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We sincerely apologize for our lack of posts this summer… it has been a very busy summer filled with higher priorities. We know we have missed out on covering some major and controversial stories surrounding our favorite little man… but we are hoping to get things back into full swing for the upcoming NHL season, and plan on increasing our coverage and making sure we do everything we can to get rid of the man we all love to hate… Gary Bettman.
In the meantime, here is an email that Paul Lefebvre from Delaware, OH sent us, which sums up the summer’s top Bettman stories and our opinions on them quite well:
“Not bad enough that Mr. Bettman threatens to strip ownership of the team in NY (Rangers), and decides to suspend the Anaheim Ducks owner indefinitely for off ice legal issues, now comes word that maybe he himself may have been caught with his own hand in the cookie jar. The Nashville Predators sale has stunk from the beginning. How does an owner (Craig Leipold), a businessman, turn down cash money from Jim Balsillie in excess of $220M for a financed deal of less than $200M tt which he himself contributed $10M? Here’s maybe how.
Mr. Bettman promises Leipold clear and very quick sailing to ownership in Minnesota. After the commish sees the investor group trying to buy the Nashville franchise having trouble getting financing together, he either A, closes his eyes and says go ahead boys, I don’t want to know, or B, gets on the phone to his two closest confidants in LA Kings owner and Nashville owner (Leipold) and says make this happen, Balsillie cannot have a team. Either A or B is cause for termination.
Gary Bettman claims he had no clue that two of his closest NHL confidants - L.A.’s Philip Anschutz and Minnesota’s Craig Leipold – had lent San Jose banker Boots Del Biaggio a combined $17 million (U.S.) to help him pay for a $25 million stake in the Nashville Predators. C’mon Gary.
Nashville investor, ‘Boots’ Del Biaggio filed bankruptcy. Turns out that the ownership group of the LA Kings, AEG Facilities lent Boots $7M. Also turns out that the Nashville owner (Craig Leipold aka Seller) lent him $10M. AEG Facilities also owns the venue for hockey in KC. Del Biaggio has long been searching for a franchise to move to KC. The reasoning for the seller of the team lending money to a buyer leaves the door open for many explanations and we’ll have to see what floats to the surface. How is this tolerated? Maybe these two owners are able to say to Mr. Bettman, “if we go down Gary, you are coming with us”. This seems to me to be the only way they can escape Bettman’s well documented wrath.
How in the world is Bettman getting a free pass on this!? He is quite the politician, and seems to always have an answer for everything, but I have seen or heard nothing of anyone press him since the series, before the wheels came off Del Biaggio.”
Thanks very much Paul!!!
We will try our hardest to help make sure that the little man doesn’t get a free pass on all of this… so get ready and look forward to more posts from the FB stuff. Once again, sorry for our lack of posts over the past few months… it is GREAT to be back and covering the worst commissioner ever!!!
cheers,
Puckhead & JB
Glad to have you back, boys! This summer has begun the fantastic process of watching Gary embark on his long-awaited freefall of shame from the NHL’s ivory tower. Once all the mud is washed away, I’m am confident we will see a new, hockey-savvy commish, and then pretty much the next day we will see anywhere from 1 to 3 new Canadian teams.
That’s the dream anyway. Gary’s rule has brought suffering to the league for long enough. I’m tired of his lies, and I hope he is brought to justice. And I hope the NHL doesn’t do business with known criminals anymore…I’m talking about Boots at that point.
What was really interesting is how Gary canceled his NHL radio show, which I am a devout critical listener, about two weeks before the first wave of Boots Madness came to light. It’s almost like Gary knew there was something untoward coming…but, he’s not that smart, is he?
Hey JB & Puckhead, this true Sens Fan & Fire Bettman supporter is extremely happy that you guys are back to bash the single largest napoleonic fraud in the history of sports… Gary Bettman
OddyOh, nice to hear from you again buddy. I will be so happy (much like you and millions of hockey fans around the world will be) when Bettman is fired and we see a commissioner who is really into hockey and it would be AMAZING to see some new Canadian franchises in the NHL and I personally believe that Winnipeg & the Hamilton area or the Kitchener/Waterloo region will have an NHL team within the next two years.
