Wanna hear irony?

[pixburgher66]

After sitting and thinking about it...I think the NHL actually has the best commish out of the four major sports. Seriously...with Czar Goodell screwing the pooch over at NFL HQ, Selig being...well Selig, and the NBA quickly approaching a lockout as well as having some screwed up policies...the NHL may actually have it best right now. That's scary. JMO however, feel free to disagree. Still not a big Bettman fan however...

 

[dash]

My respect for Bettman would increase exponentially if he were to transfer Colin Campbell to another NHL league position and establish a three person committee to handle supplementary discipline matters. On that point, why has Bettman been so quiet on this matter, Bill Daly has been doing all the talking, I realize Gary is busy running the Phoenix Coyotes, but c'mon man...

 

[SLY]

Its all shady business... Thats business in general. They all have each others backs. Nothing is gonna happen. You have outrage from fans, and Bettman still backed him with "full support".

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Bettman should just thank his lucky stars that the cdn dollar is close to par because if it wasnt, this would be a 21 team league almost overnight

 

[dash]

In my opinion - Bettman has done two positive things for the league (although the implementation of the Canadian Assistance Plan when the Canadian dollar was struggling in the late 90's was done too late to save the teams in Winnipeg and Quebec City).

The other positive thing was implementating a hard salary cap to somewhat level the playing field (even though it cost hockey fans an entire season).

Bottom line: Even when Bettman does something good, it comes with a heavy price.

 

[Slimpikins]

Goodell is the best commish hands down. He grows his game while being mindful of the fans. Shortening the preseason and extending the regular season is a great move.

He has noticed that the NFL has an image problem and he has started attempting to correct it. It is a huge problem and it will take a lot of time to fix, if it even can be fixed. But the guys has his finger on the pulse. No other commissioner is close, IMO.

 

[mattola]

I dont know if you want to count in the AHL but this guy does a pretty damn good job

TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League | President and CEO

 

[puckhead]

matt, what's the new avatar from?

 

[dash]

Goodell is the best commish hands down. He grows his game while being mindful of the fans. Shortening the preseason and extending the regular season is a great move.

He has noticed that the NFL has an image problem and he has started attempting to correct it. It is a huge problem and it will take a lot of time to fix, if it even can be fixed. But the guys has his finger on the pulse. No other commissioner is close, IMO.

I agree with slim...I think you also have to consider that Goodell took over from Pete Rozelle who did a fantastic job with the NFL. Never easy to follow in the footsteps of greatness and Goodell has done a fine job with the NFL.

Edit: I guess I forgot about Paul Tagliabue (blame it on old age)

 

[Comeds]

I think Goodell has done a fine job but I also think thats the easiest major sport to be the commissioner of. Its got a huge audience built right in. I am not sure he grew it much if any at all. Tagliabue (sp) was not as good not as good as Rozelle by most accounts and the game flourished under him, its just the product is so much in demand.

I do agree with the image problem and his attempts to fix that. Nice moves.

As for the shortened pre-season and longer regular season (is that a sure thing) not everyone is in favor of it, not even all fans. The players I have heard comment on it are clearly against it and I understand why. Its quite a toll on them.

Might not be a great movie with the labor negotiations being stuck right now.

So while I think he has done a fine job, basically as long as he doesnt fuck things up Goodell with be great.

 

[Comeds]

I agree with slim...I think you also have to consider that Goodell took over from Pete Rozelle who did a fantastic job with the NFL. Never easy to follow in the footsteps of greatness and Goodell has done a fine job with the NFL.

*cough*Paul Tagliabue*cough*

A favorite locally for his Baltimore should "build a museum" comment while passing over Baltimore to expand into Jacksonville. A move that all but guaranteed some franchise would be moving, and 15 years later with the Jacksonville franchise still being on shakey ground looks like a poor move. Still.

Plus his begrudgingly giving Houston a franchise when he so desperately wanted it to go to LA was always a laugh for me.

 

[mattola]

matt, what's the new avatar from?

Ill send it to your email. it will explain everything

 

[filosofy29]

My problem with Bettman is that he's a snide, little prick. He's done some ok things, but it seems for every good thing he does, he does two bad ones. Good leaders should be willing to admit and amend mistakes. Bettman's ego prohibits both of these.

