Nickdfresh
09-02-2009, 10:18 AM
COMMENTARY
Kelly ouster puts hockey in danger
By Bucky Gleason
Buffalo News Sports Columnist (http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/781986.html)
Updated: September 02, 2009, 8:30 AM /
Brace yourself for another bloody cage match between players and owners now that Paul Kelly has been fired as executive director of the NHL Players' Association. The shift in power was just a warning. Danger lies ahead, and there's no telling how much carnage will be left behind.
Recent history has shown the dysfunctional union is way over its head when it comes to making decisions that require common sense. They don't call a repairman when their refrigerator breaks down. Their nature is blowing up the house, cleaning up the debris and hoping the one they buy with the new home works better.
It's with that in mind that Kelly, an intelligent man who appeared to be making as much progress as possible given his time in office, was abruptly jettisoned Monday morning during union meetings in Chicago. It was surprising, certainly, but to say it was a total shock coming from the NHLPA would be ignoring years of incompetence.
After all, it was this union that failed to comprehend what any pea-brain with two eyes could see in 2004-05, that they had little leverage against the owners. They wanted a bump in pay without a salary cap and wound up limping back a year later millions of dollars lighter with a 24 percent pay cut and salaries tethered to revenues. Heck, with unions like theirs, who needs sleazy owners?
What led to Kelly's downfall isn't quite clear. There's been talk of inner-office turmoil because he was so demanding. Players have grumbled about him being buddy-buddy with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and not fighting hard enough for them. The union offered no explanation, but it sure looks like it's preparing for another long labor dispute.
"You're going to hear more down the road," free agent Andrew Peters, who remains the Sabres player representative, said Tuesday. "People are going to respect players for their decisions and their strength. We have guys in that room and on that board that are very smart guys, very intelligent. Give it time."
Peters is a good guy, but people should remain skeptical until proven otherwise about a union that hasn't done much right in recent years. At the very least, the NHLPA is admitting it made a mistake when it hired Kelly less than two years ago. This crew is so twisted that they're capable of being wrong about being wrong.
Kelly was hired because he brought a new set of eyes and fresh ideas. He was everything his predecessors were not. And while many players were uncomfortable with him extending a friendly hand to Bettman to keep peace, it's quite possible Kelly was trying to work over Bettman rather than work with him.
Regardless, his approach was a departure from caveman tactics that had failed in the past. Former union chief Bob Goodenow's hard-line stance killed the 2004-05 season and led to his firing. He was replaced by Ted Saskin, who was exposed for monitoring his constituents' private e-mail. Kelly was trying to mend a membership torn apart.
All the while, it appears people he trusted were working against him. Many believe he was the victim of a coup with Eric Lindros behind the effort.
Lindros was an ombudsman before he resigned a few months ago. He was replaced by Buzz Hargrove, best known for playing hardball while representing Canadian auto workers. Lawyer Ian Penny, who worked under Goodenow and was looking to become chief after Saskin, also was involved. He was given a three-year contract extension in June.
Just so we're straight, players are entrusting people who had their own agendas and were in cahoots to dump a guy they should have been following. Sorry, it just doesn't sound right. With these guys, it rarely does.
bgleason@buffnews.com
Kelly ouster puts hockey in danger
By Bucky Gleason
Buffalo News Sports Columnist (http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/781986.html)
Updated: September 02, 2009, 8:30 AM /
Brace yourself for another bloody cage match between players and owners now that Paul Kelly has been fired as executive director of the NHL Players' Association. The shift in power was just a warning. Danger lies ahead, and there's no telling how much carnage will be left behind.
Recent history has shown the dysfunctional union is way over its head when it comes to making decisions that require common sense. They don't call a repairman when their refrigerator breaks down. Their nature is blowing up the house, cleaning up the debris and hoping the one they buy with the new home works better.
It's with that in mind that Kelly, an intelligent man who appeared to be making as much progress as possible given his time in office, was abruptly jettisoned Monday morning during union meetings in Chicago. It was surprising, certainly, but to say it was a total shock coming from the NHLPA would be ignoring years of incompetence.
After all, it was this union that failed to comprehend what any pea-brain with two eyes could see in 2004-05, that they had little leverage against the owners. They wanted a bump in pay without a salary cap and wound up limping back a year later millions of dollars lighter with a 24 percent pay cut and salaries tethered to revenues. Heck, with unions like theirs, who needs sleazy owners?
What led to Kelly's downfall isn't quite clear. There's been talk of inner-office turmoil because he was so demanding. Players have grumbled about him being buddy-buddy with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and not fighting hard enough for them. The union offered no explanation, but it sure looks like it's preparing for another long labor dispute.
"You're going to hear more down the road," free agent Andrew Peters, who remains the Sabres player representative, said Tuesday. "People are going to respect players for their decisions and their strength. We have guys in that room and on that board that are very smart guys, very intelligent. Give it time."
Peters is a good guy, but people should remain skeptical until proven otherwise about a union that hasn't done much right in recent years. At the very least, the NHLPA is admitting it made a mistake when it hired Kelly less than two years ago. This crew is so twisted that they're capable of being wrong about being wrong.
Kelly was hired because he brought a new set of eyes and fresh ideas. He was everything his predecessors were not. And while many players were uncomfortable with him extending a friendly hand to Bettman to keep peace, it's quite possible Kelly was trying to work over Bettman rather than work with him.
Regardless, his approach was a departure from caveman tactics that had failed in the past. Former union chief Bob Goodenow's hard-line stance killed the 2004-05 season and led to his firing. He was replaced by Ted Saskin, who was exposed for monitoring his constituents' private e-mail. Kelly was trying to mend a membership torn apart.
All the while, it appears people he trusted were working against him. Many believe he was the victim of a coup with Eric Lindros behind the effort.
Lindros was an ombudsman before he resigned a few months ago. He was replaced by Buzz Hargrove, best known for playing hardball while representing Canadian auto workers. Lawyer Ian Penny, who worked under Goodenow and was looking to become chief after Saskin, also was involved. He was given a three-year contract extension in June.
Just so we're straight, players are entrusting people who had their own agendas and were in cahoots to dump a guy they should have been following. Sorry, it just doesn't sound right. With these guys, it rarely does.
bgleason@buffnews.com