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With the announcement of the Stanley Cup Finals schedule, Detroit sports fans are wondering why Bettman has it in for “the most passionate fans”. Seems as though shrimp and his mental midgets have scheduled the first three games of THE Finals to start at the same time as the NBA conference finals. Now what water head would do such a thing to a sport that is screaming for help to increase its fan base? Of course, you guessed it - our own not-so-bright commish.
Now ‘ol douche bag hasn’t dissed Detroit for just the first time this playoff season. No sir! Just a short while ago he took away a real crowd pleaser by notifying the Detroit club that if their Zamboni/ice wizard were to swing one more octopus over his head on the ice as he has been doing for years, the league would fine them 10 large. (Careful Mo’ Cheese, you might be next.) Now comes the ultimate insult to sports fans in Detroit. Choose between the Pistons or Wings. (There’s no choice for this author; Sid vs. Hank? - Awesome!) Nevertheless, when you have a sport that your own commissioner says is inferior in popularity to another, WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU SCHEDULE YOUR GAMES TO CONFLICT WITH THE OTHER ALREADY POSTED SCHEDULE????????? What a dumb ass!!!
The NHL excuse-of-the-day is that Hockey Night in Canada has rights to Saturday night scheduling. (I think we posted previously about the screwing of HNIC and last year’s schedule.) HNIC would of course televise a game at any time knowing the devout following of Canadian fans. And what about the scheduling for the other two games this weekend that could be aired at a different time? What say you ‘ol brain dead commish?
Seriously, I’m almost convinced that someone has tasked this former Stern lackey with the destruction of the NHL.
I’m tiring of the owners’ apathy, but here goes again -
Please fire this idiot (or be ready to turn the lights out yourselves).
Gary Bettman was on WFAN 1130 am radio out of Detroit today. He explained how their contract existed with its networks long before this season even started. 18 months ago he said. Since the building is not a conflict, their is no out for the NHL to redo its contract with NBC or VS. That is where the issue lies with the networks that dictate to the sports leagues when games are to be played. The NHL is less at fault then the NBA who could of had ESPN and TNT switch nights so that the pistons would be playing the days that the Lakers/Spurs are playing.
But they also have contracts with TNT and ESPN. And I would bet ESPN holds the bigger pull because it has contracts with MLB (Sunday nights I remember)
You cannot expect NBC to reshuffle its lineup just for a few Detroit fans because their network schedule is put in place long ago, and they could not change it. While they may suffer this is true, the Arenas also may not be able to change their dates.
use Tivo or tape it on your VHS
mrjart:
Dude, like da games are on VS. and CBC. whaddup wit the nbc, tnt, and espn mumbo jumbo? apparently bettman got a hypnotic spell goin’ on some people. the loser jes gotta go! take tivo out to dinner wit cha and who got vhs still? hard enuf to find vs. check yer shite out. bettman sucks, unless yer related.
luv,
da biscuit
I’m going to game 2, I need ideas for anti-Bettman and bad officiating signs. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Hey rick, i’ve seen this great one before. Wear a refs shirt. Than a pair of sunglasses. Then a blind mans walking stick and walk around like you are blind. It’s hilarious.
Rick,
I got a t-shirt from this site and I can tell you IT draws attention. Enjoy the game!
Biscuit
Rick, how about a “Dumb and Dumber” sign with Bettman and Matt Millen?
Listen, I don’t like Bettman anymore than you do. However, don’t waste time on the fact that both the Wings and Pistons played on the same day. When are they supposed to play the Cup game? 2 pm?
As a Chicagoan, we would LOVE to have Detroit’s problems. We have a hockey team who hasn’t won a round in over ten years who raises ticket prices, but agrees to televise all 82 games next year and a basketball team who has someone arrested for pot and cognac.
That contract talk is BS. They didn’t know until the conference finals wrapped up when the finals would start. Contracts with networks for game 1, game 2, etc. - yes, but they could have been on any days, depending on how long the preceding series lasted. Bettman is an ass.
BTW- I’m proud of Hockeytown. Ratings for the Wings beat out the Pistons all three nights (though you better believe we were flipping during commercials and luckily the Pistons games lasted longer. Sometimes the last 2 min is all that’s worth watching of a basketball game.)
Go WINGS!!!
Bettman has so little respect for his big markets, particularly Detroit, its not even funny anymore. He sees Detroit as nothing more than a milk-cow that he can exploit to artificially boost interest and revenue for his shitty southern teams (Phoenix can never ever sellout a game unless the Big Red Machine is in town, Nashville had a special ticket price JUST FOR DETROIT at one time). So this comes as little surprise. And watch him send Columbus to the weak East as soon as he gets the chance, so that shitty franchise can finally make the playoffs once, when its so obvious that Detroit should be in the East first.
This is nothing compared to the lousy officiating in this series. It’s pretty obvious that the Red Wings are not allowed to touch Cindy Crosby in any way, shape or form or there will be a penalty. In contrast, the Penguins can goon it up as much as they want without penalty.
This might as well be a Vince McMahon production.
Cindy Crosby is the biggest puss in hockey.