The NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman, you know the best Commisioner in sports, wonders why his sport is suffering and doesn't seem to attract new fans. Well this latest scheduling debacle is just one of the reasons why the fans have been begging for his dismissal for years.
The NHL got what it desperately needed in Sidney Crosby's PIttsburgh Penguins facing-off against the Detroit Red Wings with everything on the line. This means, the league who's struggling with marketing, will get it's best player in Sidney Crosby playing against it's best team in the Red Wings. Perfect situation for Bettman. Right?
Inexplicably it was four days ago since the last NHL game was played. The Red Wings ousted the Dallas Stars Monday. Having a four day gap in between games kills the momentum and almost gurantees the loss of any potential new fans. Those fans that might have gained a little interest in the Pens after how well they played in dismantling the Flyers are gone now. Those few "Deeeeeee-Troit Basketballlllll" fans that you might have stolen from the Pistons, while they were played a boring semi-finals series against Orlando, have now forgotten that the NHL is still playing.
Bettman's excuse for not playing until Saturday? He's waiting for Hockey Night In Canada. Wow. So you pretty much stomp-out any new interest in your league along with the two teams momentum for a country that you already have in your pocket? Earth to Gary Bettman, but Canada doesn't need a "Hockey Night" to follow the NHL. They'll watch whenever games are played. It's their religion.
How about you get a clue Mr. Bettman. Your focus should be to gain interest in the United States. Now you've assured that almost no one is interested in your sport in the States outside of Pittsburgh and Detroit. What ever happened to a little Marketing 101? Bettman how about your showing some consideration for the people of Detroit and scheduling some games around the Pistons schedule. Try not to make the fans have to pick between the Pistons and the Red Wings as much as possible.
Right now, David Stern is clearly doing a better job than you. Eliminate having several days-off in between games. This is a sure-fire way to keep new fans away. The playoffs are supposed to have a snow-ball effect. You're not supposed to stop the snowball from rolling. Besides, you're also doing the teams who are dominant a disservice by letting their opponents catch their breathe before starting the next series.
Finally, decide whether your league is about skilled skaters or goonery. You can't flip-flop. Penalty-calling has to be consistent, whether it's the preseason or the post season. Either you're about fighting and checking or skating and scoring. You say the league is about talented skaters like Pittsburgh's Evegeni Malkin and Washington's Alexander Ovechkin? Then have your linesman consistently enforce the rules. Mr. Bettman, fans don't expect you to be a rocket scientist or a German engineer. They just expect a little common sense.
The NHL still exisits
Remember us?
I am going to watch because it is a great sport
NHL playoffs are on?
Hockey is a great sport, but they need someone as commissioner with tons more energy and enthusiasm for the sport than Bettman. It would also help if the commissioner of the NHL has grown up in the sport. Bettman came from the NBA.
I hear you Ken, but that's my point exactly. You along with 8 others die hards lol, what about those who are sports fans? who are trying to overcome our nature and give hockey a shot? As a black male, where do I fit in? Bettman just need to get his mind right marketing. The gap in between games shows where his head is at.
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