Fans should unite to boycott NHL till Bettman resigns

[mikebflorida]

What exactly has Bettman done to improve the league? Would someone please explain that one?

He overexpanded which seriously diluted the talent pool and has caused a lot of money problems for those expansion teams but always says "we can make hockey work here"!

He has squeezed the passion out of the game. This much is obvious. Watch a playoff game from the 1980's and then watch one from the last 8 years. It doesn't even come close to comparing, the 80's and prior were so much better and yes, there was more violence but there was also a hell of a lot more scoring. It's obvious HE doesn't like fighting and has simply told referees to remove any player even remotely capable of dropping the mitts as evidenced by last year's playoffs. There were very few fights and the ones there were, were pretty terrible because the actual guys who can fight were wearing shirts and ties and sitting in the god damn press box.

The improvements to the game such as actually calling hooking, holding, and obstruction were not enacted by Bettman but by the rules committee.

Bettman has overseen 3 work stoppages, he's the owners whipping boy, he doesn't represent the game without predjudice, he represents the billionaires who pay his salary and that has to change.

He very clearly needs to go away, the NHL needs REAL changes. I also think the union needs to go away also or at least the clowns that represent the players, Donald Fehr. He's as much to blame but the owners are basically saying "it's our way or the highway" and Fehr has an ego the size of Canada and doesn't want to lose.

Bettman sucks, he's done nothing but ruin the game I loved in the 80's and early 90's. if you're a fan of the product they put out now, it just means you haven't seen hockey in its glory days, loaded with passion, plenty of fights, tons of scoring, and teams sold out their buildings in almost every city with a few such as Atlanta losing their team but it wasn't because of the fans, it was an owner who didn't want to own the team anymore, he sold it to Calgary which was smart.

The league needs to get smaller again with perhaps 20-24 teams max.

It needs to ENCOURAGE fighting.

It needs to get rid of Gary Bettman.

This is coming from a fan of my home team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, that would be retracted, I just know it's better for the health of the league.

[flamesblackace]

Originally Posted by thruby

if you shot him in the head, how would he come back?

Not that bright are you, rub?

[FrontLineAdmirals]

Originally Posted by steg1989

-Bars are now forced to play re-runs of SportsCenter and basketball, over some puck..probably losing a customer or two here and there.

In some cases, entire bars are closing because of their lost business - one's that solely rely on hockey as their main patron attraction.

[NameyMD]

Originally Posted by mikebflorida

yada yada

dude it's over. the league is finished

[lilburtis9363]

I'd rather unite to slaughter Bettman and his entire family so that his hockey ruining gene could never be spread again.

[straka91]

Id assassinate Buttman for a dollar but I cant see him behind that NHL podium thingy. If he was only human instead of chimp maybe he would of broke the 5 ft barrior. Poor guy, some one really needs to banana raid that mofo to death. Chimpman!!!Chimpman!!!Chimp POW. Boom goes the turd throwing beeeootttch.

Thats how the lock out will end.

[ChiefJunior]

Originally Posted by mikebflorida

What exactly has Bettman done to improve the league? Would someone please explain that one?

He overexpanded which seriously diluted the talent pool and has caused a lot of money problems for those expansion teams but always says "we can make hockey work here"!

He has squeezed the passion out of the game. This much is obvious. Watch a playoff game from the 1980's and then watch one from the last 8 years. It doesn't even come close to comparing, the 80's and prior were so much better and yes, there was more violence but there was also a hell of a lot more scoring. It's obvious HE doesn't like fighting and has simply told referees to remove any player even remotely capable of dropping the mitts as evidenced by last year's playoffs. There were very few fights and the ones there were, were pretty terrible because the actual guys who can fight were wearing shirts and ties and sitting in the god damn press box.

The improvements to the game such as actually calling hooking, holding, and obstruction were not enacted by Bettman but by the rules committee.

Bettman has overseen 3 work stoppages, he's the owners whipping boy, he doesn't represent the game without predjudice, he represents the billionaires who pay his salary and that has to change.

He very clearly needs to go away, the NHL needs REAL changes. I also think the union needs to go away also or at least the clowns that represent the players, Donald Fehr. He's as much to blame but the owners are basically saying "it's our way or the highway" and Fehr has an ego the size of Canada and doesn't want to lose.

Bettman sucks, he's done nothing but ruin the game I loved in the 80's and early 90's. if you're a fan of the product they put out now, it just means you haven't seen hockey in its glory days, loaded with passion, plenty of fights, tons of scoring, and teams sold out their buildings in almost every city with a few such as Atlanta losing their team but it wasn't because of the fans, it was an owner who didn't want to own the team anymore, he sold it to Calgary which was smart.

The league needs to get smaller again with perhaps 20-24 teams max.

It needs to ENCOURAGE fighting.

It needs to get rid of Gary Bettman.

