Gary Bettman

Infobox Person
name = Gary Bettman


caption = Bettman at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa
birth_date = June 2, 1952
birth_place = Queens, New York
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Commissioner of the National Hockey League
nationality = United States

Gary Bruce Bettman (born June 2, 1952 in Queens, New York) is the commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL), a post he has held since February 1, 1993. Previously, Bettman was a senior vice-president and general counsel to the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bettman is a graduate of Cornell University and New York University, where he earned a law degree.

Under Bettman, the NHL has seen rapid growth of league revenues, from $400 million when he was hired to over $2.2 billion in 2006–07.cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/cba/who/bettman_gary.html |title=In-depth: NHL Labour Strife – Gary Bettman |accessdate=2008-02-28 |work=CBC Sports] [cite web |url=http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article.main&articleId=55148&requestTimeout=900 |title=NHL revenue tops $2.2B |accessdate=2008-02-28 |last=Mickle |first=Tripp |date=2007-05-14 |work=Sports Business Journal |publisher=Street and Smith's] Bettman oversaw the expansion the NHL's footprint across the United States, with six new teams added during his tenure, bringing the NHL to 30. Bettman has also been at the middle of much controversy. Bettman has often been criticized for attempting to "Americanize" the game, and has been a central figure of two labor stoppages, including the 2004–05 NHL lockout that saw the entire season canceled. [cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2005-02-16-season-cancel_x.htm |title=Black ice: NHL season canceled |accessdate=2008-02-28 |last=Allen |first=Kevin |coauthors=Brehm, Mike |date=2005-02-21 |work=USA Today]

Education and family

Bettman studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he was a Brother of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, and graduated in 1974. After receiving a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law in 1977, Bettman joined the large New York City law firm of Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn.

Bettman is Jewish and lives with his wife, Shelli, and their three children Lauren, Jordan, and Brittany. He has been a resident of Saddle River, New Jersey. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E1D71730F934A2575BC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon= WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Lauren Bettman, Brian Gershengorn] , "The New York Times", August 17, 2003. Accessed February 16, 2008.] Half brother (they have the same mother) Jeffrey Pollack is the Commissioner of the World Series of Poker.Negreanu, Daniel. [http://www.fullcontactpoker.com/poker-journal.php?subaction=showfull&id=1131688135&archive=&start_from=&ucat=3& Poker Superstars III and Dinner with Jeffrey Pollack] 10 Nov, 2005. Fullcontactpoker.com. Accessed 7/27/07.]

Bettman joined the National Basketball Association in 1981, serving mainly in the marketing and legal departments.cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE3D91F3FF93AA15752C1A964958260 |title= HOCKEY; N.H.L. Considers An N.B.A. Officer |accessdate=2008-02-28 |last=Lapointe |first=Joe |date=1992-11-29 |work=New York Times] Bettman rose to third in command of the NBA, spending many years as the league's general counsel and senior vice president.cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCM/is_8_31/ai_102103257 |title=Boom or bust? We evaluate NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's turbulent first decade at the helm of the league |accessdate=2008-02-28 |last=Loria |first=Keith |date=Summer 2003 |work=Hockey Digest] Bettman played a key role in the development of the soft salary cap system implemented by the NBA in the 1980s, a system it continues to use today. [cite web |url=http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/news/111407_BettmanTalksHockey.html |title=NHL Commissioner talks hockey with Cornell students |accessdate=2008-02-28 |date=2007-11-15 |work=Cornell University]

NHL Commissioner

On February 1, 1993, Bettman's tenure as the first commissioner of the National Hockey League began, replacing Gil Stein, who served as the NHL's final president.cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE5D81138F930A25751C1A964958260 |title=The N.H.L. Employs A Head for Business |accessdate=2008-03-06 |author=Joe Lapointe |date=1992-12-13 |work=New York Times] The owners hired Bettman with the mandate of selling the game in the U.S. market, end labor unrest, complete expansion plans, and modernize the views of the "old-guard" within the ownership ranks.cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7DB1339F931A35751C0A965958260 |title=Opening Day for N.H.L.'s First Commissioner |accessdate=2008-03-06 |author=Joe Lapointe |date=1993-02-02 |work=New York Times]

