November 04, 2005
Be Sure To Come Back After Lunch...
As I've scored a ticket to the National Press Club luncheon with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. I'll have a recap later.
UPDATE: Press club appearances have a dog and pony show quality about them, and are often used to buff the reputation of the person on the podium. It was pretty clear that's what Bettman's appearance is about, as he recounted the lockout, its resolution and the effort to win back the fans.
In other words, Bettman and the league took an absolute beating in the press last year, and he's trying to frame league comeback storied for the like of Business Week, Forbes and Fortune.
Some other points:
* Said the league was very happy with OLN, and that they were able to pull together a broadcast team as quickly as they did. Added that over the long run, the NHL would be a more prominent placement on the network, and would help grow the game. He also added that fans shouldn't judge the success of the partnership right now, as its simply too early to fairly evaluate it -- something that seemed to be a mild acknowledgement of ire over the quality of the OLN telecasts.
NB: The Press Club official moderating the event actually admitted that he liked the combination of Bill Clement and Keith Jones on the OLN studio show. I'm thinking he's the only one.
* Mentioned plans for an online real-time scoring system that would provide details like the speed of the puck, or a graphic analysis of a goalie's strengths and weaknesses.
* Acknowledged that it was in the plan from the beginning to completely engage the fans over the course of the lockout, which was what led to their work with NHLCBA.com.
* Said HDTV would be good for the game, but would probably do more to appeal to new fans rather than the hardcore types.
* Denied the Buffalo Sabres were going to move, and that the league was committed to keeping all 30 franchises right where they are. Ruled out expansion for the forseeable future (Sorry Winnipeg, Quebec City and Hamilton).
* Said that sudden death OT was an integral part of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and that the shootout will never be used in the postseason. Despite this, he said that it was clear that the shootout has been an unqualified success.
* Talked up the new "sleeker" uniforms, and added something about protective equipment that would be more comfortable. He seemed pretty pumped about this.
* Got a big laugh from the crowd when in answering a question about the drop in fighting. After being asked if goons were being pushed out of the game, Bettman said, "It's a bonus if you can fight," but that the league now puts a premium on skill.
* Said "Congress decides to regulate, we will cooperate," on the question of steroids, but admitted that he doesn't think the league has a problem, and that implementing such a plan would be a unique burden on a league where one-third of players are based in Europe.
All in all, not a bad way to spend two hours for members of the busienss press who cover the NHL a few times a year; but not terribly revealing for those who follow the league closely.
POSTSCRIPT: I handed a pair of question to the head table, but they didn't manage to get answered. They were:
"Are you concerned with Trent Klatt's legal fight with the NHLPA?"
"Who is Eklund?"
If he ever got the first question, he'd probably shrug it off with a statement that it's the business of the union to pick its own leadership. But on the inside, I have to wonder if he and the rest of NHL HQ might be worried. Better the devil you know, right?
One questioner pointed out that the Washington Post was giving significantly less attention to the post-lockout Caps. Bettman made a joke about begging for attention, but as I've said before in other contexts, what your local paper does just doesn't matter anymore. I get so much hockey news and commentary that I could care less about the Post's coverage.
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Sheesh...so much pap.
The NHL did NOT engage with fans during the lockout. Let's be clear. Bettman issued statements to the fans, but I don't recall the league ever taking an interest in what fans had to say. NHLCBA.com was just a website. Coke has one too...doesn't mean they engage.
The Shootout, if anything, is a QUALIFIED success. Bettman likes hyperbole. He achieves in rhetorical stature what he lacks in...nevermind.
Sleeker uniforms...that's great. So much marketspeak.
Bettman has not addressed the fundamental reason why Forbes called him out last year. The league is living on borrowed goodwill and momentum from the season opener. Bettman will have hard issues to face soon, and if he will not move teams that are packing 9000 in, then he's going to have a lot to answer for.
His competence, in my mind at least, is still in question.
Posted by:
at November 4, 2005 08:01 PM
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