The NHL needs to fire Gary Bettman!
This past week has not been good for the sport I love. Between Dallas fans taunting Elvis Merzlikins about the death of his friend and teammate this summer to the publicity of the sexual assault charges in Chicago, the NHL needs to do something.
Sure, it is great that Stan Bowman, Joel Quenneville, and everyone else associated with the 2010 sexual assault of Kyle Beach in Chicago have been terminated or resigned; however, that is not enough.
Beach made it clear that Chicago’s coaching staff and management were not the only ones he spoke to about the abuse. Beach also took the issue to the NHL and NHLPA.
Wednesday Beach was quoted as saying “[the NHL] let me down and they’ve let others down as well, but they continue to try and protect their name over the health and well-being of the people who put their lives on the line every day to make the NHL what it is.”
You cannot seriously think a coach sexually assaulting a player like Aldrich did to Beach and then the player discussing it with multiple entities in the NHL and NHLPA would not get to Gary? That is like trying to say that Clinton did not have relations with that woman! Just straight bullshit.
Now Gary is acting like the shining beacon of hope and all that is good and true in the world. Fuck that and FUCK GARY BETTMAN. Bettman knew about the assault and did what he could to protect the image of the NHL, an Original 6 team, and a Stanley Cup Champion. This holier-than-thou act is all just a bunch of BULLSHIT to cover his ass and look like the good guy.
Much like Bettman cannot deny knowledge of the abuse, neither can the NHLPA Executive Director, Donald Fehr. Beach also told the press multiple times that at least two different people within the players union spoke to Fehr directly about what happened between Beach and Aldrich. Yet, nothing ever came of it.
Fehr did apologize for the “serious failure” of the NHLPA to pursue further action, but in his statement Wednesday night, Fehr seemed to play dumb like he had never heard about it.
How can that be? Two different people bring up sexual assault and you are acting dumb? Sexual assault is not something that you would likely forget that easily fella.
This might just be my hot take, but if Bowman, Q, McDonough, and the rest are being punished; then Fehr and Bettman should be as well. They are as much a part of the cover up as the Chicago Blackhawks organization!
Besides being the absolute worst commissioner in professional sports, Bettman is a hypocritical piece of shit!
If the three NHL lockouts weren’t enough to end Gary’s Reign of Terror, the fact that he knew, covered up, and now is acting like the guiding light for Kyle Beach’s sexual assault should be the straw that breaks the camel’s back! Name one other commissioner that is greeted by a sea of booing fans wherever he goes? I will wait…
Fire Fehr! Fire Bettman! End of story!
Bettman and Fehr both need to resign over this. It is just a disgrace that virtually nothing was done when this occurred. Right now the NHL needs someone in charge that will force the needed change in attitude from the Commissioner, owners and right on down through the NHL and extending even into all levels of minor hockey. This not reporting and taking action when sexual abuse is alleged must have consequences to all those even in the highest levels, for they ultimately must take responsibility and pay the price for it.