Expansion and relocation

When Bettman started as commissioner, the league had already expanded by three teams to 24 since 1991, and two more were set to be announced by the expansion committee: the Florida Panthers and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, who would begin play in 1993–94. [cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEEDD123FF931A35750C0A965958260 |title=Miami, Anaheim In Debut Next Fall |accessdate=2008-03-06 |author=Joe Lapointe |date=1993-03-02 |work=New York Times] Similar to the previous expansion cycles, the focus was on placing teams in the southern United States. The Nashville Predators (1998), Atlanta Thrashers (1999), Minnesota Wild (2000) and Columbus Blue Jackets (2000) completed the NHL's expansion period, bringing the league to 30 teams. In addition, four franchises relocated during Bettman's tenure: The Minnesota North Stars to Dallas (1993), the Quebec Nordiques to Denver (1995), the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix (1996) and the Hartford Whalers to North Carolina (1997).cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCM/is_8_31/ai_102103257 |title=Boom or bust? We evaluate NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's turbulent first decade at the helm of the league |accessdate=2008-03-06 |author=Keith Loria |date=Summer 2003 |work=Find Articles (reprint) |publisher=Hockey Digest]

Led by Bettman, the league focused expansion and relocation efforts on the American South, working to expand the league's footprint across the country. As a result, there has been significant growth in the sport of hockey at the grassroots level with children in the U.S. South playing the game in increasing numbers. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=frei_terry&id=3008373 |title=Now more than ever, the American hockey player has options |accessdate=2008-03-06 |author=Terry Frei |date=2007-09-07 |work=ESPN] The move towards Southern markets has been heavily criticized as well, however, with fans in Canada and the Northern United States lamenting the move away from "traditional hockey markets."

Bettman has also been accused of having an "anti-Canadian" agenda, [cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE5DA1439F932A35753C1A962958260 |title=Gary Bettman Becomes N.H.L.'s Lightning Rod |accessdate=2008-03-06 |author=Sandomir, Richard |date=1994-10-01 |work=New York Times] with critics citing the relocation of the franchises in Quebec City and Winnipeg and his apparent refusal to help stop it, along with the aborted sale of the Nashville Predators in 2007 to interests that would have moved the team to Hamilton, Ontario. [cite web |url=http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070714.wspthamilton14/GSStory/GlobeSports/home/?pageRequested=all |title= Never in Hamilton |accessdate=2008-03-06 |author=Naylor, David |date=2007-07-14 |work=The Globe and Mail] Jim Balsillie accused Bettman of forcing the Predators to end negotiations with him to purchase the team. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2943692 |title=Balsillie group accuses Bettman of forcing Preds to break off talks |accessdate=2008-03-06 |author=Burnside, Scott |date=2007-07-21 |work=ESPN] Bettman was satirized in this vein as the character "Gary Buttman" in the 2006 Canadian movie "Bon Cop, Bad Cop". [cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/movie_reviews/bcbc.html |title=Movie Reviews on Metro Morning
accessdate=2008-03-13 |author=Wente, Jesse |work=Metro News] However, Bettman also championed the "Canadian assistance plan", a revenue sharing agreement that saw American teams give money to help support the four smallest-market Canadian teams – Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Vancouver – throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.cite web |url=http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070413.wsptduha13/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home |title=Northern alienation isn't new but it's growing |accessdate=2008-03-06 |author=Duhatschek, Eric |date=2007-04-12 |work=The Globe and Mail]

Labor unrest

1994-95 lockout

Although Bettman was tasked with putting an end to the NHL's labor problems, the league has none-the-less locked out its players twice during Bettman's tenure. The 1994–95 lockout lasted 104 days, causing the season to be shortened from 84- to 48-games.cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/cba/features/flashback.html |title=We've been here before |accessdate=2008-03-06 |work=CBC] A key issue during the lockout was the desire to aid small market teams. Led by Bettman, the owners insisted on a salary cap, changes to free agency and arbitration in the hopes of limiting escalating salaries, the union instead proposed a luxury tax system. The negotiations were at times bitter, with Chris Chelios famously issuing a veiled threat against Bettman, suggesting that Bettman should be "worried about [his] family and [his] well-being", because "Some crazed fans, or even a player [...] might take matters into their own hands and figure they get Bettman out of the way." [cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n19_v220/ai_18265322 |title= Rink Brat? — Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Chris Chelios |accessdate=2008-06-09 |author=Wigge, Larry |date=1996-05-06 |work=The Sporting News]

