[Shane]

Originally Posted by Ishkur

No.

Bettman's boss is the Owners of the 30 teams of the NHL. They like him because he does what they tell him. It was the same thing with John Ziegler before him, and Clarence Campbell before him.

Clarence Campbell was especially obedient, and was hired by the NHL in 1946 after he returned from the Nuremburg Trials (he was one of the prosecuting attorneys). He was a pure intellectual. When asked why he chose him, Conn Smythe--Maple Leafs owner--remarked "Where else are we going to find a Rhodes Scholar, graduate lawyer, decorated war hero and prosecutor at the Nuremburg trials who will do what he's told?"

That's really the point of the position: not to do what's best for the game, the player's or the fans, but to do what's in the best interests of the owners.

Am I the only one that finds that to be completely retarded?