Source: Gary Bettman inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame [upd: confirmed]

[tarheelhockey]

Being reported non-sarcastically from an inside source. He would go into the Builders category, with Willie O’Ree. Brodeur, St Louis, and Jayna Hefford the other inductees.



Thoughts?

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[armani]

Booooooooooooooooooo...

 

[Laineux]

Sounds good. Did more for the league than any player in history.

 

[HollaHaula]

Bettman deserves the HOF for keeping the Coyotes in Arizona this long

Say what you want about him, but he's been good for the league.

 

[DancesWithWookies]

Good for him. One of the most important figures in Hockey's history.

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

People booing him, I really don’t know why. Yeah the three lockouts happened. The game has grown a tremendous amount while he’s been in charge.

I think he deserves to be in.

 

[VeteranNetPresence]

Gary Bettman has been great for the game- pretty ridiculous how much hate he gets

 

[Alwalys]

of course, how could he not end up in the hhof?

 

[the halleJOKEL]

it could only be you

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Pretty much to be expected. Essentially any longterm commissioner in any sport would be expected to get elected to the Hall of Fame regardless of their actual merit.

That being said, I don't think anyone that's still involved in a sport or a profession should be considered eligible for the Hall of Fame while they are still active. I'm not suggesting that Bettman has any horrific skeletons in his closet, but we've seen plenty of circumstances of formerly respected individuals get into assorted Halls/Walks of Fame while still active only to have that completely blow up with discoveries of horrific pasts, the most notable example in my head being Joe Paterno. It also ignores the possibility of future actions that could completely change the situation.

Save the Hall of Fame for retired players, coaches, executives, and other people.

 

[Viqsi]

People booing him, I really don’t know why. Yeah the three lockouts happened. The game has grown a tremendous amount while he’s been in charge.

I think he deserves to be in.

At this point it's more of a silly tradition, I think.

 

[ScaredStreit]

People get too wrapped up in emotion, the league is significantly better shape now than when he took over.

 

[I am not exposed]

He should be inducted at the same time as Orpik imo.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Pretty much to be expected. Essentially any longterm commissioner in any sport would be expected to get elected to the Hall of Fame regardless of their actual merit.

That being said, I don't think anyone that's still involved in a sport or a profession should be considered eligible for the Hall of Fame while they are still active. I'm not suggesting that Bettman has any horrific skeletons in his closet, but we've seen plenty of circumstances of formerly respected individuals get into assorted Halls/Walks of Fame while still active only to have that completely blow up with discoveries of horrific pasts, the most notable example in my head being Joe Paterno. It also ignores the possibility of future actions that could completely change the situation.

Save the Hall of Fame for retired players, coaches, executives, and other people.

Yeah that is my first thought. It is deserved....but why now?

 

[Amadeus]

I'm a Bettman fan.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Heh, they are letting in anyone these days..

 

[BHD]

At least wait until he's no longer commissioner.

 

[BruinsBtn]

Who cares. No one visits the Hall of Fame to see the builder category.

 

[HanSolo]

At least wait until he's no longer commissioner.

While I think this is deserved for Gary, I agree with this.

 

[RABBIT]

good for him!

 

[The Macho King]

Bettman is unpopular, but he has shepherded the most successful expansion of the league, and it has been remarkably stable in that time. The only franchise to relocate in the past what - 20 years has been the Thrashers? The NFL and NBA haven't seen that type of stability, and the MLB only has because of some arcane rules.

 

[Oneiro]

I would never call three lockouts and constant rule-changing stability. And, in this era, with so much information and media, you'd have to be a complete moron not to grow the game.

Whatever. Not surprised.

 

[The Macho King]

I would never call three lockouts and constant rule-changing stability. And, in this era, with so much information and media, you'd have to be a complete moron not to grow the game.

Whatever. Not surprised.

He works for the owners. The owners decide to lockout - he's the face that gets all of the blame.

Blaming owners for lockouts is silly, especially when (a likely majority) of the fans of the league like most of the changes the lockouts brought. I for one like a hard salary cap, and I like the changes from the last lockout that limited cap-avoiding maneuvers.

 

[blood gin]

Well I mean he IS famous. And he was involved with hockey. For better or worse he had a huge impact.

Besides he's going in as a "builder" and while some are legit, you also have a lot of garbage entries. Jeremy Jacobs in the Hall? lol. Peter Karmanos? Bill Wirtz was satan himself and he's in. Harold Ballard. Nobody really takes a lot of the builders seriously. Those should be reserved for truly great gm's, executives, and trailblazers.

 

[Silky mitts]

I watched the goal by Jagr in the finals against the Blackhawks on pay cable. Shit was bad before Bettman.

 

[Freudian]

It's a no brainer. I guess they could wait until he's retired if they want, but he's a lock for the HHoF.