Last-ditch negotiations saved the season in January 1995. And while the owners failed to achieve a full salary cap, the union agreed to a cap on rookie contracts; changes to arbitration and restrictive rules for free agency that would not grant a player unrestricted free agency until he turned 31. The deal was initially hailed as a win for the owners. [cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E6DA1139F93AA15752C1A96E958260&scp=11&sq=NHL+lockout&st=nyt |title=N.B.A. May Take Page From the N.H.L. Guide to Labor Peace After a Lockout |accessdate=2008-03-06 |author=Roberts, Selena |date=1998-11-29 |work=New York Times]

2004-05 lockout

By the end of the deal in 2004, the owners were claiming that player salaries had grown far faster than revenues, and that the league as a whole lost over US$300 million in 2002–03. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=1720436 |title=Counsel presents league's position |accessdate=2008-03-13 |date=2004-02-12 |work=New York Times]

As a result, on September 15, 2004, Bettman announced that the owners again locked the players out prior to the start of the 2004–05 season.cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/cba/features/chronology.html |title=Lockout chronology |accessdate=2008-03-13 |date=2005-07-13 |work=CBC] Three months later, Bettman announced the cancellation of the entire season with the words "It is my sad duty to announce that because a solution has not yet been attained, it is no longer practical to conduct even an abbreviated season. Accordingly, I have no choice but to announce the formal cancellation of play." The NHL became the first North American league to cancel an entire season because of a labor stoppage.

As in 1994, the owners' position was predicated around the need for a salary cap. In an effort to ensure solidarity amongst the owners, the league's governors voted to give Bettman the right to unilaterally veto any union offer as long as he had the backing of just eight owners. The players initially favored luxury tax system, and a 5% rollback on player salaries — later increased to 24%. [cite web |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/hockey/stories/071405dnsponhltimeline.1cd62f6.html |title=NHL labor timeline |author=Heika, Mike |accessdate=2008-03-13 |date=2005-07-27 |work=Dallas Morning News] As the threat of a canceled season loomed, the players agreed to accept a salary cap, but the two sides could not come to terms on numbers before the deadline expired.

Following the cancellation of the season, negotiations progressed quickly, as a revolt within the union led to National Hockey League Players Association president Trevor Linden and senior director Ted Saskin taking negotiations over from executive director Bob Goodenow. Goodenow would resign from the NHLPA in July 2005. [cite web |url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=131693&hubname= |title=Goodenow steps down from NHLPA post |accessdate=2008-03-13 |date=2005-07-28 |work=TSN.ca] By early July, the two sides had agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement. The deal featured a hard salary cap, linked to a fixed percentage of league revenues, a 24% rollback on salaries, and free agency beginning after seven years of service. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2107128 |title=Key terms of NHL agreement |accessdate=2008-03-13 |date=2005-07-13 |work=ESPN] After being panned as one of the worst managers in business in 2004 for canceling the season, [cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_02/b3915648.htm |title=Worst Managers - Gary Bettman |accessdate=2008-03-13 |date=2005-01-10 |work=Business Week] Bettman was lauded as one of the best in 2005 for his role in bringing "cost certainty" to the NHL. [cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/magazine/specials/sportsman/2005/11/03/gary.bettman/index.html |title=My Sportsman Choice: Gary Bettman |author=Swift, E.M. |accessdate=2008-03-13 |date=2005-11-03 |work=Sports Illustrated]

