AdmiralPred
Registered User
- Jun 9, 2005
- 1,923
- 0
Where does "marketing man" come from? He's a lawyer, was in the commissioner's office in the NBA when David Stern negotiated the NBA cap and a got a CBA that created a more economically competative system, and was brought into the NHL to do the same. I don't believe that Bettman's decisions on competition or marketing were/are his alone, if he had the authority to make such decisions for the League. To my knowledge there are committees appointed by the owners to oversee these areas of League business.Point being in hindsight it did not matter that NHL hired a "marketing man" like Bettman because hockey is still a fringe sport in the US. It made no difference. So next time I would rather see a Gretzky or Lemieux go for the job over an NBA employee.
How well is Gretzky going to act as commissioner? What credentials does he have for such a position? Being a "hockey guy'? Judging by the personnel and the on and off ice results in Phoenix, I'd say he doesn't seem to have that "management" quality.