| NHL - Hockey Central |
| How Now, Mr. Commissioner? |
| by Pete Hogenson |
| Gary Bettman's future running the NHL likely hinges on the financial rebound the League is hoping for in 2005-2006... |
I personally have never liked how Gary Bettman has come across, in the public eye or media, as Commissioner of the NHL during his tenure. He has always seemed ill-matched with the sport, and with carrying the task and weight and spirit of representing hockey on any level.
But, ya know what? It ain’t a democracy and we don’t all get a vote, do we? The commish of any sports league serves at the discretion of that league’s owners (Board of Governors, in the NHL). So, if the League stuck with Bettman and his administrative team—and, let's be real...most any executive in any setting, is only as good as the people he assembles around him to help out with policies, brainstorms, implementation, etc.—then the Govs must think the commish, et al, are onto something with the rebooted rules for the ‘05-’06 season.
A personal note: this writer networks with a few hundred hockey nuts—online and in person—all the time, and it was interesting, during last season’s lockout/cancellation, how many folks wanted both Bettman’s and the NHLPA’s Bob Goodenow’s heads to roll, over the whole business mess of not putting on a season.
Well, guess what, folks? Gary’s still there, Bob isn’t. And over at the NHLPA, it is still unclear if Ted Saskin or someone else will lead the union into the future. Meanwhile, at the league-office level, I gotta just about bet big cash that if any franchises fail, or even bleed BIG cash, after the ‘05-’06 season, that Mr. Bettman might quickly exit the picture, as well.
But, then what? Who follows up the Gary Bettman era for the NHL powers-that-be? More of a “hockey guy”? If so, he’d better also be a damned good lawyer and have some real modern sports-marketing savvy, or—for the latter— have the ability to put together a SUPER team to build the league back to a Top 4 level.
Ken Dryden, maybe, eh? Nominations are open to me via e.mail...
Time...and this season...will tell, I bet.
“To everything, there is a season”, eh?
Hey, at least they got it together and got one happening for us, for now! |
|
