The threat of an NHL lockout isn’t what bothers me in all this. I mean, hell, if there is no new collective bargaining agreement in place by the deadline locking out the players was pretty much understood.
What bothers me is the way Bettman just blurted it out in what appeared as if he was trying to needlessly use the media to spread some fear among players and fans. I mean, as far as I knew negotiations were moving along as planned and I assumed (I know, I know…) that both sides were working in good faith to makes things better for the league, the owners, the players and the fans.
Then BAM!
Gary goes and pulls a Bettman.
I could be reading it all wrong (I am wrong a LOT) but it all just seems kind of skeevy.
Yeah, that’s all the NHL needs, after seemingly picking up the pieces from the last one, he goes and tries starting them over from square one. Sometimes I think they forget who puts them on the map, and that is us, the fans! Don’t get me wrong, I will always watch hockey, but trying to get others to join in is getting harder and harder when it looks as if they don’t care about their fanbase.