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The NHL Commissioner’s Office notified the Detroit Red Wings team that their Zamboni driver’s antics would cause the team to be fined $10,000. The specific antic that has Gary concerned is the revered tradition of Al Sabotka collecting octopi from the ice and then twirling one overhead as he leaves the ice. Bettman’s reasoning is “Because matter flies off the octopus and gets on the ice when he does it.” Bullshit! This Zamboni driver is also responsible for ice conditions and has meticulously maintained temperature and surface conditions for years resulting in Joe Louis Arena ice known as the best in the league. So please don’t tell me that “matter flies off” causing untold problems. The reason for the rule change has been attributed to Brian Burke and his goon squad from LA-LA land. (I’m sure Anaheim ice must be perfect..after you get through the first two inches of slush.) Apparently Burke has complained to da commish (AKA: ding-dong) about the celebratory twirling which causes Detroit fans to cheer when his team visits. Seems to this writer that this reasoning implies Burke would only be pleased if no cheering were allowed for the opposing home team. That said, Burke is well respected around the league and may just be the scapegoat for another inane rule initiated by none other than…Dumbo the Commish. While players are looking for no-touch icing to be implemented to prevent career-ending concussions, our Mr. All-Time Worst Commissioner of Any Sport dwells on Al Sabotka’s pregame ritual. Perhaps that matter should be collected and placed between Butthead’s ears. At least there would be SOMETHING in there.
The Detroit Red Wings organization needs to spend ten grand this Sunday!
$10,000…this is such bull…
Take collections on the way out of every game that an octopus is twirled at and I bet you’ll get more than the $10,000 fine. I hope he doesn’t stop and the Wings just pay the fine each time. Never lose this tradition!
just $1 per fan at each game gives us two twirls!!! this is such BS.
This is a new low for Bettman. The octopus tradition has been around in Detroit longer than you’ve been commissioner, Gary. Have some respect for your elders. Total BS from the Commissioner, but what else do you expect from him?
The Anaheim Ducks joined the NHL in 1993.
The Detroit Red Wings joined the NHL in FUCKING 1926, and the tradition of the octopus has been in every play-off game since 1952. For over 50 fucking years this has been going on, and it figures that teams who have been in the league for a little more than a decade would try and nullify tradition.
They haven’t been in the NHL to start any tradition of their own.
Gary I personally HATE you. No one wants you. You aren’t a hockey guy because you started out as a Director of Basketball Operations. You get all the Origional six teams scared of what tradiotions you will fine them for. This has been going on for longer than you have been comisioner. Anaheim Ducks are a bunch of cheapshot artists and now whiners. I want to give credit to the fans for how excited they were in the finals.
How quickly the NHL forgets:
“Frank Brown, the [NHL’s] vice president for media relations, said: ‘Every so often, an octopus slips out of someone’s hands, and Al is right there to take care of the matter. And he cannot be blamed if, as it tries to break free from Al’s grasp, the octopus lifts Al’s arm and twirls itself in the air.’” (from the NY Times, less than a year ago http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/sports/hockey/20cheer.html?_r=1&oref=slogin)
Bettman is a fool. He has no concept of the product (the NHL) he’s dealing with and its market. There is no Monday Night Football for hockey that will guarantee you an audience no matter what. You’re actually going to have to court fans to the NHL, not drive them away. The fact that the octopus tradition has resulted in not one, but several, articles in major non-Detroit papers should be a huge flag to Bettman’s office: people like it. People think it’s fun and quirky and worth noting even if they don’t give a crap about hockey. (The NY Times isn’t exactly a hotbed of hockey news). This is the stuff you should be advertising, not trying to quash you stupid M–F–.
