Unfortunately it seems as long as Fehr is around, this lockout is going to continue. It seems all he wants to do is be the antagonizer and stop any progress.
Unfortunately it seems as long as Fehr is around, this lockout is going to continue. It seems all he wants to do is be the antagonizer and stop any progress.
I can understand the defense of Bettman in many of the decisions he has made to provide stability for the league. But what of the three lockouts that have occurred under his tenure? I understand his job is to represent the owners but is he doing so effectively when every time he has had to negotiate a deal there have been missed games?
From what I've read about Fehr, he hasn't stopped progress on any deal. He has represented the players and never once said that he and his colleagues would not meet to try to hash something out. Expecting him not to be demanding and antagonistic would be telling him not to do his job in my opinion. His job is to be a hard negotiator and get the best deal possible for his players. I respect a guy like that more than Bettman who proposes a two-week moratorium just because negotiations get a little heated.
I can understand the defense of Bettman in many of the decisions he has made to provide stability for the league. But what of the three lockouts that have occurred under his tenure? I understand his job is to represent the owners but is he doing so effectively when every time he has had to negotiate a deal there have been missed games?
Every single thing I have seen on the subject indicates that Fehr's strategy was to force a lockout and use the resulting pressure as leverage. I'm not pinning that on Bettman; what's he supposed to do, force Fehr to negotiate at gunpoint?
Every single thing I have seen on the subject indicates that Fehr's strategy was to force a lockout and use the resulting pressure as leverage. I'm not pinning that on Bettman; what's he supposed to do, force Fehr to negotiate at gunpoint?
I've been reading TSN's articles for months and never read anything that gave the indication that Fehr was strategically forcing a lockout.
I'd also like to clarify that I'm not on the side of the players. All I'm saying is that if Fehr's job is to represent the interests of the players (as it is), then he has done just that. All comments from the players clearly indicate that he has represented their interests.
I've been reading TSN's articles for months and never read anything that gave the indication that Fehr was strategically forcing a lockout.
It didn't send a slight hint of his intentions that he was hired in December, refused to address the CBA at all till the following summer, didn't get a committee together till June, received an offer from the NHL in July, didn't put his first counter-offer on the table till a month later, and has not really moved from the principles of that counter-offer in the ensuing 3 months?
I mean, what else explains that behavior other than a desire to use time as leverage? He certainly didn't make any serious effort at negotiating until a lockout was inevitable, and arguably hasn't made much effort during the lockout to date.
Quote:
All I'm saying is that if Fehr's job is to represent the interests of the players (as it is), then he has done just that. All comments from the players clearly indicate that he has represented their interests.
This is absolutely true and to be honest, I'm personally struggling with exactly how I'm going to feel about the players when they get back on the ice. I am certainly much, much more disillusioned with them this time around than I was in 2005. Almost to the point that I'm not really in the mood to cheer for them anymore. I've held on to my STH because the Hurricanes are the only local hockey team, and I really do think the owners collectively wanted and tried to avoid this situation more than the players did.
I'm just glad we don't have a Cogliano or Darche on the team.
I think all that really happened today was that the players accepted speaking the same language instead of the made up one they've used so far. That in of itself IS progress. The fact they were leaking everything to the public before the meeting even got going feels like its all a big set up to make themselves look like they "sacrificed" so much and the owners are never satisfied demanding more. The owners already said they'd given their best offer so I can't see how anyone thought this offer would be accepted immediately. I think now that they are speaking the same language they can truly negotiate the details in actual numbers. Could end up being a truly positive day. It was always gonna come down to this. Speaking the same language and seeing who will budge where. The owners will get the contracting rights changed in some fashion. I think the reason the league isn't saying much is they know today is all about chest thumping so they're just letting the pa promote themselves to us. Most of us could care less at this point and I think the league knows fehrs cries of injustice will mostly fall on deaf ears.
Well, I've thrown in the towel on my season tickets as of yesterday. Thanksgiving was my line in the sand. I don't see why I'm supposed to be more loyal to the league, the team, and the players than they are to me. My tickets are the only vote I get in this.
Add me to the list of those who have cancelled tickets. I contacted my rep a month ago and he roped me back in by releasing my seat information... 303 row f (second row). I held on for as long as I could, but I've now lost 4 games.
What a complete cluster****.
I just emailed them to cancel and provided address for refund.
