Allsports Thinks Bettman's calling the Kettle Black on Integrity

So if you have been following sports on the web or sports news in the other media, you will be aware that round two of the cat fight between Jim Balsillie and Gary Bettman along with his NHL henchmen is brewing.

Last week the NHL board of governors turned down Balsillie for an ownership in the NHL. He was rejected under bylaw 35 of the league’s constitution. The section states the league may reject potential owners if they are not of “good character and integrity” and also for financial reasons. Well since Balsillie is a billionaire allsports thinks financial reasons are out of the equation. That would leave good character and integrity as their reasoning for the rejection.

Excuse me Mr. Bettman and company but aren’t you calling the kettle black here or maybe you would prefer the term, “people in glass houses should not throw stones”. If you want to use the latter then Mr. Bettman and his NHL lackey’s have been throwing them by the hand full. Where was Bettman’s integrity when they approved Nashville Predators minority owner Williams (Boots) Del Biaggio III. The NHL hand-picked Del Biaggio, a Bernie Madoff-type fraud, over Balsillie in Tennessee.

There have been about a half a dozen other owners during Mr. Bettman’s watch that are either in prison now or awaiting sentencing for there unethical deeds. Bettman has been so focused on raming NHL hockey down the throats of people in the southern US to try and fulfill his misguided concept that he is missing the forest for the trees. So take a step back there Gary, have a long look in the mirror and really see who lacks integrity here.

Bettman said of his dealings with Mr. Balsillie that it is nothing personal. Now that is RICH, do you think people are stupid. Gary Bettman you are as transparent as saran wrap.

Judge Redfield T. Baum must think Mr. Bettman has a certain hidden agenda too for now he has ruled that Jim Balsillie’s offer will be included when the club is put up for auction on Sept. 10th. This won’t bode well for Mr Bettman and company because Balsillie’s offer is the best one out there and should emerge as the winner if Judge Baum does his job correctly. Everything so far leads one to believe that Judge Baum is a man of great integrity who can’t be swayed by Gary Bettman and his NHL cronies.

Allsports has written a few articles the latest of which was called “Allsports on the ruling of the Phoenix Fiasco“, written back on June 19th. I am sorry but in all of them I really can’t say to many good things about Gary Bettman. I have always felt that he lacks credibility and he seems to be proving me correct with the antics being undertaken with the Phoenix Fiasco mess.

Balsillie is pushing Bettman’s buttons and old Gary is reacting in a way that is putting him in a situation where he is looking more and more like the whiny child who just wants to take his marbles and go home. Be gone Gary before you do more damage to the league and the game I love.

“No Guts No Glory”

Walt Webb

P.S. For more information on this topic, there is a good article in the National Post.

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