NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman met the press in Detroit
yesterday and "turned away shot after shot" from the media
during his state of the league remarks, according to Brian
Hanley of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Bettman admitted the
product could use "some fine-tuning," but added, "I reject
the idea this game is in trouble" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/11).
Bettman called the league's low TV ratings an "aberration,"
adding, "Television is still a work in progress. We went
from six to 11 games on Fox. Maybe that was too much." On
the strength of the league: "Attendance is strong. Our
franchises never have been stronger" (NEWSDAY, 6/11). More
Bettman: "I reject the notion that there's declining
interest. We think the regular season is meaningful.
That's why we play to over 90 percent of capacity. Our fans
like our game" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/11). Bettman:
"Now we're trying to find our way in a very competitive
television marketplace. .... It's a building process. And I
think people are too apt to keep score or make judgements
too soon" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/11). Bettman's remarks came
as SI ran a feature on the league in this week's issue by
Michael Farber entitled, "Is Anyone Watching?" See (#10).
REAX: In Toronto, Damien Cox writes that after the
press conference, one is "left with three possible
conclusions" on Bettman: "One, he really knows and believes
what he's saying. Two, he doesn't and is simply doing a
p.r. rumba. Three, after more than five years on the job,
he still has no real feel for the game." Cox concludes that
when it comes to hockey, Bettman "still sounds like a
basketball guy" (TORONTO STAR, 6/11). In Edmonton, Terry
Jones says Bettman's "head was in the clouds" and added that
he "was more defensive than the majority of his teams"
(EDMONTON SUN, 6/11). In Vancouver, Tony Gallagher writes
Bettman "has more problems that solutions these days"
(Vancouver PROVINCE, 6/11). In Toronto, Allan Maki writes
that Bettman has "been rained on so often this season it's a
wonder he hasn't grown roots. ... [But] Bettman sees only
what he wants to see. It's always a wonderful life in
Bettman's world. Present population: one" (GLOBE & MAIL,
6/11). In Philadelphia, Rich Hofman cites the drop in
newspaper coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals and the low TV
ratings: "If Bettman can't hear that message, he'll never
hear one." Hofman to Bettman: "Just don't deny what
happened this season, this really messed-up season"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/11). But in Detroit, Terry
Foster writes the NHL "needs Bettman or a guy like Bettman.
The game is not close to reaching its potential, but the
league was a total joke a decade ago" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/11).
