You might have just met him. He is well known to those of us in the US. Fehr has made Bettman look good. Can't you see that?!

- John Jaeckel

What's funny is that Bettman will probably get a standing ovation next time he presents the cup.

Fehr knew the proposal was not going to be accepted when he called that press conference. This is all about PR, saving face and the legacy of Donald Fehr. Yes, Bettman sucks, completely and he is to blame for the start of this but Fehr is to be blamed for the continuation of this lockout. It could have ENDED tonight with a deal that would have worked all around. Instead, we are now left to wonder what will happen. John is right, MLB was harmed, greatly, by the Fehr and his year long STRIKE in '94. Baseball has since lost its innocence, the damage by the strike caused owners to look the other way on steroids because it those players were providing a renaissance that was badly needed and the game could not take another scandal in such a short period of time. The NHL lost tremendous momentum with the lost season. A second one might be the death knell for mainstream sponsers, casual fans, etc.

Disagree.

Sure there's a CLEAR argument he is doing his utmost for the players. But that is only valid with tunnel vision; he is cutting off their noses to spite their faces.

The "brand" of baseball suffered immensely and never fully recovered form the last strike. Why? Don Fehr, greedy players and greedy owners.

It is now ALL ABOUT perception and Fehr is losing big time, as will, by association the NHLPA. He has made Gary Bettman a sympathetic figure. Think about that.

If this season is lost because Don Fehr's ego could not allow a compromise, it will have irreparable damage to the brand of the NHL—and that will hurt the players and not just the owners. They are, ultimately, all taking slices of the same pie.

Fehr is the rat in the pie.
- John Jaeckel

What??

In the 10 years since, baseball demolished damage from its "labour disaster era" of 1981-1995. By 2010, revenues hit $7 billion and MLB just signed three new TV deals worth $12.4 billion through 2021. The playoffs are so incredibly good that you have to wonder when the devil's going to start collecting whoever sold their souls for this.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/...seballs-labour-peace.html

Whaa I reported you cause you called me a name WHAAA

That's why I say, move swiftly and kill the rat, get back to the table. Everyone is losing money. Lots of little people (families with kids) are losing jobs. Why, so millionaires can squeeze a little more out of billionaires—when they had a good deal done?

The game will suffer because of this.
- John Jaeckel

The second Fehr was hired this became all too predictable.

Problem for Fehr this time around is that hate him or not, Bettman is skilled at what he does. He has always been a step ahead of Fehr. Donald wasn't used to that in his MLB dealings.

For all the folks who say that the players were willing to play and this is the owners lockout, if Bettman allowed season to start Fehr would just pull the same stunt he did in 1994. He would have orchestrated a player strike right before the playoffs. I for one would rather lose the first half of the season, not the back half. Bettman neutered Fehr's ace card by stealing his potential to strike. Bettman has maintained leverage the entire process.

It's amazing how some of you can actually side with Gary Bettman.
We just met Fehr, tough to hate him already.
- Scooby_Doo

Well you are a Dolphins fans, so that would go some way to explaining it.

What??

In the 10 years since, baseball demolished damage from its "labour disaster era" of 1981-1995. By 2010, revenues hit $7 billion and MLB just signed three new TV deals worth $12.4 billion through 2021. The playoffs are so incredibly good that you have to wonder when the devil's going to start collecting whoever sold their souls for this.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/...seballs-labour-peace.html
- Feeling_Glucky

the NHL does not have the years of popularity equity built up with the public that MLB did. MLB suffered greatly for awhile and it took 10 years or so to recover. The NHL cannot afford that

Hey Jacka$$ your a moron. Who is the only commissioner to lead any league to its 3rd Lockout since he took office? Who stated in the last lockout that ticket prices would go down because of a salary cap? Who expanded the league to cities that cant support a pro hockey team? Who dumps money into franchises that have no fan support? Its Bettman. Plain and SIMPLE. BETTMAN. FEHR is doing his job and protecting the players from getting screwed. The players gave up 7 percent. What is the NHL giving the players? They want contract restrictions. Salary restrictions and contract reductions. All this to protect themselves from their own mindless GM's
- Brukie

... And under who's leadership and direction has the league and game grown to record levels that has seen the players make more money than they ever have in the history of the NHL?... Wait for it!... Wait!... Waaaaaaaaait!...

B-E-T-T-M-A-N!!!

WHo decided in the NHLPA to hire this f ucker ? They have to see his track record ? The MLBPA can not be duplicated by the NHLPA. That will never happen. The Players could only have hired him knowing the season would be lost. Nothing will get resolved with this guy leading the NHLPA but lets not put all the blame on the players the Lock Out was because of the rat bastard owners. This really sucks because I thought yesterday we may have hockey Christmas night.
- mrpaulish

Wasn't Chelios part of the group that brought Fehr in? Wonder where he's at now?

