Begininning with the letter "P"

Today’s word of the day is “Powerful” and can be described as: (1) having great power or force or potency or effect. (2) potent: having great influence.

As I mentioned in my entry yesterday when the word of the day was “effective”, I would use another word in the same topic. So now it’s time to take a look at just how well Gary Bettman and the NHL used PR to sell their case.

The reason why I choose the word “powerful” which is a synonym for the word effective was I thought the definitions described just how Bettman and the league tried to present itself during this case. Did this have the outcome they wanted? Well, they did kind of win. However, was it due to the way they played the PR game or was it more due to some of the rules they played out being just too complicated to have them lose?

There was no question that Bettman and the league had their Constitutions and Bylaws nailed down. This was repeated over and over during this case (by them). By having these in place and never before challenged prior to Jim Balsillie taking them on, it was almost impossible to rule against something that others had followed and seemingly had no problem with. It also didn’t hurt the organization that many of the franchise owners are also wealthy and well known in the business community. Talk about influence.

In part of Judge Baum’s final ruling he stated that in respect to Balsiilie’s claim it could not work because he could not properly satisfy the NHL's rights regarding relocation (hmmm, sounds like Section 36 of the Bylaw) . Baum noted "In the final analysis, the court cannot find or conclude that the interests of the NHL can be adequately protected if the Coyotes are moved to Hamilton without first having a final decision regarding the claimed rights of the NHL and the claims of the debtors and (Balsillie)". The best interests of the NHL, what about the best interests of the sport? Seems Judge Baum forgot about that part.

The thing is, Bettman and the league used what they had…power, and they used it well. By focusing on and using the media to report the lengths and depths they would go to in protecting their precious Constitutions and Bylaws they achieved the effect they wanted. That said, it may be the continuing effects of just how far they went to get it that makes the “Powerful” look petty and weak.