from Scott Burnside of ESPN,

... Now, the outside impression of Bettman, leader of the National Hockey League for two decades, is that these things are actually possible; that he is "the man," the first word and the last word when it comes to law and order within the closed little clique that is the group of owners.

To be sure, there is some of that.

But there has been more than a little mythology built up around both Bettman and his role, especially when it comes to negotiating with the players -- if that's what you can call what's happening now as the owners roll steadfastly toward a third lockout under the Bettman regime.

This perception of Bettman as the only thing standing between the fans and hockey utopia suits the public and many corners of the media nicely, especially in Canada, where Bettman is seen as the direct cause of all that ails hockey, not to mention being responsible for hard to clean spots on the rug and acid rain.

Let's be clear about one thing: Bettman may be driving the bus, but he's getting directions on where the bus is headed from the 30 owners who sit behind him on that bus.

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