Wow. Just how fast can an already tardy hockey season go from probable Opening Night coming soon to the mother of all "We're done" press conferences courtesy of your friendly Commissioner Gary Bettman? Apparently a few minutes of players' rep Donald Fehr's good news/bad news holiday cheer.
To recap tonight's festivities per the Associated Press:
That's about it. And when Bettman stepped to the podium came the pandemonium.
I'll spare you much more significant spin, as there is no shortage of information to Google. I read a few columns and tweets from those hockey scribes more in the know than I am. And it looks pretty bleak there will be NHL hockey played this season. Every dotted i and crossed t seemed to point in the direction of a compromise. But now Bettman -whether it was dramatic posturing or heart attack serious- declared he and the owners would pull back what is known as the "make whole" provision of adding what had swelled to a $300 million payout to the players' existing contracts. Now, if you're Donald Fehr, good luck convincing his players to take these negotiations seriously if they can kiss another $300 million good-bye.
Speaking of good-bye kisses, here's a smooch to what could be another canceled hockey season.
To recap tonight's festivities per the Associated Press:
Moments after telling a news conference the union presented a proposal that offered a "quick end" to a bitter dispute, NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr returned to the podium to say the offer was shot down.
"We were advised in a voicemail message that the moves the players made were not acceptable, there was no reason to stay around for meetings tonight or tomorrow, that they would be in touch," said Fehr.
"It looks like this is not going to be resolved in the immediate future. I hope that turns out to be wrong but that's certainly what the message is that we have today." That's about it. And when Bettman stepped to the podium came the pandemonium.
I'll spare you much more significant spin, as there is no shortage of information to Google. I read a few columns and tweets from those hockey scribes more in the know than I am. And it looks pretty bleak there will be NHL hockey played this season. Every dotted i and crossed t seemed to point in the direction of a compromise. But now Bettman -whether it was dramatic posturing or heart attack serious- declared he and the owners would pull back what is known as the "make whole" provision of adding what had swelled to a $300 million payout to the players' existing contracts. Now, if you're Donald Fehr, good luck convincing his players to take these negotiations seriously if they can kiss another $300 million good-bye.
Speaking of good-bye kisses, here's a smooch to what could be another canceled hockey season.
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