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One of our dedicated readers - Mike Rink - sent us the following letter, which we really enjoyed and thought you would too:
Dear NHL Management, and Mr. Gary Bettman
I attended my first hockey game when I was 2 years old (a tilt between expansion partners Buffalo and Vancouver). Although my Dad swears it was a great game, I was asleep in his arms by the end of the 2nd period. Despite that inauspicious beginning, the seeds of rabid fandom were laid there, and over time they have grown and matured to the point where I consider myself an ardent NHL hockey fan. But, over the past 15-odd years, I’ve started to seriously question whether hockey actually cares about having me as a fan, nearly as much as I care about it. From skyrocketing ticket prices, to pay-per-view games, to the exorbitant price of jerseys, every year it becomes more and more expensive to be a fan, and yet I feel like, paradoxically, the more I spend the less the NHL actually wants me.
Over 15 years I’ve seen a concerted effort to pander to “casual” fans (glowing pucks, ridiculous game scheduling, and needless rule changes are just a few examples), while fervent supporters have been allowed to wither and die on the vine. I’ve suffered through this in silence trying to convince myself that the quality of the product on the ice made up for these other slights. And in the end, that’s what is most important - the sanctity of the greatest game on the planet. In other words, the fluff you toss towards casual fans (who will likely never be converted anyway) doesn’t bother me enough to leave as long as you ensure the game is safe-guarded.
What happened between Stephane Auger and Alex Burrows on GM Place’s ice on Jan. 10th was an absolute travesty, and I know hockey fans across Canada are livid that the very spirit of the game could be called into question. The fact that a referee’s personal grudge might’ve affected the outcome of game is absolutely the worst thing that could ever be accused. As fans, we need to know that what we’re watching is real; that two teams are battling each other on a level playing field for supremacy. Even a whiff of impropriety is a grievous, grievous warning sign. Even a hint of bias means all our passion (and dollars) count for exactly squat.
The NHL’s reaction to the allegations is downright insulting to fans. We’ve watched other sport’s governing bodies put their heads in the sand over controversies (notably steroids in baseball and referee gambling in basketball) and it makes me sick to my stomach that NHL brass would so eagerly follow suit. Your halfhearted attempt to resolve the dispute through a couple phone calls is not sufficient - this requires a serious inquiry. And yet you seem to be content to do as little as possible to avoid rocking the boat with your employees, even if it means fans can no longer trust what they see on the ice. I watched that game with my own eyes, and what happened there requires more investigation than you’ve bothered to make; fans are not satisfied, and that should be your primary concern.
Let’s make something clear - the fans are the only reason any of you have a job right now. Players, coaches, NHL staff, everyone relies on our continued passion for the NHL so you can feed your families. By effectively sweeping this under the rug, you’re slapping every fan across the face who has ever helped put bread on your table. Our wallets drive your business, and in my opinion that means you are accountable to us.
My reaction has absolutely nothing to do with being a Canucks fan, and everything to do with being a supporter of NHL hockey. As a die-hard fanatic, I need to know that every team contends on an even keel, and every game is decided by the players, and not officials; Mr. Bettman, you like to speak of parity, but I’m tempted to think you’re just paying lip service based on the NHL’s actions over the past few days.
I would strongly encourage you, Gary Bettman and NHL Management, to reconsider your course of action, and also apologize to every fan across the world who you’ve wronged today. Unfortunately, I think what makes me saddest is that I know this letter will do absolutely nothing - NHL management has proven time and again that they’re much more interested in protecting their interests than fan’s. We need reassurance that we’re watching fair games, and the NHL has not nearly done enough to provide us with that. My only hope is that this letter and others like it which have been written in the last few days will be enough to open some eyes, so we can avoid the same sort of scandal that has tainted baseball and basketball forever.
Yours,
Mike Rink
Thanks Mike!
This whole situation kind of reminds us of Tim Donaghy from the NBA. Did you see his interview on “60 Minutes” in early December? He admits that refs held grudges against certain players and owners, and thus, would make sure those players had off nights by calling fouls weren’t fouls and vice versa… and thus, would help the opposing team win. In one part of the interview, Donaghy turns the tables on the NBA, saying that they intentionally extend playoffs series and favor larger market teams, in order to turn a greater profit. Hrmmm… anyone remember the Detroit vs. Pittsburgh finals series last year? And remember, Gary Bettman is a product of the NBA… think he may learned a few tricks of the trade from David Stern?
Gary Bettman has always stunk of crookedness… and that stink has just gotten much stronger.
It’s good to see this great site back in action!
I’m gonna ‘borrow’ this one from ya.
PISS ON BETTMAN!
refyousuck.com
Mike
Your Burrows Comments are bang on.. The “Dictatorship” of officating is absolutely corrupt based on the actions of discipline. Why else would burrows reaction be so emotional? Because he is reacting to what he knows to be true and is unbeleivably frustrated.
