NHL Asked NBC To Not Broadcast Operation Hat Trick
Actions often speak louder than words. As the NHL and the players are stuck in a PR battle, it's easy for each side to spin things however they want them to appear.
Actions, though, speak for themselves.
A source directly associated with NBC Sports has informed me that the NHL specifically requested to NBC that they not broadcast Operation Hat Trick. While it's not definite that NBC would have gone through with the broadcast, the NHL's intervention seems to have been enough to end all discussions of the possibility.
Some players made the best of the situation and helped to organize a charity game in Atlantic City, a trip that was not so convenient for many of the attendees (Henrik Lundqvist came all the way from Sweden just to play). For one night, players and fans could forget and about the lockout and the economics involved. For one night, everyone in attendance and on the ice could enjoy hockey for the sake of hockey.
Gary Bettman and other NHL executives did not appear to be on the same page.
Not a bright move by the NHL, who is already losing the media tug-of-war. Bettman insists that he sympathizes with the fans and that he wants hockey back more than anyone. Then why pressure NBC, who basically changed the entire structure of their sports network to promote hockey, to not let fans all over the country watch a single hockey game. A game with absolutely no motives besides giving the fans a much needed taste of hockey and raising money for people who were devastated by a storm? Of course, the NHL would not have been dramatically hurt by the broadcasting of the game; it was purely a symbolic move and one that, in my opinion, is petty and spiteful.
Players traveled away from home, played a full 60 minutes for free to benefit charity, and interacted with and happily signed autographs until midnight. The NHL, meanwhile could not swallow their pride and compromise for just one night; a night meant to benefit charity. And while there is no denying that greed is possessing both sides to some degree, it is clear to me which side has more appreciation for hockey itself and the fans who are dedicated to it.
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Since these guys have nothing better to do, maybe they better come to my house and help me finish cleaning it out from the flood! Douchbags!
This may just be the sleaziest thing that Bettman has ever been involved in, and there have been plenty! If anything will completely turn the fans against the league, and toward the players, it's pulling a cheap, vindictive, stunt like this.
@TheRealSophie1 @DiNardoSleux I know. Sorry to say I've given up on all of them. Can't believe this can be so hard to solve. Screw em all
@TheRealSophie1 @DiNardoSleux Hi guys...either way, we are heading into December and NO HOCKEY! It truly stinks!!!
@TheRealSophie1 @teena_797 I'm not a Bettman fan,but he takes his marching orders from the Owners,he has no powers, just does what he's told
@TheRealSophie1 @teena_797 It's not true.. LOL.. that's what's sad.. 1. They wouldn't cover it anyway 2. NBC had that slot covered
@teena_797 @nansea33 it's pathetic that this is a blog with no Proof of the"NBC"person or proof that"NBC"wanted to carry the game #HackStory
@TheNYRBlog @herman_nyrblog Absolutely! Great content on the blog - especially since there's no hockey.
@AdamVodofsky @wyshynski Heard it straight from the mouth of a prominent NBC Sports executive. Of course, your choice whether to believe it.
@TheNYRBlog Looks like quite a number of players are linking to you!! Well done, Kevin!
@50ShadesOfRyan @Hartsy19 If Rangers fans and Flyers players can find common ground, why can't the NHL and NHLPA?
@stefaniealva Yeah, pretty cool. Adam did a great job with this. Thanks again for the pics.
@JVReemer21 @Hartsy19 Flyers players reading the New York Rangers Blog #LoveIt #Rivalry
@Hartsy19 That article was written by me and I was the guy who asked you to confirm that the guy I was pointing at was @jeff_halpern.
@TheNYRBlog You guys were linked on puck daddy too yesterday. Getting some big time attention. Happy you came back ? haha
@Herman_NYRBlog League knew exactly what fans would be chanting. How to manage that without being PR disaster for league?
@Herman_NYRBlog As much as I'm upset at owners, can't expect NHL to allow NBC to televise product that cast league in extremely neg light.
@Herman_NYRBlog @rangersfanclub no surprise. Why would the NHL want an NHLPA event on a national network, plus have "Fire Bettman" heard on
@Herman_NYRBlog why are you surprisedthe only charity the NHL probably believes in is the one that leads tomoremoneyin their pockets #greed
I hate the owners & blame them for overpaying for players & for locking out. How zero revenue now help their cause? To quash televising a charity event is the epitome of callous & typical of the league office. It will be hard for the league to repair the damage done. I do miss watching my Rangers at MSG!
@tonystabile @thenyrblog @herman_nyrblog #nhl wants their fans to keep suffering. I mean why would they help out a charitable cause?
@TheWrage @Herman_NYRBlog @TheNYRBlog Now is when Dolan should stand up and air this game (or a similar one) on MSG. If true it's deplorable
It would have been great if they greedy fucks would have shown it on TV . NOT only get to see a great hockey game but just think of all the money they could have raised if they had shown it on TV and had a number to call and donate or have a call center set up for donations.. TV would have reach far more people then radio did... But Bettman and the other greedy fucks can see past their own bank accounts to see just how many more people this could have helped out. I live in Highlands NJ and just about every home in the downtown area was flooded and people lost every thing they owned many even lost their entire home My Grandmother is one of those that lost her house because it was lifted off it foundation. I thank all those that took part in the game to help my town and every other town effected by this storm. To Bettman and the greedy others i say FUCK YOU SIR.... FUCK YOU..
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It would have been great if they greedy fucks would have shown it on TV . NOT only get to see a great hockey game but just think of all the money they could have raised if they had shown it on TV and had a number to call and donate or have a call center set up for donations.. TV would have reach far more people then radio did... But Bettman and the other greedy fucks can see past their own bank accounts to see just how many more people this could have helped out. I live in Highlands NJ and just about every home in the downtown area was flooded and people lost every thing they owned many even lost their entire home My Grandmother is one of those that lost her house because it was lifted off it foundation. I thank all those that took part in the game to help my town and every other town effected by this storm. To Bettman and the greedy others i say FUCK YOU SIR.... FUCK YOU..
@jamerhames That makes sense, but why would the NHL get involved if they weren't organizing it?
@kevinbaumer @herman_nyrblog That's heartbreakingly sad. Makes me wish NBC had told the NHL to eff off and broadcast the game anyway.
Bettman and the NHL Executives that are holding the NHL back need to go! I don't believe another league would do it for me, bc I would just miss the Rangers and the history they have too much.
What a disgrace. Just fold the NHL already. It's time for a new and functioning league.
