As far as Bettman is concerned I have to stop every now and then as I puke in my mouth when his name comes up. All arguments on this thread are incredibly well thought out and valid, however the one thing that is only briefly mentioned is how he and Colon have f_cked up the NHL tradition with the rule changes. Keep touch icing but ban hitting from behind……..now we have every dick head player turning his back on every hit and whinning about getting hit?!?! Used to be that you had a responsibility to take care of yourself and make sure you were not putting yourself in a bad position. Remember when you were young and the coaches told you not to turn your back when in the kill zone (2-4 feet from the boards). Why hasn’t the NHL provided data and statistics showing how hitting from behind rule that changed the game into a “cycle the puck down low game” has improved head and neck injuries….you know they have the research data in hand and would show it if it supported their cause. Problem is that head and neck injuries have went up with the new rule because all players are being taught at young ages to turn their back on an incoming player so they can cycle the puck or draw a penalty. Why would an NBA commissioner know this?!?! Lets make a new rule and figure out how introducing new rules have an impact on the game later on before we make them a rule???? Great way to kill a hundred years of tradition. In all the years I have played hockey, the only major injuries came from icing the puck where the lead player on the puck was destroyed by the player that skated in behind and realized he was late so he decided to make the lead man pay….but no let us leave the touch icing and stop a one step hit from behind.

Steroids and Equipment:

We are now giving out multi game suspensions for hits (legal or not) that result in injury. I remember Mark Messier and Scott Stevens being the dirtiest and meanist bastards in the league and are being held in high regard by everyone to this day, however look at the trail of blood and finished careers they left behind. The difference between what they did and what is happening now is in the equipment. I can take an elbow or shoulder pad and drive it through the wall of my living room into the next room. No one can say that roids have not entered “our” game. When I was a kid I was in a hockey school where Dave Semenko was a coach, without his equipment his arms were literally bigger than his thighs! It was ridiculous! His jaw bone was the same size as John Kordic`s whom I also met…god bless.

I mentioned roids becuase it is well known that every NHL heavy weight is on has done several cycles. Most NHL players are now doing cycles in the summer to gear up for the season…this is a quote from a Jr player entering the NHL and being stunned even though he has seen much of this in the W.

This beloved sport of mine was taught to me by my father and now it is being destroyed…..at least from the understanding I was taught about the game. Maybe we are wrong….maybe the NHL should be like an american showcase as the NFL or MLB where the team with the most roids wins!?!?!?!

The NHL is going to turn into the Italian Soccer league with everyone diving on ever brush with each opponent. Which Canadian wants to watch that?

When I first saw the picture, I got a good laugh and everytime I see it, Bettman getting Kronwalled makes me smile.

An even better picture would be the press conference when Bettman is fired or resigns. Hopefully this day comes soon as it will be a great day for the NHL and those around the hockey world.

Be so kind as to cut and paste your comments onto my site and by all means, let’s exchange blogrolls.

I could use the hockey bias.

Welcome aboard man!

I just looked at your article and before I discuss the stupidity of Gary Bettman, I just wanted to talk about the uncapped year in the NFL.

Yes, I think not having a salary cap is stupid to begin with. The more I think of it though, as long as small market/lower revenue clubs like the Jaguars are able to sign top level free agents such as Aaron Kampman (who the Jags signed earlier today) and clubs such as the Bills, Vikings, Chargers don’t relocate in the near future along with forms of revenue sharing available in future seasons (with or without the return of a salary cap system) then I will be okay with future NFL seasons which are uncapped. A rookie cap is also something which I completely agree with. This way clubs like the Raiders can rescue themselves from overpaying for rookies who underperform or don’t do anything at all such as Jamarcus Russell. So it is understandable that the Rams, Lions, and Buccaneers may want to trade down as draft weekend is approaching. If the NFL & NFLPA cannot get a deal done by March next year, then Roger Goodell & Demaurice Smith should both be fired.

Now with Gary Bettman and the debate being whether or not to go to the Olympics in 2014, how STUPID could Bettman possibly be? The USA/Canada gold medal game is exciting from start to finish and lots of people watched! I am very happy that Canada won gold! The experience of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games can grow the NHL in the immediate future! Bettman being the MORON that he is has to go and F up a major opportunity?! What a bloody idiot who has NO respect whatsoever for the sport of hockey. Remember Chris, this is the same moron who thinks that Atlanta, Florida, Phoenix are better hockey markets than Hamilton, Winnipeg, Quebec City & Milwaukee. This is what the NHL should be talking about as opposed to debating whether or not to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics. If the NHL doesn’t go to Sochi and/or screws up their chances of getting a major television contract in the States, then Bettman deserves to be fired immediately. This moron must be stopped in his quest to ruin the NHL.

Again, welcome aboard and you are welcome to post here at anytime!

Sens Fan

Thought you might get a kick out of this.

http://sportschump.net/2010/03/07/chumpservations-vol-9-mel-kiper-rockettes-and-the-nfl-draft-gary-bettman-vs-the-nhl-vs-the-winter-olympics-and-what-not-to-say-at-an-open-bar-wedding/3102/