Wow a tradition as old as Bettman is being demolished because of some BS from a crappy, no-tradion team. The wings are one of the most, if not the most, successful franchise in the NHL. Why mess with traditions? If some debris flies, then the goalie should move out of the way! its not that hard! Bettman is ruining the league and everything it stands for. I say everyone brings an octopus to the next game and have the ice be flooded with them.
wow. really wow. hey you guys, lets get rid of goals! they over excite the fans to! and fights! fuck bettman. no one likes him at all anymore. seriously, i fucking hate him.
This is so ridiculous!
Sign the petition to keep the tradition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/octopus8/petition.html
Bettman is an idiot and the best thing the NHL can do is get rid of him. The only thing that he has done is take all the tradition out of the league. What a Jackass.
Growing up in Detroit my whole life… and playing hockey my whole life… I may have been shot at and hit by punches and pucks a few times, but I’m still a reasonably intelligent guy.
So, could someone explain to me exactly who is getting hurt by swings an octopus?
I really think Bettman may be trying to ruin the game on purpose. Why else would they ban something that simply makes the game more fun to watch? Has he ever even played the sport?
- get hockey back on TV. Fire Bettman!
Maybe if he’s unwilling to step down, we can convince the government that he’s a terrorist and have him extradited to Canada for interrogation. They won’t go easy on him after what he’s done.
Well, if Bettman is intent on ruining the octupus tradition in Detroit, I wonder if he will step in and fight the catfish throwing in Nashville. My guess is no…since Detroit has a great fan base while Nashville does not.
Gary Bettman is a giant, phlegm-ish piece of Octopus matter! How long can we allow him to change his octopus “mandates” every freakin’ playoff game in Detroit? First, it was Al Sobotka can’t do an overhead swing after a fan-thrown octopus is retrieved from the ice, due to that horrifying “matter” that can somehow marr the ice surface and possibly cause harm…what does Bettman think the players own spit and snot are? PUL-LEEEASE! so what does Al do, even after a $10,000 fine will result from such actions? he waits for the first octopus thrown @ last Thursday’s game to get to him in the zamboni gate (pretty damn hilarious watching referees trying to pick it up with a shovel!), then he grabs it off the shovel AND SWINGS IT OVER HIS HEAD inside the zamboni gate where the infamous “matter” can’t get on the ice…all caught on camera so the fans could watch it on the jumbotron above center ice and go completely ape-shit berserk anyway! TAKE THAT BETTMAN and all other NHL team’s whiny fans! right? oh no…there’s more! Sunday’s game comes, and after 6 octopi hit the ice before the puck is dropped (a BEAUTIFUL THING to witness in person!), Red Wings longtime arena announcer, one armed bandit Bud Lynch (who has been there since the first octopus thrown in the 50’s) gets on the sound system and announces that now the TEAM will be penalized if any octopus is THROWN…what bullshit! I’d like to know HOW this mandate will be policed in Denver this week, when any Avs fan can throw one on the ice to try and get a penalty on the team sporting the Mighty Winged Wheel. What a bunch of crap! now think about it: maybe if Bettman and the NHL could get a sponsorship logo or brand name on each octopus, then they’ll allow it again! or is this octopus mandate due to a perceived “unfair advantage”: the Detroit fans go nuts, thus pumping even MORE adrenalin into The Red Wings bench. i find it the HEIGHT OF HYPOCRACY that the NHL and their cable channel Versus use this same image of a thrown octopus as a promotion for their playoff coverage! unreal! to pull a quote from the movie “Network” often used as a sound bite @ Wings games: I’M MAD AS HELL AND I’M NOT GONNA TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!! Let’s kick some Av and sweep the series…and lets have a Detroit/Montreal Stanley Cup final! GO WINGS! (oh, and lest we forget: LET’S FIRE BETTMAN!)
Personally, I think that the NHL would do well to eliminate the tradition whereby a total nonentity with no hockey sensibilities whatsoever gets to pass judgement on hockey-related issues just because he has a business card that says “Commissioner” on it. (I mean, “President” was good enough for Frank Selke and Clarence Campbell and John Ziegler.)
