<$BlogRSDURL$>

Not many answers but lots and lots of questions!!!

Google
Web pboake.blogspot.com

Global Investigative Journalism Conference

Thursday, January 06, 2005

NHL Lockout Breeds Incestuous Journalism -- Alfredsson Blusters - Betteman Bashed - Blue Ribbon Panel Pitches Proposal From Left Field 

It's a sad state of affairs when hockey journalists are reduced to covering each other. All these stories have two attributes in common: they're about the lockout and are based on coverage by another publication. But, so is this entry and, actually, much of this blog. Then again, blogs aren't news.


Alfredsson: No union offer coming

TSN.ca Staff - 1/6/2005

The NHLPA is not preparing another last minute offer and the union is prepared to "lose the season", according to Ottawa Senators star Daniel Alfredsson.

One of the NHLPA's vice presidents, Alfredsson tells the Ottawa Sun that union officials spoke last week and concluded they would not alter their last offer, which included a 24-percent salary rollback.

"We're not working on anything ... we're not going to do anything to change our offer," Alfredsson tells the newspaper.

"We thought we made them an offer that they could work with. What we found out in that meeting was they have a one-track mind. (Gary Bettman) is stuck on one thing and we're not going to play under a cap system."

"We're willing to lose the season if that's what it takes. We're prepared for it."

Talk of a last minute offer has been swirling as NHL governors prepare to meet with Bettman on January 14."

Magazine latest to rip Bettman

"New York, NY (Sports Network) - BusinessWeek joined in the parade of Gary Bettman bashing, ranking the National Hockey League commissioner fifth in its list of 2004's worst managers.

"Arenas have been empty since Sept. 15, when National Hockey League owners locked out the players," the magazine said in its Bettman profile. "NHL finances are in shambles, and the weak TV deal signed with NBC last spring suggests the league has little leverage and is now a second-tier sport."

The magazine also takes a shot at NHL owners, calling them "an undisciplined bunch." It says they should shoulder much of the blame for "wildly bidding up salaries."

BusinessWeek doesn't play favorites, though, as NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow's name was brought up in the piece too.

"But little prudence has been shown by NHL Players Assn. chief Bob Goodenow, who might have been wise to heed Bettman's warnings that the unsustainable rate of salary growth was undermining the business on which players depend for their livelihood."

===PB=== Here's the original story the above was based on.

THE BEST & WORST MANAGERS OF 2004 -- THE WORST MANAGERS - Gary Bettman - National Hockey League

"Under Bettman, the NHL has been skating on thin ice for years. Even though its revenues hit $2.1 billion last season, the league claims 20 of 30 franchises lost money, and that it lost a total of $225 million. Salaries zoomed to 75% of league revenues last season, from 41% in 1990-1991, the NHL says. That outstrips the share of revenues going to players in pro football (64%) and basketball (57%)."

===PB=== The article goes on to say the lockout "was a crisis that should never have happened."

NHL - Panel suggests plan to end NHL lockout -

"Wednesday January 5, 2005 6:03PM BOSTON (AP) -- A 36-member panel of top executives, players and other experienced hockey personnel has proposed allowing no more than one player per team to earn more than $5 million a year as part of a plan to end the NHL labor lockout.

The informal group was assembled by The Eagle-Tribune newspaper, which published details of the proposal on Tuesday as part of a series it published looking at the lockout. It forwarded what it called the 'initiative' to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players' Association executive director Bob Goodenow.

The newspaper said the initiative 'would bring a measure of cost certainty but preserve the market.' It did not identify the members of the group.

Currently, the NHL does not have a salary cap in place.

One key element of the plan is a "tier system" which would allow teams to sign players in six categories -- one "franchise player" per team with no limit on his salary, and 27 players in five categories with different pay scales. No more than four players per team could earn $5 million a year and a maximum of seven could earn up to $3 million, the newspaper reported."


This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Permanent link for this article Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Sign up for PayPal and start accepting credit card payments instantly.