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| Bettman studied labor relations at ] in ], and graduated in ]. After receiving a law degree from ] in ], Bettman joined a large New York City law firm. | Bettman studied labor relations at ] in ], and graduated in ]. After receiving a law degree from ] in ], Bettman joined a large New York City law firm. | ||
| In ] ] for a new ] with the ]. As of ], Bettman has consistently demanded what he calls ''cost certainty'' for clubs. |
In ] ] for a new ] with the ]. As of ], Bettman has consistently demanded what he calls ''cost certainty'' for clubs. However, Goodenow, along with most other NHLPA members, calls Bettman's "cost certainty" a ] for a ], one the union says it will never accept. The current CBA expired on ], ] (one day after the ] final in ]). A current ] has cost the NHL the entire 2004-2005 season. | ||
| In ] of ], Bettman was named one of ] five worst executives. Included in the list of reason's were the NHL lockout, the ] poor ] ], and constantly declining revenues. | In ] of ], Bettman was named one of ] five worst executives. Included in the list of reason's were the NHL lockout, the ] poor ] ], and constantly declining revenues. | ||
Revision as of 00:23, 17 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. However, Goodenow, along with most other NHLPA members, calls Bettman's "cost certainty" a euphemism for a salary cap, one 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 current lockout has cost the NHL the entire 2004-2005 season.
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 which may not guarantee the league revenue.
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