Bettman's a hoser.

He hates Canada.

We all know it, but it's become abundantly clear: Gary Bettman hates Canada.

If there's one thing in the world Americans allow us, it's hockey. Hockey is ours. It's always been ours, and until Bettman became the Commish, there was never a thought that it could ever be anyone else's. But 15 years ago, the League wanted someone who could expand into the US. It's where the money is. I get that. In his first three years, he oversaw the relocation of three classic northern teams to the south - Winnipeg to Phoenix, Minnesota to Dallas, and Quebec to Colorado. The only city to get a team back since then is Minnesota, but I think even those fans would agree that it's just not the same cheering for the Wilds as it was for the North Stars. Wouldn't it be odd to see a team in Winnipeg that wasn't the Jets? "Um.... thanks for the team? We'd like our old one back, thanks."

The first decade of his mandate was hands down successful. He scored major contracts with Fox and then ABC/ESPN. Money the likes he'd never see from Canadian broadcastors. But that was pre-lockouts. First Fox and then ESPN didn't renew their contracts because they considered them over-valued. Now it's on Versus which is an itty bitty cable station by comparison. Apparently, Southerners don't give a flying fig about hockey. Who knew? Well... we did.

I understand the business acumen of trying to eke a bigger payday out of what appears to be a substantially bigger market. Phoenix has a larger population than Winnipeg - that'll never change despite the stupidity of human beings setting up house in a desert, but I digress... Phoenix is bigger, therefore more potential-hockey-fans-in-the-making. But that is where logic stops supporting Gary, and starts playing against him. It's hockey. It's a desert. Give. Your. Head. A. Shake. They don't care. They will never care. And they've proven that by putting the team's owner $100 million in the hole. Time to give up beating that dead horse, Gary.

And then we've got Balsille. That dude wants a hockey team, like soooooo baaad. He's being a bit of a smartass brat about it, sure, but he's tried twice now to do it the "right" way, so circumventing the League or not, he's doing his damnedest to get his own way. And he's a rich successful businessman not cool with being shut down, least of all by a schmuck like Bettman. He's got the cash and he really, really wants his toy. He will stomp his feet until he gets one. Figuratively. I presume.

Aside from Gary's sob story about not wanting to abandon the Arizona fans (because he doesn't like relocating teams?? ), there's really no point to his obstinancy. Everyone knows that. The money's here for the taking when it comes to hockey. If the Leafs doubled the capacity of their arena (again), they'd still sellout every game despite *never* making the playoffs. Put another team close-by and it'll be the same story. Screw K/W or Hamilton, the easiest place to sellout another team is Toronto. But then the Leafs might actually have to perform, so we wouldn't want to pressure them like that. It wouldn't be very nice. Hamilton it is.

So the only option left is that Gary hates Canada. Wonder what it is we did? Further to that, what's the point? I mean, we're Canada! You can't even let us have hockey?!? Really? Reeeeally?

For his sake, I hope he gets over it, because from where I sit, if he keeps this up, he just might be out of a job.

And I just might be okay with that.