I think that the NHL should take steps to eliminate this behaviour by banning Bettman and fining itself $100million for being so dumb-ass as to employ this joker in the first place.
Or maybe just put a dead octopus in his bed one night.
Waving an Octopus is a sacred tradition in Detroit….and Bettman wants to eliminate it ? Where did we get this jackass ?
Have Bettman become the commissioner of Baseball and have him eliminate the 7th inning stretch …or Football and eliminate the halftime show at the SuperBowl.
The guy is a babbling loser….and Hockey has gone downhill ever since he took over..the quicker the owners get rid of this jackass the better.
Have they officially changed the name of the league to the BHL? The Bettman Hockey League will be huge in Mississippi, Arkansas, & New Mexico. All untapped hotbeds for hockey.
I hope the octopi fly tomorrow. Fuck Bettman. That jerk off doesn’t have a clue. Fire that little weasel dick.
GO WINGS!!!!!
Dr. Keith and all fans of the Detroit Red Wings and all those who hate Bettman:
I hope that the Stanley Cup is awarded in Detroit and the fans at Joe Louis Arena throw octopi and other shit in the direction of dickface when the Cup is awarded in Detroit. Bettman is nothing but a total inbred piece of shit who has ruined the NHL and the game of hockey.
Personally, I hope that the Stanley Cup is awarded in Detroit and everyone at Joe Louis Arena throws octopus and other shit in the direction of Gary Bettman. This arsehat has ruined the NHL and the game of hockey with his godforsaken stupidity.
Well, Gary has found something new to ruin the game of hockey. What’s next? Hockey games in Brazil?
I think that the owners of all of the Canadian teams should form a bloc and try to push Bettman out of office. None of the American owners have a reason to do so, with the exception of Pittsburgh and Buffalo.
Joshua N.
If hockey games are played in Brazil, (where they don’t care about hockey) then all the Canadian teams along with Pittsburgh, Buffalo and every other American team had better come together to fire DOUCHEBAG
Pittsburgh will never vote or get together with every other team to get rid of him. He sat back and allowed Pittsburgh to purposely move talent and try to stock pile draft picks. And their punishment was a free hand out of Crosby after the strike. Pittsburgh is his baby. Meanwhile teams like Detroit have to find talent in the 6th and 7th rounds. Watch in 2009 when Bettman finds a way to get Tavares on Pittsburgh and raise the cap to 85 million so Pittsburgh can keep them all.
Chuck, if that’s true then name me a team or team whose ownership group has a reason to get rid of Bettman. It sure won’t be the Rangers or Flyers.
i wonder if detroit was fined when this happened at game 4 of the flyers pens series
Jeff
I have been an NHL fan for almost 20 years, and I am very disgusted with that incompetent boob, Bettman! If he is against expansion of the NHL, then he needs to get his sorry butt out of the league! Have the courage to resign, Bettman!!
WHAT IS WRONG WITH BETTMAN???? WHY IS HE SO AGAINST HAVING THE COYOTES MOVE TO SOUTHERN ONTARIO?? HE WAS RECENTLY ASKED IF THE COYOTES WOULD BE PLAYING BACK IN ARIZONA NEXT YEAR WHICH HE QUICKLY RESPONDED “YES”. THIS GUY IS A DOUCHE BAG- BRINGING A FRANCHISE TO SOUTHERN ONTARIO WOULD MAKE ALL SORTS OF MONEY AND WOULD ACTUALLY BE APPRECIATED BY FANS. NEWS FLASH BETTMAN: PEOPLE IN PHOENIX DON’T CARE ABOUT HOCKEY!!!!
Good point, Dave. Sensfan, I was being facetious. People in Raleigh, Anaheim and Phoenix aren’t die-hard hockey fans. That’s what this genius doesn’t understand.
