Bettman lobs threat in Air Canada's direction

Bettman suggested the 11 teams could find another airline.

But more importantly, hopefully they all can find a new commissioner...

Why do you even print Bettmen's crap, all BS and lies.

Bettman is losing his mind...(considering the size of the object, it's understandable) We are hopefully heading for Bettman's "Bunker Moments" and we will maybe at last be doe with what is becoming an Out of Control Troll

Per usual-read it carefully-Gary is saying nothin whatsover-way to stand up firm and strong behind your league dipstick!! Get off the little fence Gary and slam em !

You've got a league that is struggling to stay afloat in a horrible economy and you're basically telling a major sponsor that they can be replaced. And your most marketable star player has been sidelined for HOW LONG with a concussion? BRILLIANT!

Here's an idea: How about policing your goons?

A controversial letter from Vandal to Bettman, obtained by QMI, said Air Canada wants "immediate" and "serious" action by the NHL on headshots.

Ummmm. Didn't they make a rule to that effect last year after the viscous and brutal hit by Matt Cooke? Perhaps the Muammar Gaddafi of hockey could see to it that his minion Campbell actually enforces the rule on a uniform basis.

I know it's a pretty horrible comparison to draw, but i remember watching an press conference with Bettman after the whole Cooke/Savard Richards/Booth thing and he said words to the effect of, "Collie has a tough job but he's doing a good job and i have faith in Collie yadda yadda yadda" and it always made me think of G Dub talking about how great of a job Brownie was doing down in NOLA with FEMA.

Makes me wonder if one day Bettman is going to throw him to the wolves like what happened to ole Brownie.

He avoided slamming them, but this was more of a Fah Q than a threat.

I can't stand the little guy, but this is a very deft way of getting the point across without exacerbating the situation.

Thanks for coming out though, Air Canada.

Pictured there is the "Everyone who thinks hockey can work in Phoenix" club: 2011 group.

Air Canada is looking just as stupid as the dwarf, and that's hard to do. Do you think the NHL can't find another airline to advertise in Canada? I'm sure Toronto would be devastated if they had to rename their Arena and I'm sure no other company would be willing to give millions to do that.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:39 AM ET  03.11 by goCanada!

He avoided slamming them, but this was more of a Fah Q than a threat. I can't stand the little guy, but this is a very deft way of getting the point across without exacerbating the situation.Thanks for coming out though, Air Canada.

I agree.

This whole thing is spiraling out of control.

Kill the Cap.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 10:01 AM ET  03.11 by Argos.

Pictured there is the "Everyone who thinks hockey can work in Phoenix" club: 2011 group.

NHL Owner Application form (received from DGB):


Thank you for your interest in purchasing an NHL team. As you can imagine, the process of being accepted as an NHL owner is an arduous one that involves an exhaustive examination of your background and qualifications.

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If you indicated "Yes" to the question above??? uh, seriously?
( ) Ha ha??? No
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Wow. OK, next question: Do you have any money?
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Do you have an in-depth plan in place for financing a state-of-the-art arena for your team?
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Can that in-depth plan be summarized in its entirety as "Get the city to pay for it"?
( ) Yes
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What is your ultimate goal in purchasing an NHL franchise?
( ) Winning a Stanley Cup championship
( ) Fostering a sense of civic pride within my community
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What 11 teams fly Air Canada? There is only 6 Canadian teams, and I guess maybe Buffalo could, but who else?

I'm not a Gary Bettman fan but if I were in his shoes I would of said the same thing about Air Canada. To publically say your going to pull your dollars from the league without going to the league first is bush league. Especially when 11 teams are putting $20,000,000 in your pocket every year. Stop, think, go for a walk around the block then decide what your going to do. Take the emotion out of it.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:16 AM ET  03.11 by Spiny Norman

Bettman is losing his mind...(considering the size of the object, it's understandable)

LMAO Spiny. Hilarious!

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 10:02 AM ET  03.11 by Nard Dog

Air Canada is looking just as stupid as the dwarf, and that's hard to do. Do you think the NHL can't find another airline to advertise in Canada? I'm sure Toronto would be devastated if they had to rename their Arena and I'm sure no other company would be willing to give millions to do that.

I don't think they can change the name. It is just a bluff.

The ACC is under some long contract when it comes to its naming rights, and if AC wants out they will still have to pay out the remainder of the long-ass deal (unless it was all upfront). But either way, it would cost them a lot in their pocket books.

Awesome application Argos !!!! Love the ending.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:03 AM ET  03.11 by Hank Kingsley

I agree.This whole thing is spiraling out of control.Kill the Cap.

Kill the Cap and get MLSE to give Richards $15 million a season! Then he'd come!

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:39 AM ET  03.11 by goCanada!

He avoided slamming them, but this was more of a Fah Q than a threat. I can't stand the little guy, but this is a very deft way of getting the point across without exacerbating the situation.Thanks for coming out though, Air Canada.

Well GoCan, AirCan... has alot of friends too...especially in Canada.
I am also confident that there are other sponsors out there that are getting fed up with Bettman's NHL and game ruling, particularly in the U.S where they don't like hockey violence. I said it before, this is just the tip of the ice berg and may be the catalyst we have all been hoping for to remove the little poison dwarf from the game finally...Go Winnipeg Jets!

As an aside...I read yesterday somewhere that Air Canada owns the ACC naming rights. So if they want to remove their name, does that not mean that it would be Air Canada that would reap the rewards of the highest bidder and not MLSEL?

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 10:09 AM ET  03.11 by sdales

I'm not a Gary Bettman fan but if I were in his shoes I would of said the same thing about Air Canada. To publically say your going to pull your dollars from the league without going to the league first is bush league. Especially when 11 teams are putting $20,000,000 in your pocket every year. Stop, think, go for a walk around the block then decide what your going to do. Take the emotion out of it.

While they may be paying that much...one wonders exactly how much margin or 'profit' for AC is in the deal?