Burke comments on Bettman

[fulcrum]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013/...n_burke_talks/

[finnys_fanatsy]

at one point during the Bettman reign i would have said Burkie was nuts for his comments (regarding Bettman ONLY). but now i'm torn..a little bit.

Has Bettman grown the game by taking it to the US markets..yes
Has he done a great job running the NHL...meh
Has he done some stupid things (ie Phoenix debacle)..yes
Has he allowed good things (ie Winnipeg)..yes

was he a talking head during the lockout, maybe a little, but he is till the head of the league and he didnt (along with the owners) cave to the players demands. this was to make teh game more sustainable for a longer period of time. its hard to argue with that.hes got a damn tough job, nobody likes you, but everybody loves the game he runs..need damn thick skin i would bet.

would i stil boo him during the Stanley Cup ceremony if i was in attendance,,,probly

[fulcrum]

I agree wit that totally....I used to hate Baettman, then I took a step back and realized what he had done for the game....

[Loch]

Has Bettman grown the game by taking it to the US markets..yes
Has he done a great job running the NHL...meh
Has he done some stupid things (ie Phoenix debacle)..yes
Has he allowed good things (ie Winnipeg)..yes

He moved a team from Winnipeg to Phoenix... he therefore gets absolutely no credit for bringing a team into Winterpeg.

[fulcrum]

He moved a team from Winnipeg to Phoenix... he therefore gets absolutely no credit for bringing a team into Winterpeg.

The Canadian dollar was ridiculously gross, and there was no salary cap in place.....which I believe he put in place. Then he returned the team to Winnipeg when it was justified, even though they have one of, i not THE smallest arenas in the NHL.

And he didnt make a media circus of it.....

You can have your view. I am giving credit where its due.

I think its time that a lot of people re-think just how bad Bettman is.....

[Ross The Boss Palmer]

Who's to say that no one else was capable of accomplishing what he's done. As far as I am concerned, Wayne Gretzky did far more to grow the game, as did MJ in basketball. Global icons. Those lawyers can get off of their high horses.

[Ross The Boss Palmer]

Honestly, how hard is it to secure a tv contract when one of the owners in the league owns a media conglomerate.

[finnys_fanatsy]

He moved a team from Winnipeg to Phoenix... he therefore gets absolutely no credit for bringing a team into Winterpeg.

the fact that he brought a team back to Winnipeg, and AWAY from a struggling US market is where his credit comes from. you had to believe he saw his mistake and righted it.

now dont get me wrong here i dont think hes all good now, i mean really he still does have his head in his a$$ over teh Phx thing...

but to me he has gained a little more credibility

[Loch]

The Canadian dollar was ridiculously gross, and there was no salary cap in place.....which I believe he put in place. Then he returned the team to Winnipeg when it was justified, even though they have one of, i not THE smallest arenas in the NHL.

And he didnt make a media circus of it.....

You can have your view. I am giving credit where its due.

I think its time that a lot of people re-think just how bad Bettman is.....

What, Bettman fixed the effing exchange rate?

What if the exchange goes 'bad' again? At the low point Canadian teams were losing 1 out of every 3 dollars to currency exchange and Bettman has had nothing to do with fixing that nor can he prevent it happening again.

Incidentally, if the exchange rate still sucked balls Winnipegs revenue would basically be as dismal as Atlanta's was...

The NHL has lost nearly 10% of the games due to labour stoppages since Bettman became Commissioner. No other pro-sport does that.

[fulcrum]

What, Bettman fixed the effing exchange rate?

What if the exchange goes 'bad' again? At the low point Canadian teams were losing 1 out of every 3 dollars to currency exchange and Bettman has had nothing to do with fixing that nor can he prevent it happening again.

.

Hahaha....yeah, thats exactly what I was insinuating...I love debates when someone gets cornered...and suddenly they look for something massively obscure to throw out there to throw things wide open....

( I know, now you are even madder....but come back with something well supported and bring us closer together...LOL)

I didn't say he fixed the economy..... But he reacted to a situation that needed to be reacted to.

Look, I get it, you hate Bettman, so does 90 percent of this forum, hell, I used to hate him. I have grown to respect that he has done some good....

All I am trying to say, is that I think he has done more good than he gets credit for.....you don't hold a job as the commisioner of the NHL for 20 years and suck at it....

[Loch]

Hahaha....yeah, thats exactly what I was insinuating...I love debates when someone gets cornered...and suddenly they look for something massively obscure to throw out there to throw things wide open....

( I know, now you are even madder....but come back with something well supported and bring us closer together...LOL)

I didn't say he fixed the economy..... But he reacted to a situation that needed to be reacted to.

Hmmm... I don't see corners... nor do I see the exchange rate as something massively obscure (especially since you brought it up...).

I also don't see why I should be mad... meh.
Perhaps I don't know how to do online angst properly?

Bettman is a tool, yeah he coulda been worse but he also could have been a whole lot better. The league had momentum coming out of the 2004 Cup Final and instead of capitalizing they shut down for a year. I can't credit anyone involved with good leadership.

[Big Ev]

Hmmm... I don't see corners... nor do I see the exchange rate as something massively obscure (especially since you brought it up...).

I also don't see why I should be mad... meh.
Perhaps I don't know how to do online angst properly?

Bettman is a tool, yeah he coulda been worse but he also could have been a whole lot better. The league had momentum coming out of the 2004 Cup Final and instead of capitalizing they shut down for a year. I can't credit anyone involved with good leadership.

What do you do for a living?

[Loch]

What do you do for a living?

Read hockey forums... and you?

[Big Ev]

Read hockey forums... and you?

Same + student.

my point was, Bettman is a savvy mother****er. And clearly a great lawyer/businessman. Not sure how guys like us are qualified to judge him.

[Dakkster]

two seasons lost to lockouts in 20 years = failure no matter how you slice it