So Gary cancelled his radio show eh? Gary knows he’s a fraud along with his bum buddy Boots. Who knows just maybe they will be a sharing a prison cell together one of these days.
Hey Sens Fan, couldn’t agree more!
Actually, I misspoke earlier…Bettman’s radio show is just on summer break I think, however we will see if he comes back in the fall, after all the hell that appears to be breaking loose…not that it matters, his callers are so carefully screened it’s not even funny. I like Bill Clement though.
I forgot to mention all this nonsense with the Russian (and other) Euro leagues ’stealing NHL talent’…another black eye for Gary, although in all fairness, that’s not completely his fault, ‘takes two to tango’ and that sort of thing.
Hi OddyOh, I forgot to add to my post yesterday that he isn’t that smart because his Bettman’s best quote ever was “trouble’s a funny thing.” Also, Bettman’s love affair with southern markets such as Phoenix, Miami, Atlanta, especially that joke called the Nashville Predators and the Kansas City & Las Vegas markets must be stopped sooner rather than later FIRE BETTMAN
Hey JB & Puckhead, I see that there is no way to edit my name on any posts that were already made so can you please edit my name on response #4 of this thread to Sens Fan? Thank you.
The Preds will win the Cup this year! Who’s a-rad? The Preds will sell out every night. Who’s JB? Thanks, Gary. You’re the greatest.
Laertes said, “The Preds will win the Cup this year!” “The Preds will sell out every night.” All right, keep dreaming.
P.S. enjoy the last season of Predators hockey in Nashville & for your information: Gary is one of the dumbest persons in the world.
Sens Fan,
How can you say such a thing. I feel victimized. Do you have any idea what you’re up against? Gary’s (I call him, Gary) legacy is paramount. Some Canadian billionaire named “Balls” is no match for Gary. Even if the Preds have to move to K.C. to cover for (I mean help) Phil Anshutz out, I’ll still … support them. Sure “Balls” has lots of money. Sure “Balls” loves and knows hockey. Sure “Balls” represents a market that has millions of knowledgeable and disenfranchised fans. But… Gary’s still the man (for now)… I think.
Laertes, I can understand that you feel victimized. Yes Mr. Balsillie has lots of money and I firmly believe that Hamilton or the Kitchener/Waterloo region will get an NHL team once Bettman is gone (see response #2 above) With the fraud charges against Boots, there is a chance your team will not move to Kansas City. But if the Predators don’t sell out every night or most of their 41 home games this season and they don’t make a serious playoff run this spring, your team might move to another market. “But… Gary’s still the man (for now)… I think.” But will Gary be the man in the future?
So, the stench of Bettman has returned, and with that more fair and consistent bashing from the folks at Fire Bettman.
This guy is the undisputed mafia lord of hockey. Let’s look at just a few of the things he has done, but yet cannot get fired:
(1) Cancelled an entire season of hockey.
(2) Brought televised hockey on par with the SportsChannel America days.
(3) Introduced hockey to areas with no business having hockey like Miami, Nashville, Anaheim, Atlanta, et. al.
(4) Blatantly tried to rig the outcome of the 2008 Stanley Cup after successfully rigging the 1999 Stanley Cup (Dallas is still a fraud, and I still view the cup as vacant in 1999).
(5) Successfully blocks a move by Jim Balsille to bring hockey back to Canada by using some of the shadiest means known to man.
(6) Attacks the New York Rangers for not getting down in the suck position for him.
Is this enough reasons to hate Frodo?
Hey Morris, I agree with you 175% that Bettman is the undisputed mafia lord of hockey. There’s hundreds more reasons to hate Bettman: (aka fuckface) Here are two more reasons:
(7) Allows games to be played in London, England where just about nobody in London cares about hockey
(8) Censors websites, blogs, any owner, player etc. who says, writes or posts negative articles about Ding-dong and his feckless team of control hungry pricks and assholes.
