DementedReality said:
and this leverage is more important than the stanley cup ?
and how did Bettman remove the absolute need to have a season ? just because *he* he said so ?
there needs to be a season. bettman and the owners needs are not more important than the stanley cup.
dr
Actually, I would have to disagree. The owners are first and foremost business men. They invested their money with the goal of making more money. Their personnal reasons for selecting hockey as an investment may vary, but the bottom line is, they expect to make money. If owners are consistently losing money, which has been the case for some time for many owners, they will look to find ways to get their investment to make money. I'm sure they would prefer not to shutdown the league to do that, but if they feel that is the only way to do what they feel must be done, they will do it because hockey is a business.
I'm a hockey fan. I love my team and miss hockey greatly. But, if we have to miss the Stanley Cup so that my team and others can continue to exist and have a reasonable chance to hold on to their players (I don't see that as being the case right now, and it has been discussed in previous threads so you can look them up if you want...), so be it.
It takes two side to come to an agreement. If their is no hockey this season, it is the fault of both sides, but I would put more blame on the players at this point. They are paid very well for what they do. If the owners get thier way, they will still be paid very well for what they do. Do you think the players really care about teams being able to keep teams together? I don't. The players only concern is making as much money as possible and if a less successful team will offer them more money, 9 times out of ten, they will go for the money. Neither side in this is concerned about hockey. They are both looking out for money.