I would request a Police investigation into the officials actions including campbell’s with Lie Detectors.
What they are showing is corruption which could go as far as to control game outcomes which is exactly why Alex was so incensed. This is out of control … the only one paying for this the Vancouver fans as they see the loss because of poor officiating.
Salut
RE: Aunger/Burrows
I am writing to protest the unprofessional, mean spirited report Don MacLean made on the Hockey Night in Canada programme regarding the Aunger/Burrows incident. Not to entertain as a 50% possibility that Burrows’ accusations are true is not sensible let alone fair.
Phantom calls should be extremely rare with four officials on the ice but they aren’t. That suggests the possibility that Burrows is right about Auger. Therefore it warrented some serious investigation by journalists. Instead, we had Ron MacLean and a self-serving NHL official trash Burrows on national T.V. Campbell was so expectedly self-serving that he was no problem. However, Ron MacLean’s behaviour was bizarre and FOX-y.
An apology from the CBC to all hockey players and Burrows in particular is in order. The MacLean/Campbell script and tape gave all the power to the NHL. The player had no input. That was unacceptable. There would be no Canadian hockey industry without the great players the NHL and fans are so fortunate to have. The players are The Game - as such, they are entitled to at least as much respect as the supporting cast.
If you are short of investigative journalists for the hockey scene, I am available. No experience, but better than MacLean.
MacLean is not the best person to be doing the Olympics. Credibility and likeability - zip.
Zoe Hills
Oops. Above a copy to of what I sent to CBC. Does anyone have an NHL e-mail address? I’d like to cc them.
@ zobert
Here is a website which contains a complete list of where you can CC what you sent to the CBC to an NHL e-mail address:
http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/index.php?topic=65856.0;wap2
Hopefully this helps.
Sens Fan
Whether the Vancouver Canucks make the playoffs this season or not, the FBI and/or RCMP needs to start an investigation as to why NHL officiating is the way it has been since Bettman has been the commissioner. This needs to become more important and called for by the hockey and sports media especially should the Canucks fail to make the playoffs by one or two points due to the disgusting and unprofessional actions of referee Stephane Auger on January 10th.
The fact that Colin Campbell went on Hockey Night In Canada and basically bashed Alex Burrows with Ron Maclean joining in on the bashing is absolutely unacceptable. The basic fact that the league stood up for what Auger had done that night against the Nashville Predators is definite proof that an investigation needs to be started by the FBI and/or RCMP. Not to mention, sticks to the face go uncalled because the referees are blind and they don’t even see a damned thing while at the same time, a little grab of a puck carrier gets called for a penalty. What’s more, occasionally a player will be assessed a penalty for taking a hit. This actually happened during an Ottawa/Toronto playoff game back in 2004. Is the NHL going to try and spin this one since I have mentioned this? Seriously, the NHL (Bettman) will stop at nothing to purposely rig games and playoff series for/against certain teams… Pittsburgh against Philadelphia last year and the Stanley Cup Final against Detroit come to mind and for that matter just about any playoff series which involve Canadian teams.
What the NHL is doing dealing with the events that took place at GM Place on the night of January 10th is downright dispicable and fans who have lost interest in the NHL will not come back until Bettman, Campbell, Daly etc. are either fired and/or announce their resignations and positive change comes about with a new regime who will deal with league matters such as holding officials accountable which will help improve the NHL as opposed to hurting the league.
This unprofessionalism from officials and the league office has got to stop… otherwise the FBI and/or RCMP must come down forcefully and put an end to this blatant corruption which could result in jail time for some of the officials and/or staff of the league office.
I still love hockey and the NHL but yeah, I am dissapointed with the Burrows incident, and always have not liked Bettman, I think the league would do much better without Bettman and as Mike said, maybe a bit of house cleaning for the refs!
As long as the Bettman - err.. I mean Stanley Cup stays home in America, where hockey was invented imo, I will be happy! Hey Vancouver, if you don’t like the refs then why don’t you wise up and move the team?! The ‘Kansas City Americans’ has a nice ring to it…
@ Bill Daly
I assume you are the same person who posts on this website as Mr. Bettman.
Quote:
“Hey Vancouver, if you don’t like the refs then why don’t you wise up and move the team?!”
What if the Canucks end up missing the playoffs by a point due to the unprofessional actions of Stephane Auger on January 10? Your not funny.
Troll…
I’m always baffled by the naive nature of the whiners that populate the world. If you seriously believe that fishy officiating only started when Gary drove his tiny clown car into the Commissioner’s office, you are sorely mistaken. The only real difference is that in the past we didn’t have YouTube or hockey players that were willing to risk looking like babies for complaining about it.