This is coming from a fan of my home team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, that would be retracted, I just know it's better for the health of the league.

a)Expansion has to be approved by the owners. The owners are the ones who determine who and where gets a franchise, not Bettman.

b)Again, the changes that have occured in hockey, while Bettman may suggest things, comes from the owners. They are the ones that approve all them all. Blame the owners and gms for all the stupid ideas, rules etc.

c)Of course Bettman is the owners whipping boy. They are the ones that pay his salary. Why should that change? The person running the league will always be pro-owner. Just like the head of the players union.

d)Fighting is on its way out. It wouldn't matter who is in charge, except maybe Cherry. The fact is, most people don't think it is good for the game. I hate to say it, but they really don't. Too many non-hockey people are changing the way the game is being played. This will not change.

e) Yes the league needs to get smaller. However that won't happen anytime soon.

[ChiefJunior]

Originally Posted by fansince65

I take in three-four hockey games a week , the amount of PPL that are still wearing the Montreal Canadians and Toronto Maple Leaf Jerseys and hats and jackets is enough to make one throw up !!

The fans of both these teams will support then come hell or high water , I am a Bruin,s fan , I refuse to wear anything too do with the NHL or the Bruins as long as this lockout continues , my "BROTHER" on the other hand is a Leaf's fan , he goes to a lot of games with me , he always wears something with the Leafs logo on it , In fact he thinks I am nuts because I refuse to wear any of my Boston caps or leather jackets that I own .

Not wearing or buying any "T"s , Caps , Jerseys , Jackets , anything to do with any team in the NHL is one way of boycotting the NHL .
I know this will fall on deaf ears when it comes to the Canadians and Leaf fans , they just cant see they are still supporting the NHL during this lockout by wearing their prized jerseys caps or jackets to junior games .
I know some will think it just doesn't amount to a can of beans not to buy anything from the NHL teams stores , and it will only hurt the sports stores owners , but for every cap , jersey , jacket you buy you are putting money in the pockets of the owners .

THINK ABOUT IT THE NEXT TIME YOU BUY THAT X-MAS GIFT FOR YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER THAT HAS AN NHL LOGO ON IT , YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE NHL AND THIS LOCKOUT !!!!!!!!!!!

Ridiculous. You think people shouldn't wear a hockey shirt, jacket, hat etc.. because the NHL is on strike? What exactly will that prove? That you're mad? Get over it, in the end this matters 0.00001% in the grand scheme of things.

You think someone who buys their kid a hockey gift, is supporting the strike? Again, ridiculous. Have you ever thought that the gift may be for a kid that likes a certain hockey team or player? Most kids have zero clue why the NHL is on strike. Why upset a kid because you're mad?

Since the teachers are going on rotating strikes here, we might as well tell our kids not to hand in any homework. That'll show them eh?

[Blues 34]

I like the premise of this idea but you cannot get enough people to unite on anything these days so you are pissing in the wind even suggesting it in my opinion.

Both sides in this deal are banking on this, that is why they pull this ****.

When they finally do come back both sides will issue phony BS appologies. Some owners may even break down and gives season ticket holders a free jersey or some **** for sticking with them through another lockout ****ing rich elitist snobs that they are

[RayzorEdge]

There are too many blind cock sucking fans, even on this site, to make that work. I'm content enjoying the minor leagues alone where they play real hockey. I wouldn't want the band wagoners ruining them like they ruined the NHL.

[antonio106]

Know those Facebook campaigns to "boycott" gas stations so the price will go down? That.

Start a new league. New WHA. 60-40 gate split, try to snipe away NHL teams. Original six teams can't sustain top tier hockey by themselves.

[nilan30]

Originally Posted by Blues 34

I like the premise of this idea but you cannot get enough people to unite on anything these days so you are pissing in the wind even suggesting it in my opinion.

Both sides in this deal are banking on this, that is why they pull this ****.

When they finally do come back both sides will issue phony BS appologies. Some owners may even break down and gives season ticket holders a free jersey or some **** for sticking with them through another lockout ****ing rich elitist snobs that they are

One thing I've thought the NHL should do is suck it up and give everyone the Centre Ice package for free the first year they come back. Sure they'll take a hit but it may appease fans enough to make them remain fans.

I've had Centre Ice before but there's no way I'll pay for it again. I'll watch games on channels I already get but that's it. I'll probably still go to live games when I get the chance but that's only once every 3-4 years. As for merchandise I won't be buying any of that junk for a while either.

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by antonio106

Know those Facebook campaigns to "boycott" gas stations so the price will go down? That.

Start a new league. New WHA. 60-40 gate split, try to snipe away NHL teams. Original six teams can't sustain top tier hockey by themselves.

I just have one question , Where are they going to find enough arenas that hold over 12,000 fans to support another WHA that is not already owned by the NHL owners ???

Remember that's why the old WHA folded , no arenas that held enough fans to make their teams break even money wise ..

[djaye]

[canuck2]

blah blah blah.

All you suckers will be back when the puck is dropped.