-Some games are 3 point games, some games are 2 point games? Really? Horrible.
-Expansion to bad hockey markets when there is no groundswell in the location in the first place.....Horrible. Minnesota should have 3 teams in the state before Phoenix has a team.
-Terrible marketing. Casual fans probably think there are only two good players in the NHL. Hockey players are usually very personable and are good guys most of the time (even if they do tend to be boring). The NHL has terrible marketing. A lot of commercials don't even have NHL players in them and the non-NHL player doesn't even have an NHL jersey on. WTF?
-Send a message to the fans and the league when you have a ridiculous crony like Colon Campbell, fire him promptly when he (continuously) gives the league a bad name.....don't just sweep it under the rug and perpetuate the Good Old Boy stereotype.

Anyway, there's more, but I'll save you guys all the trouble

/rant

(In my humble opinion of course)

 

[Slimpikins]

I think Goodell has done a fine job but I also think thats the easiest major sport to be the commissioner of. Its got a huge audience built right in. I am not sure he grew it much if any at all. Tagliabue (sp) was not as good not as good as Rozelle by most accounts and the game flourished under him, its just the product is so much in demand.

I do agree with the image problem and his attempts to fix that. Nice moves.

As for the shortened pre-season and longer regular season (is that a sure thing) not everyone is in favor of it, not even all fans. The players I have heard comment on it are clearly against it and I understand why. Its quite a toll on them.

Might not be a great movie with the labor negotiations being stuck right now.

So while I think he has done a fine job, basically as long as he doesnt fuck things up Goodell with be great.

Good points. I do think that the NFL is the easiest of the major sports to run and he pretty much just has to not screw it up. Unfortunately the other three are messing their sports up. So he kind of gets the win by default.

I think a majority of fans want the preseason shortened, especially season ticket holders who have to pay the same amount for the preseason as they do the rest of the games (and me becuase it is horribly boring). Of course players won't like it but I think it will benifit the NFL in the long run.

If the NFL loses a season to a lockout I may change my vote but I believe that the difference between Goodell and Bettman is that Goodell will not let it get to that point.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

In my opinion - Bettman has done two positive things for the league (although the implementation of the Canadian Assistance Plan when the Canadian dollar was struggling in the late 90's was done too late to save the teams in Winnipeg and Quebec City).

The other positive thing was implementating a hard salary cap to somewhat level the playing field (even though it cost hockey fans an entire season).

Bottom line: Even when Bettman does something good, it comes with a heavy price.

This.

As much as it hurt to lose that entire season, I do actually give the guy credit for sticking to his guns on that one. It hurt in the short term, but I think it will be good for the overall health of the game in the long run.

If I had any rep power, I would totally give it to you

 

[pixburgher66]

Okay, here's my beef with Goodell...he doesn't think of his players, and that WILL hurt him. At this point there are major issues within the NFL/NFLPA relationship, and I think a lot of that has to do with Goodell worrying too MUCH about the fans. While it is vital to the further growth of the sport that fans are appeased, the truth of the matter is while the fans may complain, they're still going to watch, but players...well, they hold a little more power than that. The idea of lengthening the regular season is asinine (no offense to those who support it). Have you looked at teams IR and daily injury lists? They're lengthy, even with his crusade against head shots. The truth of the matter is injuries happen in contact sports, there's no way to avoid that...but if you make the season two weeks longer, there will be no one left to play in the postseason. Maybe it's just me, but I'd like to see a competitive postseason instead of 2 extra regular season games. I understand that they would cut back the preseason, but let's be honest...the starting players don't usually play entire games, and for the most part aren't hitting 'as hard' then. I just look around the league and see good teams that are already limping...and I can't imagine what they'd look like with another 2 games added in.

