NHL Commissioner GARY BETTMAN yesterday was elected to the Hockey HOF as part of the class to be inducted in November, and he will enter the Hall with "mixed reviews," according to Frank Seravalli of TSN.ca. His "contributions to the game are innumerable," but Bettman has also "presided over three work stoppages and a fourth may soon be on the way" (TSN.ca, 6/26). ESPN's Emily Kaplan noted while there have been three lockouts under Bettman's watch, he "has grown the game's imprint." Leaguewide revenues were about $400M when Bettman "took the job" in '93, and now "projected revenues" for the '18-19 season are $4.54B. The NHL also has "grown from 24 to 31 teams in Bettman's tenure." He will be only the second "active commissioner to be inducted" into his sport's HOF, following PETE ROZELLE's induction into the Pro Football HOF in '85 (ESPN.com, 6/26).
WHY NOW? THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell wrote Bettman is an "outstanding" commissioner who deserved "to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder," but not this year. There will be people out there who "believe for a host of reasons that Bettman does not belong" in the HOF. The NHL's stance on concussions and CTE is "deplorable and will almost certainly put the league on the wrong side of history." That is an argument that "has merit, but the totality of his body of work has to be considered." However, to "induct Bettman while he's still active in his role as commissioner is an incredible conflict of interest" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 6/26). Sportsnet's John Shannon said Bettman has "accomplished a great deal as commissioner." But he added, "I do think that the issue of ‘why now?’ for Bettman is a fair question. Players have to wait three years ... so why not the same for the commissioner? Why not wait three years after Bettman has retired to put him in?" Shannon said Bettman “has at least eight good years” before maybe retiring. Shannon: “He’s got enough business to finish, as we have to get through another collective bargaining cycle, we have another U.S. TV deal to come. About the same time the contract in Canada -- the Rogers deal -- expires is probably the time Bettman leaves, and that’s nine years away" (Sportsnet, 6/26).
UNPOPULAR DECISION: In Toronto, Dave Feschuk writes Bettman's election means "boos are what we'd be hearing at November's induction ceremony -- that is, if they allowed actual fans to populate the formalwear affair." Those who have "long resented Bettman for his many crimes against the game ... can only shake their heads at the bizarre timing of Bettman's enshrining in hockey's not-so-sacred shrine." There were worthy inductees who "had their moment usurped by this misstep by the commissioner's bootlickers" (TORONTO STAR, 6/27). The AP noted Bettman's induction has "prompted sharp pushback from some former players angry about the league's handling of head injuries" (AP, 6/26). Sportsnet's Tim Micallef said there have been three lockouts under Bettman so “I understand why people are pissed” but the NHL’s business model was “more precarious than any of the four big sports.” Shannon: “He’s very easy to criticize and he accepts that, ... and he’s done a lot more good for the game and for the players -- obviously, for the owners -- than he has done bad and the problem is ... he’s not a lovable guy” (Sportsnet, 6/26).
OVERDUE RECOGNITION: Bettman will go into the HOF alongside MARTIN BRODEUR, MARTIN ST. LOUIS, ALEXANDER YAKUSHEV, JAYNA HEFFORD and WILLIE O'REE. SPORTSNET.ca's Scott Morrison wrote O'Ree's election was "long overdue" and "richly deserved." O'Ree broke the NHL color barrier in '58 and was "truly a pioneer." He "played just 45 NHL games, but the impact is still felt today." Bettman said, "There are a select few about who it truly can be said: 'He changed the game.' Willie O'Ree is among that select few." Morrison noted O'Ree for the past 20 years has been a "part of the NHL, but working off the ice" serving as the league's diversity ambassador, "helping to grow the game in many different communities" (SPORTSNET.ca, 6/26).