Well Josh N, Raleigh and Anaheim do have diehard hockey fans. Anaheim you can tell by watching their games and Raleigh as well, I went to a ‘Canes game this past season in Raleigh (I am from Canada, Saskatchewan to be more accurate) and they are VERY passionate about their team, and this was before they made that huge push to make the playoffs.
But yes, there should be more teams in Canada. Phoenix, Florida and a few others should be relocated. I think southern Ontario should have a team as well as Winnipeg and Quebec City once again. Winnipeg has a brand new stadium and all they need to do is add some seating, its an AHL stadium right now.
As for Bettman, as to why he was hired in the first place, well, someone must have lost a bet and had to take this dingledorf.
Bettman should be fired or have the balls to admit he fucked up and quit. Of course he won’t, because then who will get the job? Perhaps Stevie Y, who will enjoy the octopus tradition?
This is what happens when you give an completely incompotent idiot a position of power (also, see George Dubya Junior for comparison). The only difference between the two is that Dubya was somewhat fun to watch blunder forward whereas Bettman simply wrecks hockey.
Hey Dave, you are right on. As a matter of fact, if the NHL (Bettman) rejects Jim Balsillie’s offer to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and move them to Southern Ontario, then there needs to be criminal charges filed in federal court against Mr. Bettman and his cronies especially if the bankruptcy courts in Arizona rule against the NHL and after what happened when Balsillie tried to buy the Nashville Predators.
Josh, I knew what you meant. Do you still think that the Canadian teams could form a bloc and find enough American teams to push Bettman out of office? Tell me what you think.
R.J.B. Welcome aboard! I am not so sure about Raleigh being a good hockey market but it looks to me like Anaheim draws well. Arizona draws well for the Suns, Cardinals and their college football and basketball teams. The Coyotes OTOH… shouldn’t even be in the league! The Coyotes should move to Southern Ontario. As for my comment about criminal charges being filed against Mr. Bettman should Balsillie’s offer to buy the Coyotes be rejected, please feel free to chime in. Winnipeg should have an NHL team and I wouldn’t be surprised if they get a team within the next two years. As a matter of fact, Winnipeg’s MTS Centre with 90 luxury boxes could make almost as much gate revenue as the Flames and the Oilers. Here’s an article:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/teams+will+need+owners+with+deep+pockets/1498412/story.html
I agree that Bettman should be fired or just… resign. Another good comparsion to Bettman would be NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Both are trying to ruin their respective sports and both of them are just as bad as Dubya.
Looks like the link to the article didn’t show up on my post, let me try again:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/teams+will+need+owners+with+deep+pockets/1498412/story.html
Okay now that’s weird, two times and the link didn’t show up.
Google “Calgary Herald A Tale Of Two Leagues” It is a five part series from April 11, 2009 to April 15, 2009. The article about Winnipeg’s MTS Centre that I mentioned is from April 11th / Part 1.
Gary Bettman! This pompous has had control over the NHL for over a decade. The most daunting point is that his own agenda is always centre stage. More American, less Canadian! What the NHL needs is a former player, like Mark Messier or Steve Yzerman for instance, as commissioner of the NHL. Of course, with the time enduring battle between the NHL and the NHLPA, that will most likely never happen.
Bettman is not growing the game the way it could be or should be. You need to promote this product to people who live of and breathe this great game. You can’t force feed Americans hockey. Their natural love is Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association or the National Football League. All of which are exciting leagues. That isn’t their fault, most everyone in the USA grew up playing these sports.
They are just not hockey fans, and Bettman’s grand plan seems to be, “Well, if they see this great game, it will be successful!” What he meant was “Well, the US dollar is worth more than the Canadian dollar and we’ll make more money here even if the fan base is HALF of what it could be in a strong Canadian market!”
His agenda is clearly evident in his everyday conduct. He probably has absolutely no clue as to what Business Ethics means. Fact is, he is a born American, a slack jawed New Yorker, and his contempt for Canadian hockey development is easily seen. He is particularly responsible for the movement of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques in the 1990’s.
