The Reasons Behind the NHL Fans' Hatred for Commissioner Gary ...

For many NHL fans, Gary Bettman, the league’s longtime leader, has gained notoriety as the most hated commissioner in sports. This ranking is no easy task, as it requires years of questionable decisions and plenty of longevity.

The reasons for why NHL fans suddenly boo Bettman are varied. Ask anyone, inside or outside the league’s 32 arenas, and you’ll likely hear differing opinions. Some may say they don’t like his personality or that it rubs fans the wrong way. Others will point to something else entirely.

Bettman took over as NHL commissioner in February of 1993 and has been a divisive figure ever since. Moreover, some of his actions and decisions are examples of why the boo birds often fly when Bettman is around.

Some have criticized Bettman for being “in it for the money” without paying attention to the sport, which many fans hold dear. This view, that Bettman and other executives fill the lower levels of the league’s more expensive venues, is reflected in the use of the term “the suits.”

While it is common across all sports to boo the league commissioner, fans of the NHL are known to rain down boos on anyone wearing a suit, especially someone in Bettman’s position. Indeed, it may be that various actions of the commissioner, and not merely his clothing, that have deemed him unworthy in the eyes of many fans.

Bettman is tasked with making the NHL popular, bringing in new fans and expanding the game. While expanding the league with teams in Las Vegas and Seattle has helped, there are still concerns about the league’s survival.

For many fans, the dislike of Bettman is heightened by the belief that he is not one of them, Steve Yzerman, Hall of Fame ice hockey player once opined that, “Players are fans too; we all grew up with the same dream. The question is, do you think Bettman is a fan?”.

In summary, the NHL commissioner is a controversial figure among NHL fans. While there are various reasons behind the fans’ dislike of Bettman, it is evident that expanding the league and making it more popular without sacrificing the game is a challenging task.

Credit: sportingnews.com

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