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Subject: Gary Bettman - 15 years of horror and counting...
Posted by: The Beezer
- Leader [191202817] Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 21:39
This guy says it all, so I'll just add that since I didn't really get into hockey until 1994 when I actually saw a game for the first time, this rings true to me. Thoughts? |
| 1 | Taxman
ID: 331148278
Thu, Feb 01, 2007, 21:53
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Great article.
Compare with the other guy
The NFL suffered under the iron clad unimaginative rule of Bert Bell during much of it's formative years, but when his assistant, Pete Rozelle took over as Commish, Football became and remains the dominant pro sport.
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| 2 | Tree
ID: 35133116
Thu, Feb 01, 2007, 22:14
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for me, Hockey just isn't that interesting.
growing up in Texas, i really wasn't a hockey fan, tuning in only to see the occasional big fight that was replayed on the 10 o'clock news. we had minor league hockey, and it was fun, but i wasn't passionate about it.
from 1988 to 1997, when i lived in Massachusetts, i became a Bruins fan, because all my college roommates and friends were Bruins' fans.
but then i moved to NYC, watched the standings for a couple years, then just lost interest. it just doesnt capture me like baseball or football or basketball or soccer does.
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| 3 | walk
ID: 3511361116
Fri, Feb 02, 2007, 09:42
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Tree in the hockey forum.
Well, given the name of the Guru TSN division is "eat sleep drink NHL," there are the few that do love hockey here. I am one of them. Great sport and I love my NYR and have been playing TSN fantasy hockey since like 99. Addict.
It's still a sport that is not in the same market as the others you mentioned though, and that's problematic for revenue. Canada's #1 though, and very popular in certain states in the U.S. as indicated.
- walk
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| 7 | Taxman
ID: 331148278
Mon, Feb 12, 2007, 11:58
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Bettman has done a good job
"The 2004-05 work stoppage was a massive wound, but long term will be the best thing that could have happened to the NHL. Revenues, attendance figures and exciting rule changes prove that. The league and Bettman took a short-term hit in exposure by going to Versus over ESPN, but as Bettman correctly points out, Versus cares about the NHL and hockey fans. ESPN didn't give a rat's you-know-what about the NHL, no matter what anybody at the "evil empire" will tell you. They didn't care about highlighting the NHL when it was their product, and they don't care about it now.",
Most mis-informed commentator of all time. The US fan base that does exist cannot see games live or otherwise on TV unless one pays mega dollars for Versus carrier (in Austin that is a digital cable or a satilite outfit). Bettman has taken the sport away from many of us.
Bettman..the GRINCH that stole NHL
hope springs eternal: firebettman.com
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| 8 | wolfer
ID: 39135820
Tue, Feb 13, 2007, 21:47
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How can you call him mis-informed when he is absolutely correct about the television package? All the responses to his blog and the other website forgot one bit of information. The NHL did not have a national TV contract as ESPN declined thier option. This opened the door up for Comcast. ESPN also had a chance to match the offer, which they declined.
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| 9 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Tue, Feb 13, 2007, 23:13
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If Versus wants to truly show their commitment to the NHL, they need to have their own version of NHL2Night on EVERY NIGHT. Why they aren't doing this is beyond me. You telling me they couldn't get Buccigross for about $10 and a bag of basketballs?
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| 10 | Taxman
ID: 331148278
Wed, Feb 14, 2007, 10:27
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wolfer...ESPN opted (see 2nd link above) out because: "We worked very hard to build and sustain our relationship with the league and would have liked to continue. However, given the prolonged work stoppage and the league's TV ratings history, no financial model even remotely supports the contract terms offered."
Clearly Bettman sold the future of the league opportunity to have a large audience by signing with a bit player in sports programing for a net $140 million/year increase in TV revenue. He chose to be a large duck in a small pond, giving up the chance to ever be a big duck in the big pond.
ABC/ESPN would have taken the bit to broadcast the rebuilt hockey product which now labors in obscurity in the US had the TV rights been structured more favorably. They (and US fans) were shut out by Bettman's inability to focus on tomorrow.
The price to the league for busting the NHL Labor Assn. now includes flushing the US fan base, again certifying Bettman's place in history. His "genius" ranks along side the sale of George Herman Ruth.
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| 11 | wolfer
ID: 39135820
Wed, Feb 14, 2007, 20:10
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He chose to be a large duck in a small pond, giving up the chance to ever be a big duck in the big pond.
ESPN would never given the NHL the chance to be a big duck in a big pond. Under that contract, the NHL would of had all the services(brodband, ESPN classic,etc) that ESPN would offer, but they would have been "screwed" with the television contract. There would have been only 40 regular season games, which would been shown on ESPN2.(Per my first link.)Also, there would have been no NHL 2night because that was actually cancelled with the end of the last contract.
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| 12 | wolfer
ID: 31314920
Thu, Jun 14, 2007, 23:05
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I did not know if I should put this in its own thread, but here it is anyways.
What could of been. If you scroll down about a quarter of the page, there is some interesting reading about why Disney made the $625 million offer.
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Post a reply to this message: (But first, how about checking out this sponsor?)
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