Television

Bettman quickly accomplished one of his stated goals, signing a five-year, $155 million deal with the Fox Broadcasting Company to broadcast NHL games nationally beginning in the 1994–95 season. [cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E2DD163BF933A2575AC0A962958260&scp=4&sq=National+Hockey+League+Fox&st=nyt |title=Fox Outbids CBS for N.H.L. Games |accessdate=2008-03-20 |author=Sandomir, Richard |date=1994-09-10 |work=New York Times] The deal was significant, as a network television contract in the United States was long thought unattainable during the presidency of John Ziegler. [cite news |first=Simmons |last=Steve |title=The Commish is not to blame |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=1994-09-30 |accessdate=2008-03-20 ] The FOX deal is perhaps best remembered for the FoxTrax puck, which while generally popular according to Fox Sports, generated a great deal of controversy from longtime fans of the game. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keri/061130 |title=Gear through the years |accessdate=2008-03-20 |author=Keri, Jonah |date=2006-11-30 |work=ESPN]

Canadians were also upset as the league gave preference to FOX ahead of CBC for scheduling of playoff games, as Pat Hickey of the "Montreal Gazette" wrote that the schedule was "just another example of how the N.H.L. snubs its nose at the country that invented hockey and its fans." [cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E2DD1739F933A05757C0A960958260&scp=5&sq=National+Hockey+League+Fox&st=nyt |title=Fox Is Playing It Safe With N.H.L. |accessdate=2008-03-20 |author=Sandomir, Richard |date=1996-04-30 |work=New York Times] The controversy repeated itself in 2007, as CBC was once again given second billing to Versus' coverage of the playoffs. [cite web |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20070410.NHLCBC10%2FTPStory%2FTPNational%2FTelevision%2F&ord=57386904&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true |title=CBC livid as league bows to Americans |accessdate=2008-03-20 |author=Houston, William |date=2004-04-10 |work=Globe and Mail]

Despite falling ratings, Bettman negotiated a five year, $600 million deal with ABC and ESPN in 1998.cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/19/sports/hockey/19sandomir.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=NHL+on+ABC&st=nyt&oref=slogin |title=Cable Company's Ambition for a Network Proves a Salvation for the N.H.L. |accessdate=2008-03-20 |author=Sandomir, Richard |date=2005-08-19 |work=New York Times] It was the largest television contract the NHL ever signed. The $120 million per year that ABC and ESPN paid for rights dwarfed the $5.5 million that the NHL received from American national broadcasts in 1991–92. [cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504EFDF103BF934A3575BC0A96E958260&scp=2&sq=NHL+on+ABC&st=nyt |title=Best N.H.L. Action Is the Battle Over TV Rights |accessdate=2008-03-20 |author=Sandomir, Richard |date=1998-08-07 |work=New York Times]

The NHL's television fortunes have faded since the ABC deal, however. In 2004, the league could only manage a revenue sharing deal with NBC, with no money paid up front by the network. [cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/05/19/nhlnbc040519.html |title=NHL inks TV deal with NBC |accessdate=2008-03-20 |date=2004-05-19 |work=CBC] Also, coming out of the lockout, ESPN declined its $60 million option for the NHL's cable rights in 2005–06. While wishing to retain the NHL, it stated the cost was overvalued. However, Bettman was able to negotiate a deal with Comcast to air the NHL on the Outdoor Life Network channel, now called Versus. The three year deal was worth $207.5 million. Bettman has been heavily criticized for the move to Versus, as detractors have argued that the league has lost a great deal of exposure since moving to the much smaller network. [cite web |url=http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=NHL/misc/disciullo_archive/top_shelf_072407.htm |title= Bettman's quiet summer belies NHL's current predicament |accessdate=2008-03-20 |author=Di Sciullo, Dan |date=2007-07-24 |work=The Sporting News]

XM Satellite Radio

Bettman hosts an hour-long weekly radio show on NHL Home Ice (XM 204). The show provides fans with an opportunity to speak directly with the commissioner and voice any questions, comments, or concerns related to the game of hockey. [cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/radio/nhl_hour.html |title=Tune in every Thursday for the NHL Hour |accessdate=2008-05-29 |date=2008-05-29 |work=NHL]

References

External links

* http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/cba/who/bettman_gary.html

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
title=National Hockey League Commissioner
(titled NHL President prior to 1993)
before=Gil Stein | after=Incumbent | years=1993-present