77 replies to this topic

[Donaldjr2448]

After the Boston Bruins earned their first Stanley Cup in 39 years, the Commissioner of the NHL came on to the ice to present the Conn Smythe trophy. Before Bettman could reach the red carpet, the Boo's began raining down from the stands.

I have watched sports for over 25+ years and I have never heard Boo's like that for one person! I also have never laughed soooo loud in my life either.

I think we can all agree that Bettman totally deserves this, but I wonder if he got the message? If former players do not like him, and the fans; whats the point of staying at your current work place? I understand he is good for the owners, but I do not believe his best interest is in the game! I guess the better question would be, would the boo's have been as loud if Vancouver was being presented the Cup??? My guess is yes, but its hard to say!

Anyway, I could go on about different angles of this, but what is everyone else's thoughts????

[newfy]

He gets booed like that every year he presents the cup

[evilmrt]

He was visibly uncomfortable when the booing was drowning out his little speech. He does that nervous tick thing thats hilarious.

[dirtydangles]

last year it was jokes too. hes an idiot. ready for someone new to take over asap.....

[P. Marlowe]

I felt bad for him. I don't care if someone dislikes the way he does his job, but booing him like that... Gets too personal.

Like someone said on the other thread: the Cup presentation isn't about Bettman, it's about the Cup and the winning team.

[13GoWings40]

I thought it was hilarious, you could tell the crowd was getting to him by the tone of his voice. I doubt this will have any effect on his employment though, the owners all love him.

[Echolalia]

I felt bad for him. I don't care if someone dislikes the way he does his job, but booing him like that... Gets too personal.

Like someone said on the other thread: the Cup presentation isn't about Bettman, it's about the Cup and the winning team.

I don't like the way the guy runs the league, but I can't stand when he gets booed so monumentally each year. I cringe every time it happens.

[crotty99]

I hate it. I realize the majority think he's done a bad job but I think this "tradition" hurts the cup presentation. It might be unpopular opinion but it just seems a little immature to me.

[SouthernWingsFan]

After the Boston Bruins earned their first Stanley Cup in 39 years, the Commissioner of the NHL came on to the ice to present the Conn Smythe trophy. Before Bettman could reach the red carpet, the Boo's began raining down from the stands.

I have watched sports for over 25+ years and I have never heard Boo's like that for one person! I also have never laughed soooo loud in my life either.

I think we can all agree that Bettman totally deserves this, but I wonder if he got the message? If former players do not like him, and the fans; whats the point of staying at your current work place? I understand he is good for the owners, but I do not believe his best interest is in the game! I guess the better question would be, would the boo's have been as loud if Vancouver was being presented the Cup??? My guess is yes, but its hard to say!

Anyway, I could go on about different angles of this, but what is everyone else's thoughts????

It was pretty hilarious and I got a kick out of it like probably most others in here.

Unfortunately, his #1 job isn't supposed to cater to the fans directly. He basically has to keep the owners happy. They're happy first, he stays in a job. Catering to the fans obviously comes within the territory of making sure the owners are happy in some way/shape/form, but he reports to the owners.

I don't necessarily like it either, but they've liked the job he has done which is most important to his security, so I don't hear ramblings that he is leaving anytime soon.

[sleepwalker]

Poor little guy tries to delude himself too. I've heard him say several times before that he gets just as many cheers as boos, but the boos just drown out the cheers, so it sounds like everyone is booing him.

Yeah right, Gary... You keep telling yourself that.

[CaliWingsNut]

He got directly asked why he always gets boo'ed when presenting the cup on CNBC before the game.

http://video.cnbc.co...nNlYXJjaCI6IiJ9

It gets good at 2:45. However it's a pretty unsuccessful interview (by bettman) overall.

Edited by CaliWingsNut, 16 June 2011 - 09:08 PM.

[joesuffpaulson]

I hated the way he was running his greasy fingers on the cup too

[GMRwings1983]

Wow, those people in Vancouver really got carried away with all that booing.

[Seraph]

That's happened every year for a long time, at least since the lockout. Some players don't even pause to take the picture with him, a la Rod Brind'amour in 2006.



I'll give it to you though. I think the fact that ALL the Vancouver fans are knowledgeable about how the league is run, it was SUPER loud. That plus the fact that they were pissed that they had lost, haha. There was also a "Bettman SUCKS!" chant that was very audible on the broadcast. Kind of ruins the moment, but pretty hilarious.

[wings1110]

2 bad the rioters didnt get a hold of him, i know thats prolly in bad taste 2 say cuz he would have been killed....but hes had a hand in ruining the game i love and tbh i wouldnt care.

[VM1138]

I felt bad for him. I don't care if someone dislikes the way he does his job, but booing him like that... Gets too personal.

Like someone said on the other thread: the Cup presentation isn't about Bettman, it's about the Cup and the winning team.

You're half right. I see what you're getting at, but that is the only way for fans to express their dislike of him. A letter writing campaign won't have any effect. But public embarrassment is about the only influence the fans can have. It's not like they're going to stop going to games just because they don't like him.

[Konnan511]

Boo him all you want, won't stop the fact he is the commisioner and will be for quite a while still. The owners love him (he makes them money) and the players love him (he keeps raising the keep which inflates player salaries).

You're half right. I see what you're getting at, but that is the only way for fans to express their dislike of him. A letter writing campaign won't have any effect. But public embarrassment is about the only influence the fans can have. It's not like they're going to stop going to games just because they don't like him.

Disagree, the booing has no effect. As long as the shareholders are happy and the game is growing, he couldn't care less about how the fans perceive him. Think about it, you're doing your job and absolutely crushing it for your shareholders. You're selling a product to customers but they all hate you, but they're still all buying it without prejudice. Would you care how they felt about you if the shareholders and the people who hired loved you and the job you were doing? I wouldn't.

[Doc Holliday]

Booing is pathetic unless you have a reason to have such hate for a guy. (zomg the league isn't the #1 sport he must suck so bad!)

We have an excuse with the way him and Ilitch have gone at it. They hate each other. What is Vancouver's excuse?

[Konnan511]

Booing is pathetic unless you have a reason to have such hate for a guy. (zomg the league isn't the #1 sport he must suck so bad!)

We have an excuse with the way him and Ilitch have gone at it. They hate each other. What is Vancouver's excuse?

He won't bring another NHL franchise to Canada...oh wait... I know!!! He's not Canadian!!!

[haroldsnepsts]

I hate it. I realize the majority think he's done a bad job but I think this "tradition" hurts the cup presentation. It might be unpopular opinion but it just seems a little immature to me.

Agreed.

I'm by no means a Bettman fan, but it spoils part of what should be a great moment in handing out the Conn Smythe.