Worst commissioner in Sports? Your pick. (ticket, star, popularity, MLB) - Football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer... - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

Toxic Toast · 01-15-2009, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

Without a doubt...Gary Bettman. His job (as given to him by the NBA, yes conspiracy theory) is to destroy the NHL. And he's working hard at it with constant rules tinkering, ticking off ESPN to such an extent they no longer carry the NHL, and trying to overexpand into non-traditional markets. I'm all for hockey in the south but it's a wee bit overboard and I don't think NHL franchises were the way to go. The NHL should have partnered with minor leagues to fill the south with sustainable hockey to spark interest in those markets.

I don't know, I really do not like the "non-tradional market" argument I hear so much. People forget that people shuddered at one time at the thought of the NHL expanding into "non-traditional markets" such as Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Sure, perhaps there are a few too many teams right now in non-traditional markets, but I don't think people sould disparage the effort or universally dismiss every southern hockey market. I would keep Nashville, Carolina, and Tampa in place; and consider moving the rest.

Back to the OP; I would say Selig is the least good. I think he has done a better job than people give him credit for; but he is my least favorite.

jazzy jeff 11 · 01-15-2009, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canes2006Champs

Stern and Bettman. I read somewhere that Bettman worked for Stern in the early 90's and Stern recommended Bettman for the NHL commissioner job in 92 or 93

O Brother

Stormcrow73 · 01-15-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC 38

I don't know, I really do not like the "non-tradional market" argument I hear so much. People forget that people shuddered at one time at the thought of the NHL expanding into "non-traditional markets" such as Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Sure, perhaps there are a few too many teams right now in non-traditional markets, but I don't think people sould disparage the effort or universally dismiss every southern hockey market. I would keep Nashville, Carolina, and Tampa in place; and consider moving the rest.

Back to the OP; I would say Selig is the least good. I think he has done a better job than people give him credit for; but he is my least favorite.

Being a born and bred southerner, I don't totally disparage the push for hockey expansion in the south. I just think it was too much too fast. I think you and I probably actually share a very similar viewpoint, I probably didn't articulate it very well. Dallas has been huge success and Carolina as well. Nashville I think will be very successful as a franchise. I just think some of these cities could have been primed better with minor league teams sitting pretty for 10-20 years before The Show came to town.

Toxic Toast · 01-15-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

Being a born and bred southerner, I don't totally disparage the push for hockey expansion in the south. I just think it was too much too fast. I think you and I probably actually share a very similar viewpoint, I probably didn't articulate it very well. Dallas has been huge success and Carolina as well. Nashville I think will be very successful as a franchise. I just think some of these cities could have been primed better with minor league teams sitting pretty for 10-20 years before The Show came to town.

Forgot Dallas.

I would guess we agree more than disagree. I think given time, Nashville can be a strong hockey market. They already have a solid fan base that comes close to filling the arena frequently without the corporate support teams like Detroit recieve. I won't get on my soapbox (or hijack the thread); but it seems that so many northern hockey fans rip Nashville apart as a hockey market, ignorant of the grassroots progress occuring in that market. Nashville can be a great hockey town if you give it time; just like markets such as St. Louis were given decades ago.

lola8822 · 01-15-2009, 08:35 AM

Stern...definitly. What a joke.

hameltoe · 01-15-2009, 10:32 AM

Progress? Please explain...

RjRobb2 · 01-15-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beenhereandthere

How come you have not heard this with other Super Bowls?
The league knew that a Seahawks win, would not have generated the nationwide excitement and bucks that a Steelers win would have.
KING 5 Seahawks: NFL stands by its bad officiating
I was very upset by how obvious and evident it was - for the Referee's to make "such very bad calls ... of the circumstances, NO ONE will ever see you guys cleanly as 2006 Super Bowl ...

blogs.king5.com/seahawks/archives/2006/02/nfl_stands_by_i.html · Cached page
phillyBurbs.com Photo Gallery

Granted, this came from a blog, however, when have you heard this about other Super Bowls?
Not to get too far off subject about the super bowl, but you hear about this a lot, lot more in the NBA, further proof that Stern is the worst.

Was that suppose to be an answer to my question?

When have I not heard what about other Super Bowls?

hameltoe · 01-15-2009, 10:50 AM

Buttman, for sure. Stern is a tool as well, but he hasn't tainted the game as much as Buttman...

hameltoe · 01-15-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RjRobb2

Was that suppose to be an answer to my question?

When have I not heard what about other Super Bowls?

conspiracy?? Maybe the NFL is kinda shady... don't care though.

Kinda like the Wings/Anaheim WCF in 07. The NHL stole the cup from the Wings that year. Everyone knows they would have beaten Ottawa...

Toxic Toast · 01-15-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hameltoe

conspiracy?? Maybe the NFL is kinda shady... don't care though.

Kinda like the Wings/Anaheim WCF in 07. The NHL stole the cup from the Wings that year. Everyone knows they would have beaten Ottawa...

Just like they would have beaten the Devils in '95?