NHL update
I listened to Ted Saskin representing the NHLPA on Sportsnet today and I was totally astounded by how little grasp of this lockout situation he really has. Saskin stated that the NHL fans would hold this wasted season against the league, not the players association, and that if the NHL ever tried to replace the NHL superstars, no hockey fan would accept the new roster of players.
I hate to break it to the NHLPA, but I am one hockey fan who feels the league is entirely justified in locking the players out, and if this season is pooched (which I'm confident it's doomed to be) then i'd happily watch an entirely recast NHL.
An independent audit by former Chair of the US Securities & Exchange Comission Arthur Levitt determined that last season the NHL lost nearly $275 million dollars. NHLPA spokespeople are discrediting the numbers which I think is ridiculous. A) Arthur Levitt doesn't give a fuck about the NHL... he certainly won't put his reputation on the line for Gary Bettman. B) even if the numbers are wrong... lets say they're off incredibly by $100 million dollars, the league is still losing $175 million a year, which is still so unsustainable that the difference is negligible.
I'd love to see a televised debate between Bettman and Saskin... possibly followed by a fan vote determining which side had to make the concessions that would get the players back on the ice. If this dispute isn't resolved soon the NHLPA will probably find themselves with no bargaining power seeing as how they'll have no league to speak of.
I hate to break it to the NHLPA, but I am one hockey fan who feels the league is entirely justified in locking the players out, and if this season is pooched (which I'm confident it's doomed to be) then i'd happily watch an entirely recast NHL.
An independent audit by former Chair of the US Securities & Exchange Comission Arthur Levitt determined that last season the NHL lost nearly $275 million dollars. NHLPA spokespeople are discrediting the numbers which I think is ridiculous. A) Arthur Levitt doesn't give a fuck about the NHL... he certainly won't put his reputation on the line for Gary Bettman. B) even if the numbers are wrong... lets say they're off incredibly by $100 million dollars, the league is still losing $175 million a year, which is still so unsustainable that the difference is negligible.
I'd love to see a televised debate between Bettman and Saskin... possibly followed by a fan vote determining which side had to make the concessions that would get the players back on the ice. If this dispute isn't resolved soon the NHLPA will probably find themselves with no bargaining power seeing as how they'll have no league to speak of.
