A response to the NHL Commissioner

@joeyerdonpht Posted on twitter January 9/2013 approx. 6 PM

I believe I speak for a majority of hockey fans in Canada in saying -

(1) We are very knowledgeable. We catch every word/tweet. We have fans hiding out in hotels to get live tweets. We read every article and analyze every word. We are reading Bettman's speech today and not really finding any words that surprise us. Each of us have our views on Bettman, which do not likely change in one afternoon. Our views are complex, especially in Winnipeg, where the same commissioner presided over the loss of the Jets 1.0 and also the return of the Jets 2.0.

(2) It is too simplistic to say that we are accepting Bettman's apology. We do not "accept" it. To say this would imply that all is well with the NHL world. It is not. Far too many games have been missed in work stoppages. Some of us blame the PA, some of us blame the NHL, some of us blame both, but it is not necessary or good to lose seasons. To have 1 full season lost and then another 1/2 season just 7 years later is neither explainable nor acceptable. We fans do not "accept" anything about this. We "recognize" the apology - we do not "accept" it.

(3) We are especially appalled at what the repeated work stoppages say about the lack of regard for this major league sport. A "commissioner" is in charge of the league, but also represents the sport itself to the community of fans. Therefore, the commissioner should be vigilantly watching for events that may harm that major league, and its sport. When the commissioner sees signs that harm may arise from a set of circumstances, he should take steps to prevent that harm from occurring. This may include a more aggressive action in relation to the labor process.

Was it really necessary for Don Fehr, a seasoned veteran of sports labor negotiations, to have so long to begin negotiations? Did it really take the PA till July to ASK for financial data? The "commissioner" should have taken a more aggressive control of the negotiation process. The commissioner may not be able to dictate the timing to the PA, but he should use whatever means at his disposal - including public disclosure and moral suasion, to encourage the earliest possible commencement of negotiations, and the provision of all possible information requirements. To be dealing with information requests still within 30 days of the expiration of the CBA is unconscionable.

So, to conclude, the process was not well managed. We recognize the apology. We do not accept it.

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After my morning cup of coffee, I sometimes go by my nickname, Geoff Brookes.

Swervinmervin, @justgotupndjava