I saw game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals this year and the officiating in the three overtime periods was one of the most rigged sporting events that I had ever witnessed in my life. A 4 minute power play for Pittsburgh because someone got cut? oh, would you give me a break… the guy didn’t even lose any blood for fux sake! It was just an excuse so that another one of Napoleon’s bum buddies Cindy “I got hit, so I have to cry about it” Crosby could win a tainted Stanley Cup.
If anyone has any more reasons to hate fuckface… this is the place to post your thoughts. For somebody who thinks that “trouble’s a funny thing.” I say DO NOT ALLOW LITTLE MAN TO GET AWAY WITH ANY OF HIS BULL SHIT: Keep posting on this website, crank up the heat, and don’t give up the fight to have the worst commissioner in the history of sports removed as the commissioner of the NHL.
Laertes - you rock! LOL!!!
Yahoo’s been running a series on five ways to improve the NHL. I got five words that’ll do it: Fire the commissioner Gary Bettman. Talk about a shyster! ‘Ol mental midget thinks we’re all believing vs., Cidney, and Boots are best thing since sliced bread. Talk about clueless. It’ll be interesting to watch how the “investigation” unfolds and if Boots spills the beans on the fudgepackin’ fry.
London. Brits think hockey is something that comes out of a horse’s arse.
Unbelievable. Bettman still commish.
I was looking over lsat year’s standings today. 24 of 30 teams had winning records, and the other 6 didn’t look that bad. GareCare is alive and well. 30 strong franchises in 30 strong markets. Only a Komisar of Gary’s gravitas can achieve like this. Read and weep all you detractors. The league has never been better.
Things are so great maybe the league should expand into KC, LV,or even Mexico. There’s a world out there to conquer and our Emperor will lead the way.
biscuit basher writes: “London. Brits think hockey is something that comes out of a horse’s arse.” Right on brother!
Laertes wrote: “I was looking over lsat year’s standings today.” Two words for ya: SPELLCHECKER As for the rest of your post…
What about the rest of the post? Who cares if I can spell or not. I know hockey though.
Bettman for President
Laertes, read and weep when these events happen in the next two years:
1) Bettman is fired, or is forced to resign.
2) Because Bettman is gone, the NHL does not expand to Kansas City, Las Vegas or Mexico City.
3) Your Nashville Predators are either relocated or contracted.
And to make things worse for you, two Canadian cities get into the league either by relocation and/or expansion- without the Emperor being involved in the day to day operations of the NHL. And yes… Mr. Balsillie will be an NHL owner within the next two years. Guaranteed.
Seriously, I hope you guys are right. Bettman’s a thug and he’s got a strangle hold this league. Enjoyed messing with y’all.
Laertes, read ya loud ‘n clear on yer first post. Nice job! Now, would somebody call the FBI to see if they started their investigation of da wimpy weasel’s fraudulent dealings with the Preds sale? OH Shite! I fergot; the republicans are still in office.
Wow, baseball’s following an NHL trend…instant replay review. How ’bout that. Gay-ree settin’ a trend. Next thing ya know wipe-oid’ll be tellin’ MLB how great VS. is.
Sens fan bud, love yer passion for the game. Canada has been gettin’ the royal screwin’ from dickweed for too long now. Let’s all hope he’s gone sometime this coming season.
yer bud,
Biscuit
biscuit basher, I agree 200% that Canada has been getting screwed royally by dickweed for nearly fifteen years now. It’s not right and as a Canadian I am very angry that Canada has been screwed by Bettman and his cronies for the longest time. I hope that Ding-dong is either fired, he resigns or failing the aforementioned: Bettman is forcefully removed as commissioner and put on trial by a tough prosecution team and is sentenced to a lengthy person term when the Democrats take control of the White House. And should none of the above happen, it will be hard for me to continue being a hockey fan.
I hope that Bettman is gone within the next nine months.
Sens Fan
what do you guys think? If Bettman were to rate his own performance since he took over as league commissioner, what grade do you think he will give himself?
If I were to assign him a grade, I’d give him a D-
If I had to rate Bettman’s performance as commissioner, I would give him an F (not just for failure, if you know what I mean) I think that millions of hockey fans worldwide would agree with this opinion and my rating of Bettman.