DING DING DING DING

Because he thought the game could be expanded by simply putting it in novel markets—while doing nothing to legitimately expand the appeal of the game, ie, expanding it culturally.

All the expansion happened in the U.S., a place where the Asian, hispanic and African-American communities are growing much faster than the white population. Yet the game remains almost completely lily white and really only accessible to wealthy kids (in America—which then also means mostly white kids).

Legitimate geographic expansion cannot happen until cultural expansion—and therefore expansion in demand—happens. Until then, there will be a semi-welfare state in the NHL propping up Gary the Clown's mistakes.
- John Jaeckel

I have been hoping for the demise of that dictatorial, lttle weasel Bettman for a long time. Fehr may just be the man to do it, even if it takes a full season of lockout to do it.

+1

Not to get too political here, but wishing unions to go away is equal to wishing the Middle Class to to away. I would bet most people who are anti-union are well above the Middle Class. Every day the great divide between the rich and the poor in this country is widening, and one day in the not-to-distant future it will come to a head.

Back to hockey... (Frank) the Owners!!
- hawks2010

I am anti-union, and I am far from above middle class. I grew up in a union household. The only thing unions look out for is itself. They could care less about the welfare of the members, as much as they will tell you otherwise. As long as members are paying dues, that's what it is all about.

I am anti-union, and I am far from above middle class. I grew up in a union household. The only thing unions look out for is itself. They could care less about the welfare of the members, as much as they will tell you otherwise. As long as members are paying dues, that's what it is all about.
- powerenforcer

Agreed. I'm in a union, and I'm anti-union.

+1

Not to get too political here, but wishing unions to go away is equal to wishing the Middle Class to to away. I would bet most people who are anti-union are well above the Middle Class. Every day the great divide between the rich and the poor in this country is widening, and one day in the not-to-distant future it will come to a head.

Back to hockey... (Frank) the Owners!!
- hawks2010

Laughable. The middle class is going away in large part because of unions.

It's good that's all you have to say because you don't know what you're talking about. Without a union you get fu@#ed.

For the 2010-11 season, the NHL's average player salary was $2.4 million and the minimum wage was $500,000. Just prior to the formation of the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) in 1967, it was rumored that players averaged about $10,000 to $15,000 per year, with no pension or healthcare plans. It was also common for pre-union NHLers to work summer jobs to support their families. In 1955, Tim Horton, star defensemen for the Toronto Maple Leafs, summer construction worker and namesake of the popular coffee-and-doughnut franchise, broke his leg in a game. If a player missed a game, which Horton did miss several, he wasn't paid. And with no healthcare plan and no income, the Horton family struggled mightily to pay the bills. After the injury, Horton wasn't as effective, to which the Leafs management cried "indifferent play" and cut his salary the following year.

Such treatment inspired the Detroit Red Wings' Ted Lindsay to rally the players to form a union during the late 1950s. To cripple the movement, the Red Wings traded Lindsay to Chicago, where he was less effective in organizing key players to join him. Other influential players across the league were also traded away or banished to the minor leagues. Lindsay was successful in creating a small association of players, but the group folded shortly after Lindsay was traded. It wasn't until 1967 that the players were able to unite in enough numbers to convince the owners to recognize the demands of the NHLPA, and not punish players for being members.
- fattyboubatty

unions only help the marginal workers that are just barley hangin on to their jobs. these are the employees that are toally pro union sine they undestand withut the union they would most likely get fired
the top two thirds of the people know they have skills that will allow to continue to work
unions bread and butter are marginal workers who are lucky to have a job and that is why unions fight so hard to prevent firing of employees even though in most cases the individual deserves it. this people would have trouble finding employment

unions only help the marginal workers that are just barley hangin on to their jobs. these are the employees that are toally pro union sine they undestand withut the union they would most likely get fired
the top two thirds of the people know they have skills that will allow to continue to work
unions bread and butter are marginal workers who are lucky to have a job and that is why unions fight so hard to prevent firing of employees even though in most cases the individual deserves it. this people would have trouble finding employment
- molly2522

Yes, they all belong to Romney's 47%.