Figuratively speaking, this man is a disease. His yearly salary is north of 6 million US per year!!! This guy is making as much as most of the upper echelon NHL superstars! He is directly responsible for the NHL losing 1.8 Billion US dollars over a decade. Who does he think he is? Better yet, who do these whale NHL owners think he is? Why do they trust in him? The answer, The promise of future money.
This guy is a snake, as proven by his schooling! He has a law degree which he procured in 1977 @ NYU…(typical New Yorker) What is a lawyer’s specialty, particularly a defense lawyer? LYING! His confrontational tactics and behavior have cost NHL fans hundreds of games, which we can never get back. He is a 56 year old American who has control of a game that Canada and Canadians have made great, and they still do every night! He is driven by the green, which is in direct contrast with the entire Jim Balsillie situation.
Balsillie is a man who is passionate about the great game of hockey. He plays every week. Did I mention his is a BILLIONAIRE and has been down this road before. His attempt to go through the proper channels to purchase the Nashville Predators franchise in 2006 was white washed by Bettman, who eventually sold the team for 20 million US less than Balsillie’s offer. If the NHL had MORE owner like Mr. Balsillie, whose main priority is driven by his love of the game, then the NHL wouldn’t be consistently in turmoil!
For a man that is money hungry, Bettman’s ethics are transparent. Nashville has continued to lose money due to Bettman’s obvious contempt for Canada and another successful franchise in a Canadian city! Jim Balsillie, in my opinion, is the closest thing that we are going to get to a solid owner! Bettman’s contempt towards the NHL players and more particularly, the NHLPA, has been proven during his tenure as commissioner. (3 work stoppages in 16 years and billions lost) What makes this league great? Why do fans come to see these games? The PLAYERS!!! Bettman will continue to take these players for granted and the players will just take it on the chin.
I would suggest that the NHLPA takes it’s members and roll with another league, but the long standing prestige of the NHL is what players are drawn to. Money? Sure! But they could make money in a formed league for the players, teams owned by players, and the disgusting Bettman antics will cease! That is highly unlikely, but the only remedy for the NHL will be for the players to figuratively have Bettman’s head on NHLPA boss Paul Kelly’s mantle! But with that being said, he wouldn’t want such a nasty reminder of how bad the NHL was, is and could be. With Bettman as the FACE of the NHL owners, I am reminded daily as to how bad I would love to see Bettman step into some sort of cage and fight each player he has screwed over in gauntlet style action. I’d pay to see that! Who wouldn’t?
But that is beside the point. We as a nation, are calling for Bettman’s job. Daly won’t be much better, due to his similarities to Bettman, so he also must go. My suggestion for an NHL which will be profitable? Simple! Clean house on the nine weakest franchises! Give three franchises back to Canada. Particularly, Quebec City, Winnipeg and Hamilton! Condense the NHL down to 24 teams. Hold a supplementary draft. Stronger teams, better games, better markets and overall profit. Less money overall. Less money spent, more money made! With all of the talent in the NHL, Fringe players will have to work harder in the minors to make it back.
Since this is a supposed “Partnership”, profit across the board will be attained in markets which actually produce real fans who are passionate about the game. Players and owners alike will make more money, which will ensure a strong relationship moving forward. I know I don’t have all of the answers, but the fate of this great league can no longer be in the hands of a sleazy lawyer from New York! Who coincidentally loves the sound of his own voice. He speaks as if he is important. Truth be told, the League wouldn’t miss a single minute of operations on that glorious day, when Bettman is history!
This is a Canadian game, which plenty of Americans love, and many great thanks go out to them. The original 6 was composed of 4 great, hockey loving American cities, all of which made the NHL Playoffs this season. They love this game! We love this game! But is Gary Bettman in love with the game of hockey? Absolutely not! He is in love with himself and the almighty American dollar! No ethics, no passion, no success! WE as fans must do whatever we can to get this guy out! One voice isn’t enough, but 100 million voices can make some resounding noise.