Don’t get me wrong: If the incident is true Burrows was absolutely right to complain about it publicly. However, if he, like the people posting here, doesn’t take it to a higher level and really push for a change, he’s nothing more than a whining baby. As long as people aren’t committed enough to actually making a change the level of corruption that exists in the NHL and every other major corporation/sport will never change.
This is just a perfect example of what’s wrong with the human condition: Burrows isn’t satisfied enough by his millions of dollars to keep his mouth shut, yet the millions of dollars are enough to stop him from standing up for himself. And you guys are dissatisfied enough to make yourselves unhappy and pollute the internet with some kid’s essay about “the tewible injustice,” but you aren’t even willing to stop filling pockets with fan swank money.
You aren’t whistleblowers, revolutionaries, or even genuine activists. Sit down, watch hockey, get happy, and indulge enough in other entertainment that hockey does not become boring to you. Replacing Bettman won’t change anything.
I been a fan of Hockey for a very long time. Since I was 4 years old and watched Patrick Roy help win a cup when the Canadiens had no right to win one. I have a decent hockey package and I really enjoy watching these games in HD with my buddies over and some beers. However, before game time I find myself now looking to see what officials are officiating because I just cant watch when the Zebras decide the games. The sad fact is the as we watch now and buy our jersey’s I can pretty much say with certainty that the games we once enjoyed are “fixed”. I am going to look for a facebook page requesting Gary Bettman step down and if there isn’t one I am creating it. I am tired of the shoot outs, face offs in the penalized teams zones, glowing pucks, and denying us Canadians affordable ticket prices. I also decided to stop watching hockey for the rest of the year and cancel my sports package. Its going to be tough but I am making a statement.
( Oh lets not forget the lockout )
Kurt
sadly, the “Dead Puck Era” that ended with the lockout has quickly degenerated into the “Push the Penguins and other sad teams on the brink of bankruptcy by creating false parity among other means” era.
Mr. Bettman would like to thank canaduh for his 7 million dollar salary last year plus his 5 million dollar performance bonus. Thank you fans!!!
Bill Daly,
Your act is getting really old. Go post your stupid comments somewhere else. BTW, STOP trolling this website.
Moron…
If you do not like Mr Bettman’s salary, you can always give him a raise! Thankyou fans lol!
Bill Daly,
So the fans are going to give Mr Bettman a raise? You KNOW that is unrealistic. Just what kind of world do you live in? Don’t you have anything better to do? I guess not since you spend your time trolling on an anti Bettman website.
Loser
LOl,the only ‘losers’ are the ones who think an anti - Bettman site will actually accomplish something lmao….
Anyways, I have made my point, goodbye.
Bettman needs to go. Now he won’t commit the NHL to the Olympics. I am sick of Bettman dismantling hockey. He doesn’t know what he is doing or what he is talking about. To Bill Daly you may be the one person that thinks that Bettman is doing a good job. When he is an IDIOT. I would love to see Bettman do this to America’s football and baseball sports. There would be a revolution if he tried that. Hockey fans have waited to see the desmise of Gary Bettman. Here’s hoping it is soon. I can’t stand that snake Bettman. His time with the NHL will go down in history as being the worst commissioner in NHL history he may join former president of the US in making history as being the worse president of the US. Bettman needs to go.
The whole thing about Bettman not committing the NHL to go to the 2014 Olympics in Russia is disgusting. Gary thinks that Phoenix, Atlanta, and Nashville are better hockey markets than Hamilton, Winnipeg, and Quebec City. Remember how NBC cut out of the deciding game of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals Between Ottawa & Buffalo? Or deciding to place NHL games on Versus instead of the ESPN Networks and at the same time allowing NBC to only do one game a week and the game starts at 12:30 pm et (which means 9:30 in the morning out west) This summer, the players wanted the NHL back on the ESPN Networks and Bettman still insists upon keeping NHL games on Versus & NBC? It’s no wonder why the NHL isn’t more popular in the United States.
The NFL & MLB wouldn’t hire a moron like Bettman in the first place. If Bettman did the same things to football and baseball as he has been doing to the NHL for the last 16 years or so, you would definitely see a massive number of protests and riots on a large scale. Because of Bettman, I have really cut down on watching the NHL this season. I still watch the Senators, Hockey Night In Canada, and I will watch as many games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs as I can. Though if the officials under orders from Bettman are going to rig games for/against certain teams (see last year’s Penguins 1st round series against the Flyers and the Stanley Cup Final against the Red Wings) I will quickly tune out if any of this bull shit is going to go on in this year’s playoffs. Bettman is the worst commissioner in the history of the NHL and I would also say he is the all time worst commissioiner in the history of sports as well. Millions of hockey fans would probably agree with both of these statements. Hopefully Bettman will resign and this day comes soon.
Great site.
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/
Hi Chris,
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
Sens… fab response, man.
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.