**Another opinion of mine (I know...this whole thing is overly opinionated, and I apologize) is that the NFL is drifting towards the NHL's inconsistency as far as disciplinary action...maybe it's because I'm a Steelers fan...but I think ANYONE who watched that game yesterday had to see that they're being focused on. ***Sidenote: put the QBs in skirts already...(I'm looking at you Brady)

 

[Slimpikins]

Okay, here's my beef with Goodell...he doesn't think of his players, and that WILL hurt him. At this point there are major issues within the NFL/NFLPA relationship, and I think a lot of that has to do with Goodell worrying too MUCH about the fans. While it is vital to the further growth of the sport that fans are appeased, the truth of the matter is while the fans may complain, they're still going to watch, but players...well, they hold a little more power than that. The idea of lengthening the regular season is asinine (no offense to those who support it). Have you looked at teams IR and daily injury lists? They're lengthy, even with his crusade against head shots. The truth of the matter is injuries happen in contact sports, there's no way to avoid that...but if you make the season two weeks longer, there will be no one left to play in the postseason. Maybe it's just me, but I'd like to see a competitive postseason instead of 2 extra regular season games. I understand that they would cut back the preseason, but let's be honest...the starting players don't usually play entire games, and for the most part aren't hitting 'as hard' then. I just look around the league and see good teams that are already limping...and I can't imagine what they'd look like with another 2 games added in.

**Another opinion of mine (I know...this whole thing is overly opinionated, and I apologize) is that the NFL is drifting towards the NHL's inconsistency as far as disciplinary action...maybe it's because I'm a Steelers fan...but I think ANYONE who watched that game yesterday had to see that they're being focused on. ***Sidenote: put the QBs in skirts already...(I'm looking at you Brady)

The NFL has never cared about it's players, that's not a Goodell thing. In fact no leagues really care about their players farther than how they can benifit the league. This is big business and big money.

If the season is lengthened they will increase the max players on the roster. It will offset the injuries and you would start to see starters pulled when a team is up 28-3 in the fourth quarter (Big Ben this weekend?).

You can't compare the ref's in game consitency with the Colin Campbell. You could compare Goodell's desicions on fines and suspensions but you can't compare a ref throwing a couple of BS flags (and they were BS) to the wheel 'o justice. Campbell has the benifit of replay and time to come to his decision but the refs do not.

 

[pixburgher66]

The NFL has never cared about it's players, that's not a Goodell thing. In fact no leagues really care about their players farther than how they can benifit the league. This is big business and big money.

If the season is lengthened they will increase the max players on the roster. It will offset the injuries and you would start to see starters pulled when a team is up 28-3 in the fourth quarter (Big Ben this weekend?).

You can't compare the ref's in game consitency with the Colin Campbell. You could compare Goodell's desicions on fines and suspensions but you can't compare a ref throwing a couple of BS flags (and they were BS) to the wheel 'o justice. Campbell has the benifit of replay and time to come to his decision but the refs do not.

Beyond comparing it to BS flags I was comparing it Goodell's new fascination with buckling down on a team that is known for smash-mouth football. His fines against players have been equally inconsistent. I sincerely don't blame Harrison for wanting to retire...I'd be ticked too if it were me. However, he is the boss, and when the boss wants you to change, you do it...BUT, that's hard to do when everyone else seems to be doing it the same way without similar repercussions.

 

[pixburgher66]

Bear in mind this is a rather biased opinion...but at the very least people can stop saying the Steelers get the better side of the league all the time...this year has been frustrating as far as fines go. There's a time to flag and there's a time to fine...a slightly late hit on a QB (literally half a second) is NOT a time to fine.

 

[Comeds]

Good points. I do think that the NFL is the easiest of the major sports to run and he pretty much just has to not screw it up. Unfortunately the other three are messing their sports up. So he kind of gets the win by default.

I think a majority of fans want the preseason shortened, especially season ticket holders who have to pay the same amount for the preseason as they do the rest of the games (and me becuase it is horribly boring). Of course players won't like it but I think it will benifit the NFL in the long run.

If the NFL loses a season to a lockout I may change my vote but I believe that the difference between Goodell and Bettman is that Goodell will not let it get to that point.

No argument about the preseason for the fans. Regular season prices for bad football that doesnt matter is terrible. I do think it serves a purpose for evaluating young talent though.

I would hope the players and owners would realize they are all happily making too much money to have a strike or lockout. I think they will.