Gary Bettman is an ass

Bettman, for those who may not know, is the commissioner of the NHL. for those who may not know, you can thank Bettman. the NHL is the National Hockey League.

he was hired in '93 to modernize the league, make it more appealing to Americans, and help with revenues. on the face, he has done that, but in doing so has alienated many hockey fans like me.

hockey is a rough sport. fights happen. passion spills over. he started giving multiple game suspensions to fighters. i have to say i would agree with that if a player is jumped, but when two guys drop their gloves and go at it, i think some time in the box is all thats necessary. lets change boxing to make it safer and outlaw head shots.

he also is credited with expanding the league, which he has. but in doing so he brought hockey to places like Tampa, Atlanta, and Phoenix. Tampa couldnt sell all of its seats when it won the Stanley Cup. i have trouble believing that hockey can find an audience where natives have never seen snow, much less have ice naturally form. Phoenix and LA may be exceptions to the rule with huge populations that include northern born people who like and understand hockey. but adding 6 teams to the league as also had the effect of diluting talent. hockey doesnt have the worldwide appeal of baseball or soccer. it is very popular in the cold climates of western countries like Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Canada, and the northern US. there is not a huge talent pool to draw from. think about it, the more talented players on the ice, the better the game is. i think eliminating 4 teams with low attendance and less success like Tampa would be good for hockey.

Bettman is also bad for the players union. he ended up with a lock out of an entire season and one that dominated half of a season. that cant help the visibility and profitability of the game. sure in Detroit, when hockey is back the Joe is packed. in Phoenix, you cant be so sure.

and heres what sparked this. the playoffs have be going on and its great. the Red Wings and Capitals have been awesome. i know the Caps were eliminated, but it was a great series and they will be out for blood next year. anyway, with Detroit about to face off against Colorado in the next round, we can anticipate some of the old rivalry returning. Bettman, ever eager to be a wet blanket has created a rule against twirling any octopuses picked up off the ice. i think they may be overstaffed at the NHL offices if people are thinking up asinine rules like this. again, for those in the dark, this a a Detroit playoff tradition. like a hat trick.

so if Al Sabotka, long time ice keeper in Detroit, picks up the creature and twirls it over his head, as he has done as long as i can remember, he will be fined $10,000. the NHL's excuse: slime or something might fly off the cephelopod and end up on the ice. damnit, Bettman, this isnt fucking basketball, players wear skates on ice, not shoes on hardwood. if anyone knows about how an fucking octopus affects ice its Al Sabotka. let the man do his job, amp up the home crowd, keep the passion in hockey, and have some fun.

fuck you, gary bettman. quit fucking with hockey. bring back the Patrick division and the Campbell conference, let em fight, let Al have his fun, quit diluting talent. just resign and lets give the job to Scotty Bowman or Ron Mason or Don Cherry. at least they respect the game. even Red Green could do a better job.