The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade The League And Changed The Game Forever - Hardcover
Gary Bettman’s two-decade reign has brought fans lockouts, soaring ticket prices, on-ice tinkering, and the heartbreaking departures of Canadian teams for American markets, and seen the centre of NHL power shift to Manhattan. Many hardcore hockey followers are convinced the commissioner is out to ruin the game this country loves.
Still, when Bettman took over in 1992, the gross revenue of the National Hockey League was US$400 million. This season, the figure will be closer to $3.3 billion—an eightfold increase. If that were the only criterion by which to judge Bettman’s tenure, he’d be a business success story. But on his watch, professional hockey has expanded beyond its traditional strongholds and shown it can prosper in unlikely places—even on American networks. And the best players in the world now all ply their trade in the league that Gary built.
By taming the NHL’s famously fractious owners, all but busting its players’ union, and by enforcing lawyerly discipline on everything from trash talk to Jim Balsillie’s efforts to crash the party, Bettman has become a figure of almost unrivalled power in the business of sport. His influence shapes leagues in other countries, dictates the schedule of the Olympic Winter Games, and spills onto the ice itself with innovations such as the shootout and a second referee, and with crackdowns on obstruction and headshots.
In The Instigator, Jonathon Gatehouse details the unlikely ascension of a lonely New York City kid from a single-parent family who never played hockey and can barely skate to the sport’s biggest job. It examines his motivations, peels back his often aloof demeanour, and explains how a true outsider manages to lead, confound, and keep order in the game Canadians love.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Jonathon Gatehouse is a senior correspondent for Maclean’s magazine and was formerly a reporter for the National Post and Montreal’s Gazette. He lives in Toronto with his wife and children, plays hockey three times a week, and has a dog named Wendel.
Review:
"A must-read for any fan that's seen the NHL reshaped during Bettman's reign" and a "treasure trove of anecdotes." —Puck Daddy
"An excellent biography." —Globe and Mail
"I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It was absolute quality." —Mile High Hockey, the Colorado Avalanche blog on SB Nation
"An excellent biography." —Globe and Mail
"I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It was absolute quality." —Mile High Hockey, the Colorado Avalanche blog on SB Nation
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherViking
- Publication date2012
- ISBN 10 0670065927
- ISBN 13 9780670065929
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages352
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The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade The League And Changed The Game Forever
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Viking, U.S.A.
(2012)
ISBN 10: 0670065927
ISBN 13: 9780670065929
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. 1st Edition. 9.10 X 6 X 1.40 inches. Synopsis: Gary Bettmans two-decade reign has brought fans lockouts, soaring ticket prices, on-ice tinkering, and the heartbreaking departures of Canadian teams for American markets, and seen the center of NHL power shift to Manhattan. Many hardcore hockey followers are convinced the commissioner is out to ruin the game this country loves. Still, when Bettman took over in 1992, the gross revenue of the National Hockey League was US$400 million. This season, the figure will be closer to $3.3 billionan eightfold increase. If that were the only criterion by which to judge Bettmans tenure, hed be a business success story. But on his watch, professional hockey has expanded beyond its traditional strongholds and shown it can prosper in unlikely placeseven on American networks. And the best players in the world now all ply their trade in the league that Gary built. By taming the NHLs famously fractious owners, all but busting its players union, and by enforcing lawyerly discipline on everything from trash talk to Jim Balsillies efforts to crash the party, Bettman has become a figure of almost unrivalled power in the business of sport. His influence shapes leagues in other countries, dictates the schedule of the Olympic Winter Games, and spills onto the ice itself with innovations such as the shootout and a second referee, and with crackdowns on obstruction and headshots. In The Instigator, Jonathon Gatehouse details the unlikely ascension of a lonely New York City kid from a single-parent family who never played hockey and can barely skate to the sports biggest job. It examines his motivations, peels back his often aloof demeanour, and explains how a true outsider manages to lead, confound, and keep order in the game Canadians love. Seller Inventory # 003350
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