The owners, if they truly love this game and want it to flourish, will one day see the light. They aren’t happy, the players aren’t happy and the fans aren’t particularly happy. You’ve just got Bettman, sitting on his throne, tapping his fingers together ominously. Counting his millions! Make no mistake he is puppet master, and everyone else involved in this saga is connected to one of his strings. The owners, although they may claim to speak through Bettman, but somewhere along this line of losses, they will begin to discuss these matters amongst themselves. When that happens, its only a matter of time!
The epitaph will read: Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner, 1993-2012! Otherwise, there may not be a 2012 season, and sooner rather than later, we’ll see the Toronto Maple Leafs move to the USA and become the New Mexico Cactus! With Bettman citing a HUGE fan base! Bettman, hit the bricks, and watch out for the rocks flying at your head. Actually, don’t look out! Just GET OUT, and take Bill Daly with you!
I was watching the playoff game on June 2, 2009. I could not help but wonder how in the world can these refs be the best in the NHL. My god!!! Not that I’m a ref or anything but when you let the Pen’s have six skaters in the offensive zone for over 20 seconds something is wrong. Not to mention all of the other no calls there were for both teams. I’m not saying the wings got shafted just because I’m a big fan. I have been watching and following the wings for about 20 years. Since Bettman has been comish his life goal is to destroy the game. Please get the officating under control like all the other major sports have.
24 teams instead of 30 would be a start. I don’t know which six teams should go, but suffice it to say that it won’t be the Pens, Rangers, Wings, BlackHawks, Habs and Leafs. Maybe Nashville or Phoenix.
Does LA really need two teams? Heck, does LA need two basketball teams?
Hope that the Pens make it a six or seven game series.
Betteman has done many things poorly…He has his job because he broke the union for the owners…he gave them franchise fees for teams the league could not support…Great for the owners…Terrible for the game.
This season, he has done some crazy things… He started the stanley cup Finals w/in days after the conference finals…Which took away what all leagues tend to do…HYPE UP THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES’
Earlier he made a fatal mistake, which doomed the league to its current status in the USA..He put them on a network, that nobody knows about. Horrible for a regional sport. Versus gave the league a few million more than ESPN…That few million more dollars stole credibility after a lockout, where many fans in parts of the USA…needed to know hockey was still being played. Versus failed to even televise Game 5 of the Ducks and Wings series (it was 2-2)
Finally, a few years back when a marquee franchise (The Wings) were having trouble selling tickets…Betteman in all his arrogance made a remark that Detroit was used to winning and in the new NHL their fans are not used to the new NHL where they may not dominate…This was ridiculous because after the lockout they have won their division every year..and continue to win, but, the fact that he would make this remark, right out of the gate from one of his marquee franchises w/ a strong fan base…is absurd from a commish.
If hockey is unable to expand its fan base in the USA, than they should fire Betteman and get a guy who actually likes Hockey and tries to market the game to their fan base and hope it grows through regional, natural time. Betteman has gained no new fans and alienated many old fans…that by definition is a terrible leader.
Isn’t it strange that a Canadian Team that is supposedly loosing money can be moved to a US town/city with ease but yet try to move a US team that is loosing money to Canada.
That appears impossible under the present regime.
Wouldn’t that mean that someone made a big mistake by putting the team there in the first place. You know how these big Executives like to admit they were wrong.
Can you imagine what would happen if two Canadian Teams were to fight it out for the Stanley Cup. Few if any in the US would watch on TV.
The NHL would loose millions in advertising revenue.
So do you think the NHL will ever let that happen?
Hockey is a northern sport. You know ice and that white stuff called snow. Do you think people that live in southern climates, other than seasonal or transplanted Northerners, care about hockey?
I say it is time to change the guard.
CDN Hockey Fan, amen to you. You are right on target.
FUCK BETTMAN!!!!!!!!!!