jratelle19 said:
Same old rhetoric from "Count Chocula" Bettman:
Well, that started out objectively. I think I know where this is going.
Francesa offered Bettman the opportunity to give the fans an idea of a drop dead date, Bettman declined.
Why should he announce that on a radio show, and at this date? Greedenow (see, we can all play the name game) has historically been an 11th hour negotiator. By not announcing the drop dead date that ability is taken from him and the NHLPA.
Bettman claims that the polls show that he has the support of most of the fans and gets messages from the them to keep up the good fight (bullsh*t)
OVERWHELMING support from the fans. I have yet to see a single poll that has not been at least 70% behind the owners. I'm not sure how you can call BS on it, but that's the sad facts. The players, and their supporters, are in the huge minority.
Bettman claims the NBC deal will help the sport grow and will end up being 10 times better than the last TV deal
The potential is there. The promise from NBC is to use HD technology and develop a vehicle for the NHL with the similar appeal of Monday Night Football. If the NHL can get a regular "game of the week" slot and be broadcast in high definition, I see no reason why the sport should not catch on and the contract prove to be a profitable one. It is no where near the cash cow up front, but in the long run a partnership with a major American broadcaster could prove to be even more successful.
Bettman claims that he made the last "proposal" and the players looked at it for 2 hours and ran away (if you consider that a "proposal", I've gotta bridge to sell you)
That's true. The NHL did make the last proposal and the NHLPA took a cursory glance and flatly turned it down. You may not have liked the offer, similar to the feeling of those from the pro-NHL side in regards to the NHLPA's offer that included the rollback, but the fact was that the NHL made an offer that was built from the PA's offer.
Bettman says that calling Goodenow to meet might send mixed signals and the puck is in Goodenow's end.
That is true as well. The NHL was the last one to make an offer. Whether they liked the offer or not, the ball is in the NHLPA's court to counter. The NHL is not required to make the next offer. In fact it makes no sense for the NHL to make the next offer as they would appear to be negotiating against themselves. The puck is in the NHLPA's end. They are the ones who have the onus on them. Bargaining practices dictate so.
Bettman says he misses hockey terribly and feels bad for the fans (quadruple bullsh*t)
This is getting so old. A guy has been working for the league for over a decade and has been involved in many aspects of the game it is hard to fathom that he has not become a fan of the game. You don't pour so much effort into somethng if you don't enjoy what you are doing. Or are you suggesting that Greedenow doesn't like hockey either and that he is just sponging off of the game too?
Bettman says that they can't have a third party come in to get the talks moving until the players show that they are willing to make a deal (no sense at all, doesn't a third party come in when the two sides have exhausted almost all means and still can't agree?)
And that is his right to say that.
BLAH BLAH BLAH, same old, same old rhetoric from Buttman himself.
You mean not like the same rhetoric we are hearing from the NHLPA, or have their membership hand fed when they say something other than exactly what comes out of Greedenow's mouth?
What did you expect? A capitulation and an annoucement of games starting tomorrow night?
