Is Bettman ok?

[Hire Sather]

He has been a great commissioner who has done way more to help than to hurt the game.

None of the lockouts have been his fault.

 

[FerrisRox]

That's a pretty significant misrepresenation and misunderstanding of Bettman's role as commissioner.

Yes he is ultimately in the employ of the owners but you don't pay someone $10 million a year just to execute orders. He is responsible for the ultimate vision for the league and getting the owners on board, not the other way around.

"The Instigator" is a pretty good read on the topic and gives a much fuller picture of his role than what you've described.

You're mistaken.

Bettman doesn't tell the Board, hey, lets expand the league. How about Vegas?

The Board tasks him, as the Commish, to do all of the due diligence to see if the league can support a new team, what would the ramifications be to the existing markets, what would the market bare, financially, for a new team, how would it effect future television deals, what markets could best support a new team, what would the travel ramifications be for that, would would the alignment be for each prospective market and then all of the homework for potential markets, potential owners, potential buildings. After all of that work is done, it's presented to the Board, and the Board, and the Board alone makes the decisions and ultimately votes.

Bettman has no vote and no say other than offering his opinion based on the research and due diligence he has been tasked with.

I have repeatedly seen fans here say "Stupid Bettman put a team in Miami" as if he somehow has the power to do such a thing.

 

[SwaggySpungo]

You're mistaken.

Bettman doesn't tell the Board, hey, lets expand the league. How about Vegas?

The Board tasks him, as the Commish, to do all of the due diligence to see if the league can support a new team, what would the ramifications be to the existing markets, what would the market bare, financially, for a new team, how would it effect future television deals, what markets could best support a new team, what would the travel ramifications be for that, would would the alignment be for each prospective market and then all of the homework for potential markets, potential owners, potential buildings. After all of that work is done, it's presented to the Board, and the Board, and the Board alone makes the decisions and ultimately votes.

Bettman has no vote and no say other than offering his opinion based on the research and due diligence he has been tasked with.

I have repeatedly seen fans here say "Stupid Bettman put a team in Miami" as if he somehow has the power to do such a thing.

With all due respect, this is wildly inaccurate. Gary Bettman is, far and away, the most powerful man in hockey.

As others have said, there’s a reason the guy makes $10 million per year.

 

[Paperbagofglory]

Old people get Health problems. News at 11.

I dont know man. Rich people live a long time. Kirk Douglas is like 140 and hes still around.

 

[Monsieur Miz]

 

[brentashton]

People will appreciate him more when Colin Campbell becomes commissioner.

f*** that

 

[FerrisRox]

With all due respect, this is wildly inaccurate. Gary Bettman is, far and away, the most powerful man in hockey.

As others have said, there’s a reason the guy makes $10 million per year.

Wildly innaccurate? Care to point out a single thing that I said that was inaccurate?

 

[OldCraig71]

I wonder who the incumbent commissioner is going to be?

 

[7even]

I always thought he's nervous in front of crowds. He's shaked a lot when talking publically for years and years

It doesn't have to be one or the other. Stress can exacerbate the motor symptoms of Parkinson's. It does look like an essential tremor.

I don't think I will enjoy booing him anymore.

 

[Kranix]

It doesn't have to be one or the other. Stress can exacerbate the motor symptoms of Parkinson's. It does look like an essential tremor.

I don't think I will enjoy booing him anymore.

Sure.
Why would you ever enjoy booing him?

 

[7even]

Sure.
Why would you ever enjoy booing him?

Because it's a running joke and he takes it like a champ.

 

[Jacob]

He's always had those tremors. Whatever the cause it's not likely to get better as he gets older, but I think for as long as he's had them if there was some kind of diagnosis it'd have come out by now. Not really in my sphere of concern anyway.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

You do realize the players are at as much fault for the lockout as the owners are?

okay well then missing The Olympics then. lol

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Gary Bettman simply represents the overall vote of the owners on issues pertaining to player-owner relations.

I get that people enjoy the ease of blindly berating one overly demonized individual, but there is a whole lot more to the issues that people simply claim as a product of Bettman’s evil.

 

[Cotton]

Probably time to stop booing him.

He's had a hand in destroying Hockey, not a f***ing chance.

 

[ScaredStreit]

You can't please everybody all of the time...but look at where the league was before Bettman and where it is now. Bettman's tenure has absolutely successful. The problem what fans do is forget that the NHL is a BUSINESS first. Money talks, emotions walk. As fans we're so emotionally invested in the game that it often blinds us to the realities of Bettman's job.

 

[Bondurant]

Gary Bettman simply represents the overall vote of the owners on issues pertaining to player-owner relations.

I get that people enjoy the ease of blindly berating one overly demonized individual, but there is a whole lot more to the issues that people simply claim as a product of Bettman’s evil.

When I read comments about what Bettman did to Winnipeg and Quebec I am astounded at how many still cannot grasp that the commish of a league is the bag man and mouth piece of the owners.

 

[cowboy82nd]

He's had a hand in destroying Hockey, not a ****ing chance.

Yeah, right.

 

[Scrantonicity 2]

He's had a hand in destroying Hockey, not a ****ing chance.

What does it feel like to be angry over something that's not even true

 

[Morrison]

I wonder who the incumbent commissioner is going to be?

Bill Daly.

 

[Panteras]

he was shaking all over. it didn't look fine at all.

Compared to how he looks when he comes on the ice to give out the conference trophies or Stanley cup or other awards....this was totally fine...like not even comparable

 

[Brent Burns]

Just saw an interview. He's fine.

 

[Goatlender]

Just saw an interview. He's fine.

Don't know what you saw, but I'm watching him with Ron McLean right now and his head is shaking uncontrollably.

 

[Ginormousthumbs]

My favorite Gary moment is when the Knights were unveiling their then unknown name and the idiots in the crowd were booing him instead of the tech who flubbed the reveal video.

 

[crowi]

Best NHL commissioner ever ainec. It's sad to me every time how he gets booed. It's not an easy job like making burgers or something. He has done the very best anyone could at the position. Blaming only him for lockouts when NHLPA is also part of that problem gets overlooked.