Kukla's Korner Hockey
Giving Gary Bettman Credit In Pittsburgh
by Paul on 09/14/16 at 07:16 AM ET
Comments (4)
from Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,
It's been called “The House Sid Got Built.” And it's true that Consol Energy Center might not exist, let alone stand as the center of the hockey universe Wednesday night, were it not for a pingpong ball delivering Sidney Crosby to the Penguins.
But even before that fortuitous bounce almost a dozen years ago, somebody else preserved our city as an NHL town. It happened when Sid was still “The Next One” and Mario Lemieux was skating on “the last one” (as in healthy hips).
Just so happens, too, that this somebody still won't own up to all he did to keep “Pittsburgh” in front of the Penguins.
I'm talking about Gary Bettman.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: gary+bettman
Comments
(Bettman) has always made sure the biggest decisions best suited the Penguins.
That’s not exactly a secret. But it’s nice to have a Pittsburgh writer confirm what most of us have known for years now.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids, MI on 09/14/16 at 09:21 AM ET
I give Bettman all the credit. Imagine all the things he had to promise Lemieux to get him to agree not to sell the team the first time. A high draft pick here, a rule change there and throw in some preferential treatment on the ice and you got yourself a Cup.
And then this season, Lemieux gets pouty and actively tries to sell the team again. Bettman steps in, convinces him not to sell, and they go from early season cellar dwellers to Cup Champs.
Posted by Hootinani on 09/14/16 at 09:54 AM ET
A high draft pick here, a rule change there and throw in some preferential treatment on the ice and you got yourself a Cup.
I still bristle about the 2009 SCF. Bettman did everything he could to give Cindy her Cup. I have been watching hockey since 1959, and never saw anything like it. 
Posted by bigfrog on 09/14/16 at 05:59 PM ET
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Well, now we know the cost of getting multiple World Cup games in Pittsburgh…...
Helen,get started on that Bettman puff piece ASAP !!
Posted by Down River Dan on 09/14/16 at 07:36 AM ET