Carman 387 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 Fair enough, and good luck in the funniest comment voting! I think I'm on your guys' side now anyway since Carman just brought Datsyuk into this (and crapped on him) for no good reason. I was going for dumbest post of the year actually.=( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
russianswede919293 95 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Bettman Quick go before they change my edits Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
russianswede919293 95 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 I know that he was talking about economics and s***, but I mean the only reason they turned things around is because when you suck that bad for that long you get enough talent to bring about a winner with your 4 straight 1st and 2nd overall picks...We'll see in 5 years when these guys start to leave and the Pen's miss the playoffs if the fans stay on board the bandwagon or if the "model" franchise is a bunch of bandwagoners, that will bail when the team struggles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NHLrules? 32 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 WIll never happen in Tampa. This may be a schock to Gary, but Tampa is in Florida. A football/baseball state. I wonder how he felt about the Pens pre Crosby. Oh wait he was sucking Lemieuxs wiener then too... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 Some of you need to think before you press "post" Bettman says that Pittsburgh was once a struggling team and is now a competitive, well supported team. He doesn't even use the word model. You are wasting your keystrokes unfotuantely. Whenever Bettman is mentioned in here....Bettman BAD Whenever Pittsburgh is mentioned in here....Pittsburgh BAD Whenever Crosby is mentioned in here....Crosby BAD Some of it probably justified but it doesn't take much for this forum to go off the deep end of stupidity regarding some things. Pittsburgh/Crosby usually are two of those things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 Did anyone else catch this part: "What everybody can learn from the Pittsburgh situation is, don't take a snapshot, don't speculate, don't write off franchises, because even when things are looking bleak, it doesn't mean that franchises, when you solve their problems, can't be fixed and saved," Bettman said. "This is a franchise that was in bankruptcy and needed a new building desperately and look at where we are today -- 108 sellouts, new building, record ratings, new radio deal. I think it's OK. The fact is we believe all of our franchises in all of our markets can be OK." "When you solve their problems, by rigging the draft lottery, ensuring biased reffing, and promote them more than any other team in the league..." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 Bettman says that the situation in Pittsburgh is an example of what could (and we should hope does) happen with franchises like Tampa Bay, the Islanders, and Phoenix. A team in a well-populated area managed to develop a good, young team and solid fan base over the course of a few years. He's not saying "Pittsburgh is awesome, Detroit sucks" or whatever you guys are hearing. The Lightning are in trouble? Wow. The had one of the most supportive fanbases of any expansion team in recent memory. Hell- they were selling out their first rink from season 1 on (even though it was a temporary solution that had terrible sightlines and generally sucked as far as rinks go). It's pretty sad if the Lightning ownership managed to squander the kind of goodwill and support their team had for years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Electrophile 3,554 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 Gary, Gary, Gary........get off their nuts. It's unseemly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CdnWingsFanEh 2 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 Regardless of the "facts" I reserve my right as a LGW member to write farse comments aimed at Crosby, Malkin, Bettman, and the Penguins organization, using any information they decide to "give me" in context (or not). I would go so far as to say its my duty as a Wings fan, nay, a hockey fan to badmouth them whether justified or not. Besides, I hear there's a funniest comment award at the end of the year. That 55fan better watch out cuz I'm gunning for the championship Get off his back, people, he's just doing his duty as a hockey fan! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted April 16, 2009 (edited) Model franchise? being the worst freakin team 4-5years in a row, getting 2 1st overall 2 2nd overall picks and voila - a much better team, anyone can do that. Edited April 16, 2009 by mindfly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 Also, I think it's interesting that he talks about the amount of interest and revenue the team has generated and not the team on the ice. Of course the two are related, but that's not what Bettman or the article focuses on. Bettman's not supposed to care about the team on the ice. He's the commissioner - he's supposed to be neutral. It's his job to worry about the interest and revenue each team generates, because that's what the owners hire him for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
