Has Gary Bettman Cup presentation night run its course?
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tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Frankly I think it’s less “fans don’t like commissioners” as “fans who have been drinking since 3pm love to make a mockery of the moment”.
At least Bettman has the iron hide to take it. What are we going to do when some visiting team wins the Cup in Philly and they roll Bobby Orr out there to present the Cup? Do we really want to see that moment?
Butch 19
Go cart Mozart
Tradition is that commissioners award championship trophies in all sports.
Why are NHL fans such ********?
Kranix
Deranged Homer
- Jun 27, 2012
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I don't want to see some star of yesteryear present the cup. Especially not some old guy from the 60s like Orr. That's really lame. Not even Wayne would be acceptable. Having the commissioner do it gives the presentation it's weight.
I don't actually think this would happen - especially with Gretzky - everyone knows and he's generally very popular and well liked. Some younger generation may not even know Orr.
But you're right it's a risk to take. The boos would be a lot less at the very least.
SavedByRoy
Bite the noose
It would be hilarious if Bettman started cupping his ear like "I can't hear you" after the booing started. Like a bad guy/heel in MMA or WWE.
Dr Pepper
Registered User
Name another pro sports commissioner that has overseen three lockouts.
Gooddell gets booed, and Selig got his share of vitriol as well. Remember the All Star Game ending in a tie? That was a fun day for the commish.
Johnny HFBOARDS
Trade you!
In Wpg he should get boo'd hard BUT then if the Jets win the Cup.... would they cheer?
Break tradition?
Break tradition?
PeterSidorkiewicz
HFWF Tourney Undisputed Champion
Because it’s tradition or because we’ve always done this this way are some of the most terrible reasonings for doing stuff.
I am 100% for someone like Gretzky presenting the cup, it would be a much better presentation experience IMO.
I am 100% for someone like Gretzky presenting the cup, it would be a much better presentation experience IMO.
Butch 19
Go cart Mozart
Name another pro sports commissioner that has overseen three lockouts.
Gooddell gets booed, and Selig got his share of vitriol as well. Remember the All Star Game ending in a tie? That was a fun day for the commish.
how much blame do you put on the NHLPA for the lockouts? They cut their own throats.
A tied star game?
who cares - when was that anyway? does that still burn?
Dr Pepper
Registered User
how much blame do you put on the NHLPA for the lockouts? They cut their own throats.
A tied star game?
Just pointing out that other commissioners get hated on as well, that's all. And this was about a decade or so ago, I think.
And the buck stops at Gary. He runs the league, appointed by the owners, and under his watch there have been more work stoppages than under any other pro sports commissioner that I know of. Sure the PA is partially to blame as well, but it's Bettman who let it get that far, every time.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Bettman represents the owners in a negotiation. He doesn't have the authority nor the prerogative to just give in.
Also, Dohn Fehr has been involved in how many work stoppages now? It's hardly a situation where the buck stops with one guy on one side of the table.
Dr Pepper
Registered User
Hey, I'm sure if Don Fehr was ever front and center the way Bettman is, there wouldn't be a thunderous ovation for him either.
SotasicA
Registered User
- Aug 25, 2014
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If my team ever wins a cup and it is at home and I was in attendance I would be cry cheering whilst the cup was coming out and certainly not booing...I get it from the losing/neutral fans but always found it weird otherwise in what is I assume a huge moment for your team/city and yourself as a fan.
HunterSThompson
[}=[][][][][]
Living legend of the team that won.
Marty presenting it to TB, other Marty presenting it to Devils so on and so on
Marty presenting it to TB, other Marty presenting it to Devils so on and so on
tony d
Registered User
Bettman coming out to present the Cup is fine. I like how he plays to the crowd as well. He knows they don't like him and he revels in being booed.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Shaftception
Registered User
- Apr 6, 2011
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Don't mind the booing too much, the majority of the time the crowds respect the Cup while it's being brought out by the handlers and then during the raise by the winning captain, it's pretty clear during the presentation the Cup itself isn't being diminished, which is personally all I care about.
Perhaps the Cup's simply been won too often on the road recently, makes the ceremony anticlimactic.
What does irk me about the presentation is how "corporatized" it feels (don't know of a better word). I preferred in the past when after the Cup was handed to the captain, the team would surround them as it's raised and skate with the holder as they parade it around the ice, handing it off between each other as they skate in celebration as a group. The way it's devolved (imo) into the current iteration, where the team stands still at center ice watching as one person takes their turn to skate away from the group, just comes off as artificial, as if somewhere along the line teams were instructed to celebrate this way so the league could have the close up shots of each player skating with the cup for advertising purposes instead of a spontaneous expression of the team's emotions.
Something about it just diminishes the team aspect of it to me, especially in some years when half the time when the camera lingers back to the group they're all half-heartedly clapping for the current carrier as they wait their turns, or aren't even paying attention as they're busy with one of their other teammates/family/interviews/etc. After the big names/feel good stories I barely feel anything when the camera guy follows the third line penalty killer as they take their short skate before u-turning back to the group, even worse when said third line player is barely cheered because they're not as heralded. Outside of when my team won because I had a vested interest, they've mostly been pretty bland as an impartial observer.
I don't even remember when it really changed, I just remember at one time that's how it was done, and preferred it. If I could change one aspect of the presentation that I'd think would improve it the most that would be it. Just my opinion of course, others I'm sure disagree.
Perhaps the Cup's simply been won too often on the road recently, makes the ceremony anticlimactic.
What does irk me about the presentation is how "corporatized" it feels (don't know of a better word). I preferred in the past when after the Cup was handed to the captain, the team would surround them as it's raised and skate with the holder as they parade it around the ice, handing it off between each other as they skate in celebration as a group. The way it's devolved (imo) into the current iteration, where the team stands still at center ice watching as one person takes their turn to skate away from the group, just comes off as artificial, as if somewhere along the line teams were instructed to celebrate this way so the league could have the close up shots of each player skating with the cup for advertising purposes instead of a spontaneous expression of the team's emotions.
Something about it just diminishes the team aspect of it to me, especially in some years when half the time when the camera lingers back to the group they're all half-heartedly clapping for the current carrier as they wait their turns, or aren't even paying attention as they're busy with one of their other teammates/family/interviews/etc. After the big names/feel good stories I barely feel anything when the camera guy follows the third line penalty killer as they take their short skate before u-turning back to the group, even worse when said third line player is barely cheered because they're not as heralded. Outside of when my team won because I had a vested interest, they've mostly been pretty bland as an impartial observer.
I don't even remember when it really changed, I just remember at one time that's how it was done, and preferred it. If I could change one aspect of the presentation that I'd think would improve it the most that would be it. Just my opinion of course, others I'm sure disagree.
