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| '''Gary Bruce Bettman''' (born on ], ] in ]) is a former ] ] who took office as the ] of the ] on ], ]. He was brought in to try to give the NHL some of the same success the NBA (where Bettman served as the assistant general counsel under his mentor ] beginning in ]) has had in the ]. | '''Gary Bruce Bettman''' (born on ], ] in ]) is a former ] ] who took office as the ] of the ] on ], ]. He was brought in to try to give the NHL some of the same success the NBA (where Bettman served as the assistant general counsel under his mentor ] beginning in ]) has had in the ]. | ||
| Bettman's policies have included the aggressive (albeit, non-traditional) expansion of the league in the ] and ] ]. Soon after Bettman took office, the NHL's divisions were renamed to reflect geography (a la the NBA) rather than the league's history (i.e. the ] & ] Conferences). In addition, the league adopted a two-referee system; goal lines, blue lines and defensive-zone circles were moved, and playoff formats were changed. | Bettman's policies have included the aggressive (albeit, non-traditional) expansion of the league in the ] and ] ]. Soon after Bettman took office, the NHL's divisions were renamed to reflect geography (a la the NBA) rather than the league's history (i.e. the ] & ] Conferences). In addition, the league adopted a two-referee system; goal lines, blue lines and defensive-zone circles were moved, and playoff formats were changed. | ||
| In ], Bettman, allowed NHL players to compete in the ] in ]. This marked the first time that NHL players were allowed to compete in the Olympics. To serve as a tie-in to the Olympics, the ] altered the format to become a match-up of players from ] against players from everywhere else in the world. | In ], Bettman, allowed NHL players to compete in the ] in ]. This marked the first time that NHL players were allowed to compete in the Olympics. To serve as a tie-in to the Olympics, the ] altered the format to become a match-up of players from ] against players from everywhere else in the world. | ||
Revision as of 07:13, 16 February 2005
Gary Bruce Bettman (born on June 2, 1952 in Queens, New York) is a former NBA executive who took office as the commissioner of the National Hockey League on February 1, 1993. He was brought in to try to give the NHL some of the same success the NBA (where Bettman served as the assistant general counsel under his mentor David Stern beginning in 1981) has had in the United States.
Bettman's policies have included the aggressive (albeit, non-traditional) expansion of the league in the southern and western United States. Soon after Bettman took office, the NHL's divisions were renamed to reflect geography (a la the NBA) rather than the league's history (i.e. the Wales & Campbell Conferences). In addition, the league adopted a two-referee system; goal lines, blue lines and defensive-zone circles were moved, and playoff formats were changed.
In 1998, Bettman, allowed NHL players to compete in the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano. This marked the first time that NHL players were allowed to compete in the Olympics. To serve as a tie-in to the Olympics, the All-Star Game altered the format to become a match-up of players from North America against players from everywhere else in the world.
Bettman studied labor relations at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and graduated in 1974. After receiving a law degree from New York University in 1977, Bettman joined a large New York City law firm.
In 2004 negotiations commenced for a new collective bargaining agreement with the National Hockey League Players Association. As of August 2004, Bettman has consistently demanded what he calls cost certainty for clubs. To the NHLPA, however, "cost certainty" is little more than a euphemism for a salary cap the union says it will never accept. The current CBA expired on September 15, 2004 (one day after the World Cup of Hockey final in Toronto). A season-threatening lockout is now underway.
In January of 2005, Bettman was named one of Business Week's five worst executives. Included in the list of reason's were the NHL lockout, the league's poor television contract, and constantly declining revenues.
During Bettman's tenure, four franchises have declared bankruptcy, two Canadian teams relocated to U.S. cities, the 1994-1995 season was reduced to 48 games due to another labor dispute, and in 2004, he signed a two year television deal with NBC that does not guarantee the league any revenue.
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