Dear NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman
and NHLPA President Bob Goodenow:
I appreciate you making public your last-minute correspondence before the cancellation of the 2004-05 National Hockey League season. In that spirit, I offer my thoughts on this glorious mistake of yours.
It is not in the interest of the public to suggest you refrain from engaging in aggressive labor negotiations. Rather, it is your right and duty. But a little common sense, please.
You were so close it is an absolute shame an agreement was not reached. To suggest, as you did, Gary, that an agreement wasn’t really all that close in the end seems disingenuous. When the players accepted the concept of a salary cap, the battle was over. The lockout should have ended, and plans for the season to get under way should have started.
Instead of marveling at such a concession, you dug in and refused to meet the players halfway, or even at all. I understand that the difference between a $42.5 million cap and a $49 million cap is still around $200 million in total salary, but that assumes every single team hits the maximum.
According to USA Today, only 10 teams were above $49 million last season, and only 13 were above $42.5 million. This is without accounting for the 24 percent rollback to all salaries the union offered. It is inconceivable that these teams with lower payrolls, some well under $30 million and many of whom are claiming millions in losses already, would suddenly start writing checks like drunken sailors.
But you’re also at fault, Bob. By refusing until the last minute to accept a salary cap, you showed you are out of touch with reality. The NHLPA severely misjudged its power and the resolve of the owners, and is now in danger of a revolt by its members.
In Wednesday’s news conference, you announced, Gary, that all offers have been revoked and the owners will revert back to a proposal linking salaries to revenue. This is a proposal the owners must know the players will never accept. It almost certainly means the NHL will use replacement players.
The owners’ decision to try for a complete correction of their economic problems in a single bargaining year made an agreement impossible. The players also erred in their inability to understand their role in correcting the economic problems.
Thank you for listening. But to paraphrase the final words of the final letter between the two of you: You will receive nothing further from me.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Greenfield
AND WHILE WE’RE AT IT …
With the NHL fading into the abyss, can we tack on a few things I’d like to see canceled?
Yes, of course we can.–BAG BOY, REDEYE
Major League Soccer
It’s the world’s game. And they are welcome to it. Just get it out of my world. You heard me.
WNBA
Basketball without jumping or dunking is like … well, soccer.
Coverage of the NFL Draft
Isn’t this why the on-screen crawl was invented? I haven’t seen this much lameness behind a podium since Cher presented at the Oscars.
ESPN’s “Cold Pizza”
ESPN says the morning show is averaging 75,500 viewers each day. That’s the kind of high-wattage power Skip Bayless and Woody Paige bring to the table. Bags for all of you.
Fox Sports Net’s “The Best Damn Sports Show Period”
This lets Tom Arnold get back to doing what he does best: Appearing in movies nobody sees.
Wrigley Field’s “Take Me Out To the Ball Game” guest singers
It was a nice novelty once, but no one really wants to see whomever trying sell whatever as they come through town whenever stumble through this “tribute.” But Da Coach is welcome anytime.
Televised celebrity poker
There’s no debate here. End it, and end it now.
Boxing
Who’s the heavyweight champion of the world? Exactly. Next!
———-
Got something you want cancelled? E-mail Bag Boy at redeyesports@tribune.com.
Edited by the sports staff of RedEye.
