in two weeks when college football ends and the weekly Bills travesty is the only sports I watch- but I think we have to come to terms with the fact that this season is lost. Bettman's a buffoon but he makes the owners money and that's all they care about.

[Johnny Bugmenot]

Here's the problem though: Bettman probably did that because the owners WANTED him to.

The owners are still getting their TV money during the lockout, and they firmly believe that any money lost will be made up in 3-4 years if they get the deal they want. They have no real motivation to come to an agreement soon, other than not pissing off the fans. I miss hockey- and I'm REALLY going to miss it in two weeks when college football ends and the weekly Bills travesty is the only sports I watch- but I think we have to come to terms with the fact that this season is lost. Bettman's a buffoon but he makes the owners money and that's all they care about.

It helps that their TV partner-- Comcast-- is also one of the owners.

[DraftBoy]

Here's the problem though: Bettman probably did that because the owners WANTED him to.

The owners are still getting their TV money during the lockout, and they firmly believe that any money lost will be made up in 3-4 years if they get the deal they want. They have no real motivation to come to an agreement soon, other than not pissing off the fans. I miss hockey- and I'm REALLY going to miss it in two weeks when college football ends and the weekly Bills travesty is the only sports I watch- but I think we have to come to terms with the fact that this season is lost. Bettman's a buffoon but he makes the owners money and that's all they care about.

Bingo.

[Mski]

Here's the problem though: Bettman probably did that because the owners WANTED him to.

The owners are still getting their TV money during the lockout, and they firmly believe that any money lost will be made up in 3-4 years if they get the deal they want. They have no real motivation to come to an agreement soon, other than not pissing off the fans. I miss hockey- and I'm REALLY going to miss it in two weeks when college football ends and the weekly Bills travesty is the only sports I watch- but I think we have to come to terms with the fact that this season is lost. Bettman's a buffoon but he makes the owners money and that's all they care about.

and for a few of the team's they're actually operating in the black for the first time in years. If there's any indication that Bettman should be fired, its because this isnt the only work stoppage under his tenure, i dont know certain, but i believe there has actually been a work stoppage at the end of every single CBA he has helpped negotiate

[OpIv37]

and for a few of the team's they're actually operating in the black for the first time in years. If there's any indication that Bettman should be fired, its because this isnt the only work stoppage under his tenure, i dont know certain, but i believe there has actually been a work stoppage at the end of every single CBA he has helpped negotiate

You are correct. The man is 3 for 3. There was the one in '94 that resulted in a 48 game season, the one in '03 that cost them the whole season and now, where we will be lucky to get any games at all.

[ckg927]

Depending on how long this mess lasts, don't be surprised to see another league try to get formed.

Hell, that's how the NHL was formed back in the day.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2012/...re-gameon.html

[Johnny Bugmenot]

Depending on how long this mess lasts, don't be surprised to see another league try to get formed.

Hell, that's how the NHL was formed back in the day.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2012/...re-gameon.html

I'd love to see it happen (and certainly Pegula loves hockey enough that he'd be willing to get involved), but they'd have to wrest control of the Stanley Cup away from Bettman to do that. The league made a deal with the trustees to never award it to any non-NHL team back in the '40s, so unless the NHL outright folds, any competitor league would pale in comparison.

The other problem is that startup sports leagues are NOTORIOUS for their poor financial situation. The NHL knows this. That's why you haven't seen any real efforts to start one outside of football since the 1970s.

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

Depending on how long this mess lasts, don't be surprised to see another league try to get formed.

Hell, that's how the NHL was formed back in the day.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2012/...re-gameon.html

So a new league will start where the owners will set players salaries, contract terms, no guaranteed contracts, salary cap restrictions, etc. That sounds exactly the opposite of that the players are fighting for.

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

I think this is a genius move by Bettman. He floats it out there that they are going nowhere with the NHLPA and that they are in no hurry to get a deal done, even as far as floating it out there that more games cancelled, even the season. They have told the NHLPA that in order for a deal to get done they have to work off of their proposal and the NHLPA gives five offers that are all basically the same and are just waisting time. If the players panic, lockout over. If the players don't, status quo.

[ticatfan]

Well I have never heard of a business giving employees a bigger share of the pie. The owners take the risks and spend the big bucks, while the players do what? Play a game and live huge? Both sides need a pox on thier houses, but the players IMO are in the wrong. If the owners investment fails , he loses, the player takes his fat contract to another team. And I notice the news still uses a old pic of the player reps standing behind thier man, except most of those players are gone to europe. Time for the players to smarten up. Owners are owners ,players are employees.

[DraftBoy]

Well I have never heard of a business giving employees a bigger share of the pie. The owners take the risks and spend the big bucks, while the players do what? Play a game and live huge? Both sides need a pox on thier houses, but the players IMO are in the wrong. If the owners investment fails , he loses, the player takes his fat contract to another team. And I notice the news still uses a old pic of the player reps standing behind thier man, except most of those players are gone to europe. Time for the players to smarten up. Owners are owners ,players are employees.

Yea that whole taking years off their life thing due to violent collisions and injuries is no big deal.

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

Yea that whole taking years off their life thing due to violent collisions and injuries is no big deal.

I would almost guarantee that not one of those players has a gun to their head to play in the NHL. I am not 100% on this but I think they can go and pursue whatever career they want.

[Mski]

....but they'd have to wrest control of the Stanley Cup away from Bettman to do that. The league made a deal with the trustees to never award it to any non-NHL team back in the '40s, so unless the NHL outright folds, any competitor league would pale in comparison.

i dont believe that its a binding contract between the Lord Stanley trustees and the League or just a verbal agreement... there was alot of speculation about this last lockout, the Cup is supposed to be awarded to the "best hockey team in the world" once every year. the speculation being that they could have given it to a KHL or OHL, or any other league during the last lock out, and the reason it wasnt awarded to a KHL team was because the trustees didnt believe they'd be able to get it back if they did

[DraftBoy]

I would almost guarantee that not one of those players has a gun to their head to play in the NHL. I am not 100% on this but I think they can go and pursue whatever career they want.

You sure about that? You're talking about many kids who don't even attend college, you really think they can make a career with their basic HS diploma or GED?

[Night Train]

Bettman is just a puppet. The Owners have 2 camps going, the rich and the poor. That's the problem.

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

You sure about that? You're talking about many kids who don't even attend college, you really think they can make a career with their basic HS diploma or GED?

Absolutely, both countries are "free", any one of the players can try to get a job doing whatever they want. Not saying that they can get that job, but they don't have to play in the NHL

[DraftBoy]

Absolutely, both countries are "free", any one of the players can try to get a job doing whatever they want. Not saying that they can get that job, but they don't have to play in the NHL

Yes but you're advocating a player simply stop doing what in some cases is the only thing they know. So they go from making millions to making just above minimum wage? Not really sure that's an option for guys who have families, kids, and other bills (house(s), cars, etc.).

So yes they almost do.

[ckg927]

Bettman is just a puppet. The Owners have 2 camps going, the rich and the poor. That's the problem.

And, sadly, Buffalo's in the latter. I have to presume that Pegs, deep down, just wants to see hockey-even if he, like every other owner, voted for the lockout.