Wasn't Chelios part of the group that brought Fehr in? Wonder where he's at now?
- resqmed99

Having Eddie Vedder's sloppy seconds

the NHL does not have the years of popularity equity built up with the public that MLB did. MLB suffered greatly for awhile and it took 10 years or so to recover. The NHL cannot afford that
- furso27

true but I would say thy have fully recovered by now and growth has been huge last 8 years.

Hey Jackel for the next ten years You will only work for hockey buzz cause they were the ones who drafted you and now you must stay here even if you dont want to for the next ten years. You can not get any raises of more than 5 percent year over year. Oh yea and we are going to cut your salary cause We were just joking when we said we were going to give you that salary before the CBA expired.
Oh Yea WHAA dont call me names anymore. Hey Mods hey called me a name

September 11, 2010 Yahoo Sports: “There’s no one better – bottom line,” said former NHL defenseman Chris Chelios, who was active in the union before he recently became the Detroit Red Wings’ advisor to hockey operations. “At the end of the day, it’s him that’s going to do the negotiating, not the players. So they’re in great hands with him.”

Wonder how he feels now

JJ: Some 19 years after a Fehr-led labor dispute essentially ruined baseball (for me and many others)

Not wanting to turn this into an MLB thread but what do you mean he ruined MLB? Certainly not by growth, revenues and enormous contracts?

http://www.bizofbaseball....tid=30:mlb-news&Itemid=42

#firefehr #firefehr #firefehr

Repost from previous JJ blog

PHUCK 'EM ALL

Plenty of blame on both sides but when Donald Fehr is involved...it equates to pure MISERY for fans.

Kudos to the a s h o l NHL owners on one point and one point only...they refuse to be another notch on Donald 'the ULTIMATE a s h o l' Fehr's resume.

You might have just met him. He is well known to those of us in the US. Fehr has made Bettman look good. Can't you see that?!

- John Jaeckel

Oh yeah...and that is quite an accomplishment!

Donald Fehr's done the impossible...he's made the other side seem reasonable.

John Jaeckel: Players Should Fire Fehr
- John Jaeckel

Thank you totally agreed JJ


Fehr is nothing more than a (frank)ing egotistical windbag

I am dumbfounded how not one player will even begin to go against him publicly

Where's Hamrlik?

Crosby was calling his owner "the greatest" for 2 days right? now he's crying again

jesus I knew we were (frank)ed when they hired him

Saddened by Fehr's stance, completely disillusioned now.
- LeftCoaster

I am truely embarassed for the players that I used to hold in such high regard. They have completely lost their way in understanding just how good they have it and how much they are losing with their greed.

Bettman is a real class act, HOW DARE HE, while being the CEO of the NHL, grow the game and revenue so that players are earning more than they ever have before, you bastard Bettman

Totally at ease with where the NHL is coming from, players can go and sick Fehrs' butt crack.

Hey Jackel for the next ten years You will only work for hockey buzz cause they were the ones who drafted you and now you must stay here even if you dont want to for the next ten years. You can not get any raises of more than 5 percent year over year. Oh yea and we are going to cut your salary cause We were just joking when we said we were going to give you that salary before the CBA expired.
Oh Yea WHAA dont call me names anymore. Hey Mods hey called me a name
- Brukie

Hey Brooksie...FUG OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF TROLL

Fehr knew the proposal was not going to be accepted when he called that press conference. This is all about PR, saving face and the legacy of Donald Fehr. Yes, Bettman sucks, completely and he is to blame for the start of this but Fehr is to be blamed for the continuation of this lockout. It could have ENDED tonight with a deal that would have worked all around. Instead, we are now left to wonder what will happen. John is right, MLB was harmed, greatly, by the Fehr and his year long STRIKE in '94. Baseball has since lost its innocence, the damage by the strike caused owners to look the other way on steroids because it those players were providing a renaissance that was badly needed and the game could not take another scandal in such a short period of time. The NHL lost tremendous momentum with the lost season. A second one might be the death knell for mainstream sponsers, casual fans, etc.
- furso27

Baseball lost its innocence when the Cincinnati Red Stockings began paying players in 1869.

And, as you say, owners (and commisioner) closing their eyes were as responsible for the steroid era as Bonds, Sosa and McGuire (as good a law firm as Halderman, Erlichman, Mitchell and Dean). Whether the did it to save the game or not.

I believe this is a lockout, not a strike. Fehr is doing his job just like Bettman. The owners started the negotiations by offering an awful deal. What is Fehr supposed to do? He is supposed to fight until the bitter end. If the players wanted to accept the offer they would. If the owners wanted to accept the deal they would. Besides the players are the ones giving here. They are negotiating terms that were already present. Don't hear the players saying we want no cap,etc. The owners are taking from what the players had in the last CBA. Sure it is to keep 30 teams in the league. I do recall Nashville and the Wild handing out some big contracts. (Nashville of course matched). I blame Bettman. Put teams in cities that can support them.