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The more Bettman has to squirm and is dragged through the mud the better, I only wish there were several other potential owners trying to do the same thing with a few other teams.

Well he kind of did the same thing in Pittsburgh and Buffalo...

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 09:18 AM ET  05.09 by Sports_Fan_19

The more Bettman has to squirm and is dragged through the mud the better, I only wish there were several other potential owners trying to do the same thing with a few other teams.

Agreed.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 09:33 AM ET  05.09 by The Duke of Awesome

Well he kind of did the same thing in Pittsburgh and Buffalo...

Not so much as you think in Pittsburgh. It was Pens' management's intentions from the get go to keep the team here, even if Balsillie bought the team. Or if anyone bought the team. The Kansas City thing was a ploy to get the state to move on replacing the derelict Mellon Arena. The team's management did everything to keep the team here.

Furthermore, the state promised the Pens a new arena in the late 90's and kept their head in the sand until things reached a boiling point.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 09:18 AM ET  05.09 by Sports_Fan_19

The more Bettman has to squirm and is dragged through the mud the better, I only wish there were several other potential owners trying to do the same thing with a few other teams.

I gotta laugh how everyone is hating on Buttman, but he is employed by the owners. Maybe he sold the owners on his dumb idea about South US expansion but does anyone really think owners of teams in southern Ontario and upstate New York are gonna let this happen.

BTW,he must be standing on a chair in today's pic.

i doubt that the leafs really care if another team moves into hamilton..... the leafs could sell out the dome and still have people pinning to get tickets.... leaf fans are as loyal as youll get..... and as for buffalo... as long as the sabres continue to ice a good team they will continue to have people in the seats.... there is more then enough hockey fans in the area to support 3 teams easily..... the main hurdle is bettman.... his hatred for ballsilie has turned into a personal vendetta.... he will do what ever it takes to keep jim out of the league.... apparently having a billionaire owner who is willing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars and can even afford to actually lose money (not that it would ever happen) and not even blink an eye is a bad idea...... get a clue gary.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 09:33 AM ET  05.09 by The Duke of Awesome

Well he kind of did the same thing in Pittsburgh and Buffalo...

I meant currently, not in the past.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 10:00 AM ET  05.09 by Zaboomafoo

does anyone really think owners of teams in southern Ontario and upstate New York are gonna let this happen.

Isn't it a 50 mile radius? If so Buffalo is 64.7 miles from Hamilton according to Google Maps.

This wouldn't affect the Leafs, and Bob MacKenzie said yesterday (or the day before) he wasn't sure if there was anything officially in the rules about regional territory.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 10:00 AM ET  05.09 by Zaboomafoo

BTW,he must be standing on a chair in today's pic.

Actually, he's standing behind a shoe box with the NHL logo on it.

Just what this fledgling league needs...a big catfight...too bad Bettman can't swallow his pride and make a reasonable deal with Balsillie. Oh wait, the NHL doesn't want a rich, stable owner to have a team in a market that makes money....they want to "grow the game" in markets that clearly don't want hockey!

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 09:47 AM ET  05.09 by LGP: Stanley Cup Champs

Not so much as you think in Pittsburgh. It was Pens' management's intentions from the get go to keep the team here, even if Balsillie bought the team. Or if anyone bought the team. The Kansas City thing was a ploy to get the state to move on replacing the derelict Mellon Arena. The team's management did everything to keep the team here.

I made that same point yesterday. Everyone wants to credit Bettman with "keeping Pens in Pittsburgh." Don't think so.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 10:00 AM ET  05.09 by Zaboomafoo

I gotta laugh how everyone is hating on Buttman, but he is employed by the owners. Maybe he sold the owners on his dumb idea about South US expansion but does anyone really think owners of teams in southern Ontario and upstate New York are gonna let this happen.

Bettman appealed to the owners' sense of greed. Expansion fees were split amongst the owners, and made them all some quick cash. These guys want quick money because many of them had (and have) one foot in the grave and don't give a $h!+ about long-term prosperity (see the late Mr. Wertz in Chicago).
The thing that make the league look really bad is that they have welcomed crooks like Bruce McNall and Boots Del Biagio (remind me of a character in Goodfellas) but will turn away a guy who has built an empire from a real business.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 12:20 PM ET  05.09 by PensFan-DWI

I made that same point yesterday. Everyone wants to credit Bettman with "keeping Pens in Pittsburgh." Don't think so.

The irony of the Penguin situation is that a similar thing happened in Winnipeg, where the team wanted a new arena. This idea was rejected, and the Jets moved to Phoenix. Then, the geniuses in Winnipeg built a new arena after the Jets left, but it's still too small for the NHL. At least the white elephant in Hamilton (Copps) can be fixed up and currently has enough seats to house an NHL team.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 12:13 PM ET  05.09 by PopKing

Actually, he's standing behind a shoe box with the NHL logo on it.

...and he's looking up at my three year old son in the picture...He's telling him "I love the Coyotes THIS MUCH!"

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 12:20 PM ET  05.09 by PensFan-DWI

I made that same point yesterday. Everyone wants to credit Bettman with "keeping Pens in Pittsburgh." Don't think so.

People believe what they want to believe DWI. We who live inthe Burgh know the truth.

Furthermore, if a new arena had been built when the state promised to build one, the Pens' situation would have never ever gotten to what it did.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 10:00 AM ET  05.09 by Zaboomafoo

BTW,he must be standing on a chair in today's pic.

It's just a really small podium. :)