Gary Bettman isn’t the most popular guy in hockey and he isn’t afraid to admit it.
The 66-year-old is typically welcomed to a chorus of boos when introduced to the public, but tonight marked a different story as he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Bettman documented his involvement with the league and shared a warm thank you to his family but the most memorable part of his speech came when he addressed these all-too familiar boos. The commissioner admitted that he single-handily is proof that the Hall of Fame process is in no way a popularity contest.
That scouting report wasn’t too bad either!
Despite his unpopularity with hockey fans alike, Bettman has managed to serve as the NHL’s commissioner since 1993. During his tenure he’s helped the league expand from 24 to 31 teams (and potentially 32 assuming everything works out with Seattle), including most recently bringing Las Vegas its first big four franchise.
Bettman certainly has his share of haters but his strong work with the league shouldn’t be disregarded. And neither should his jokes!
