tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Open Letter To Gary Bettman

Dear Mr. Bettman:

I have followed the NHL for 45 years. Living on the Canadian border in Western New York, watching my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night In Canada has become a Saturday night tradition. With the NHL Center Ice television package, I now have the ability to watch every single Leaf game. I consider myself a die-hard Leaf fan but even when the Leafs are not playing I love watching an NHL game on Center Ice or NBC. Hockey is my favorite sport and it was my hope that the 2012-2013 season could be saved. However, it appears more likely that this will not happen and that is why I'm asking you to have the courage and come out right now and cancel the season.

You see I don't believe that there is a desire on the part of you and the owners to settle this dispute unless the NHLPA capitulates to your demands. From where I sit, the players have agreed to a 50-50 split. They have acknowledged that there is the need for a limit on the length of contracts and a longer term for the CBA. Yet, you have said that the players must accept your package in total or else no deal. You see Mr. Bettman I agree with Donald Fehr that both sides are close. The problem is that I believe that the goal of the NHL is to bust the union.

To have a position in negotiations of "take it or leave it" is arrogance at the highest level. It only leads me to believe that you want to embarrass Donald Fehr and break the union at the expense of the 2012-2013 season. Negotiations means give and take and I don't believe you are interested in that at all.

Mr. Bettman, your record is that of 3 lockouts, the expansion of franchises in non-traditional hockey markets that are losing money and the loss of ESPN as a television outlet. It is evident that the owners are happy with this record. It is evident that they were satisfied with the cancellation of the 2004-2005 season. So I ask you, why not make it 2 cancellations in your 20 years. That's what you and your bosses want. Put us out of our misery and come out this afternoon and tell us that the 2012-2013 season is cancelled and then you can add to your "stellar" record of relegating the NHL to the laughingstock of professional sports in North American.