Gary Bettman hates Canadians!
That's the bottom line. That's the only truth that I know about this douche bag. I've never met the man, nor have I ever listened to his radio show(he has a radio show?) His nervous little quirks mask what every die hard hockey fan knows....Gary bettman hates Canadians.
exhibit A - Winnipeg jets and Quebec Nordiques
In the past I didn't have much to say about these two franchises because, I didn't really care. It was a shame that the teams folded and were relocated, but it seemed that they were in dire straights at the time. Not the kind of financial disrepair as they'd become(the Jets becoming the Phoenix Coyotes, arguably the worst NHL team of all time) Now with the wheels falling off the team from the desert, Gary Bettman is doing everything but actually buying the team himself. Getting injunctions, judges, and backroom deals that will ensure that the new owner of the team will stay for a few more multimillion dollar losing years. They reportedly lost over 50 million dollars and now Bettman wants you to stick around for five more years? Then, if it's hasn't become the hottest ticket in town, with Stanley Cup parades every other year, you can move the team. Under two conditions- a)It can't be to a Canadian city where you are almost guaranteed to be successful.
b) you aren't Canadian(because you might try condition A)
The relocation of these two storied franchises from Canada, started a trend in professional sports that can never be undone. Bettman's snub of hockey history, and Canadian traditions have led to other pro sports using the same twisted logic to relocate other teams citing these examples. Bud Selig orchestrated the move of the Montreal Expos in 2004, and three years earlier the lowly Vancouver Grizzlies of the NBA moved to Memphis. American businessman were able to add clauses to ownership that stated that poor attendance would allow them the right to move. From that point it's the simple plan from the movie "Major League" don't do anything that will make the team successful and voila...there's nobody coming to see them. However, both of these situations have had serious karmic consequences. They suck! And not just a little bit...they're the worst. I hope that the Sport Gods* above never allow either of these franchises the slightest opportunity of success. They don't deserve it.
*Sport Gods- the powers that halt the personal success of any athlete that dares to put himself before the team, money before winning, or location\franchise below them. see(ref-e.g.) Eric Lindros, Steve Francis, Tracy McGrady
Exhibit B - ownership eligibility
The thing that everybody who is not an NHL owner doesn't understand is why Jim Balsillie isn't an eligible owner? Does he have too much money? And shouldn't an eligible owner be the one that CAN afford it? It doesn't make any sense. A guy shows up with enough money to make the creditors happy, pay the team and it's staff and give them a new home where they can at least have a chance to sell tickets and he's NOT eligible? I'd like to see the criteria, and see if anyone is! Not to mention that he's the Blackberry guy...the cross promotions are easy. Everyone on the board could get new phones without dealing with some dimwit at a Bell store telling you that you're upgrade is active when your kid graduates high school.
Jim Balsillie seems as much as douche as any other owner in the NHL. But is he douchier than Melnyk? Than Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment? The dudes from Tampa Bay? How could the Molson brothers be that much better of a prospective owner than Balsillie? It appears to everyone having to listen to this crap that this is a stand off between Gary Bettmans ego and Jim Balsillie's pocketbook. Bettman can rally the troops behind him all he wants, his public opinion can only go up, but a good leader admits defeat, so buck up about the Coyotes. If the commish had put even one iota of effort into saving The Jets ,and the Nordiques perhaps we'd have better chance of seeing the Cup come home. Maybe if the criteria of ownership wasn't so many hoops then more people would hold on to their teams. So I applaud Jim Balsillie for snubbing the stupid rules, for giving the middle finger to the procedures, because they are only in place to protect Bettmans fucked up policies. And if it means that there's no owner and the teams have to play on Gretzky's backyard pond, he's going to stand by this team. If Balsillie is at all as tough as my BlackBerry he's not going to let a fall, chewing or a trip through the wash machine won't stop
him.
So what have we learned? Gary Bettman hates Canadians!! Which is weird considering that he's the commissioner of the National Hockey League. He will stand by any decision he makes whether it makes sense or not. 30 other NHL owners are so elite they don't want to be associated with one this generations most successful businessman, even if it would mean advertising, free phones and meeting U2. Teams that relocate from Canada to the US because attendance is low are bad teams, it has nothing to do with the city itself. (Are there Grizzlies in Memphis?)Gary Bettman is more concerned with some sort of integrity rather than the creditors, players, arena, and anyone else thinking they're getting a paycheck this year. And all that's waiting in the wings is a nut case with way too much disposable cash, a new arena, legions of fans, TV revenues, rivalries, free BlackBerry Storms, committed fans, and a rejuvenation of a franchise.
I wonder if Steve Jobs would have this much trouble?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Well Done Sir,
Gary Bettman doesn’t want egg on his face (which cosmetically would be an improvement). At many times he seems more interested in preserving his decision rather than making money. Look what Bettman’s first words were when he came out to present the cup to Anheim: “I think hockey’s doing all right in California, what do you think?”. However, even if the Coyotes did have some success they would again be suffering like Colorado is bound to in the post-Sakic, Roy era.
And Bettman’s hiding behind Gretzky the way Gretzky used to hide behind Semenko. I must say, The Great One has exhibited great diplomacy on this issue and has behaved in a manner that not only respects Phoenix, but pacifies the greater Hamilton/Wentworth area too. Wouldn’t be great if Gretzky launched into another Olympic tirade on the issue? Why shouldn’t he? Pocklington taught him everything he needs to know about loyalty.
The essence of your argument is one I can agree with. There seems to be a double-standard when it comes to relocating teams and certainly not in the favour of Canada. You almost have to be opposed to the notion on the simple grounds of national instinct. And now with a salary cap, it makes more sense that any team could return to Canada with minimal risk.
However, what are we really missing out on here? Do I really want another hockey team in Ontario?
The hockey fan side of me thinks that an hour drive to see NHL hockey would be a great option to have on any given winter night. Perhaps it would present an opportunity to drink in some of the future hall-of-famers in their glory years. Or if I’m lucky – watch a decent hockey game.
However the Leaf fan side of me knows I don’t need a reason to resent another Canadian city. Ottawa, Montreal and yes – Vancouver. They are all beautiful cities in their own rights. I can’t help but feel a sense of Canadian pride when visiting these towns while still getting that exciting sense of displaced vacationer wanderlust. However this feeling can temporarily be trumped when I think of Senators Fans, jealously over the Habs’ historical success or (sigh) 1994. This is Canada and it’s sometimes hard to disassociate a city from its hockey team. But the city in question is Hamilton and I already have pre-existing distaste for the Steel-Spewers having lived downwind from it for so long.
Does this mean Leaf fans will gather in Dundas Square for a public Blackberry burning if a Hamilton team should ever eliminate Toronto? Woah! I just threw up in my mouth a bit there. They way things are now Bettman is the least of Balsile’s worries. If Hamilton gets an NHL team, Toronto is going to want one too.
you know... i've been wondering what the deal is with that guy - he's hates canadians - got it.
sounds about right.
Post a Comment