softshoes 83 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 15yrs of EXTREME success dims our memories to when we weren't a model franchise. I'm thinking that back in 97' there were a few in the league that thought the Wings doing well again was good for the league too. Bettman is hanging his hat on Pitt/Crosby because he thinks promoting them promotes new fan interest. IF he wants them to win I'm sure it's because he thinks it will further the league and generate new fans. I'm to lazy to do the leg work but I would like to know the ratings of nationally televised games i.e. which games/teams really generated more viewers. Push comes to shove I'd rather have Bettman playing golf with Sid and the gang while Nick and the gang play golf with Stanley. (of course I'm assuming Stanley makes one hell of a ball washer). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 Blowing it out of proportion. Get over your hate for Bettman/Crosby. Bettman never said "Pittsburgh was a model franchise", that was the writer's interpretation. If you are going to flame Bettman at-least flame him using his own words, and trust me there are enough of his own thoughts out there to burn down a country. Just because people like to jump to conclusions without reading the article... All Pittsburgh is a "model" for is the Floridas and Phoenixs of the world as far as turning the organization around. He's not saying that they're the best-run franchise or the envy of the Wings or whatever you guys are reading there. I can't really argue with the actual point being made there, and anyone who remembers the Pens pre-Crosby (you know, when they were going to move to KC) should agree. Although that said, making a couple of no-brainer draft picks and reaping the rewards (winning=fans=sellouts=TV ratings) doesn't mean you're well run. If Tavares lives up to the hype, the Islanders will be called well-run in a few years, bank on it. These posters put it exactly as I would. Just because the words Bettman and Pittsburgh exist in the same sentence doesn't mean he thinks it is the best team/franchise in the league. Check the link before you wreck yourself! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
b.shanafan14 733 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 haha Gary Bettman.... the trick is to time being the worst team in the league right when you have the opportunity to pick up Malkin, Crosby, Fluery, and Staal. That the model Bettman has for his struggling teams, thats the model of Bettman's NHL franchise. Not drafting smart and winning games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grimace1970 81 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 BOOOOOOOO! That means every team that plays them will be playing the officials too. Wait. I guess that has been happening all season anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoob 0 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 A Flyers fan had this to say about the article: "The Red Wings are a model franchise - competitive every year and rebuild from the draft. The Penguins are an embarrassment and a joke." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 haha Gary Bettman.... the trick is to time being the worst team in the league right when you have the opportunity to pick up Malkin, Crosby, Fluery, and Staal. That the model Bettman has for his struggling teams, thats the model of Bettman's NHL franchise. Not drafting smart and winning games. Um, they drafted all those players you mentioned. How is that not drafting smart? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z Winged Dangler 2,082 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 where was gary bettman with his financial aid when the jets and nordiques needed it, as well as the whalers? all he cares about is the deep south with their lack of fanbase. put the game where it belongs! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dawgs 0 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 The reason for all this hate is that the NHL has done everything in its power to promote Crosby as the next great thing in hockey. People resent having this shoved down thier throats. They dont like the NHL basically telling them thier too stupid to choose thier own superstars so well create one for them before he ever even steps on an NHL ice surface. Let the kid play, and if hes good enough and charismatic enough, the fans will catch on. Unfortunately for Crosby and the NHL, he simply isnt charismatic enough and his game is just on a par with several other players throughout the league. I blame much of this problem on the Canadian media who have been fawning over Crosby as the next "Great One" since he was 12. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,803 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 This is Bettman's way of saying that he wants the Pens to win the Cup this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shoreline Report post Posted April 16, 2009 (edited) While I think Buttman is right in the regard that they survived a very difficult situation under Mario, and with their contract involving Pittsburgh, which would go toward his philosophy that teams shouldn't just up and move when things are tough, he also over-emphasizes it and turns it into a love fest in a sense. What's especially not surprising is some blowing this way out of proportion to try and justify way too much nonsensical vitriol toward a single individual or team. Edited April 16, 2009 by Shoreline Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 Um, they drafted all those players you mentioned. How is that not drafting smart? So not ******* up and taking the clear-cut best picks every, when you consistently pick in the top 2, is some great drafting strategy? Not to mention getting the benefit of having high draft picks in a draft that combined TWO draft years. That Flyers fan has it right. Basically Bettman is saying, if you suck enough, then just get really high draft picks in the deepest draft of the century and build around them. Yeah thats such an easy path to emulate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 I think we need to be careful on the drafting perspective and putting the Wings too high up on a pedastal. I was reading the Hockey News yesterday and there was a piece in there on the past 10 years or so. In terms of players each team drafted in the past 10 years, Detroit was dead last in terms of the number of those players playing in the NHL. Of course, some of that may be a function of them having low picks each year, but on average, they are picking 10-15 spots lower in the first round, shouldn't make that big of a difference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
motorcitykid 42 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 (edited) I'll take our GREAT scouting, the Cups, snazzy rings & makin' history. Pittsburgh can have Sissy Crosby. And Bettman can keep pushing the NHL poster boy. Zzzzz Edited April 16, 2009 by motorcitykid Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted April 16, 2009 The fix is in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
