Bettman and Goodenow should resign

Bobo's blog made a long overdue suggestion to address the league-imposed lockout that cost the National Hockey League its season.

It is time for [NHL Commissioner Gary] Bettman and [NHL Players' Association chief Bob] Goodenow to meet continously until they have reached a decision or resign and make room for new negotiators.

I say skip the interim. They've already met many times. While substantive differences aren't nil, it seems clear to most observers that the personal animosity between Bettman and Goodenow is a major obstacle standing in the way of a settlement.

The NHL became the first league in North American sports' history to cancel its entire season due to a labor dispute. Bettman and Goodenow are co-captains of this Titanic. They should both resign now before the league disappears. Ice hockey is too great a sport. Its fans deserve better.

The league is already talking about using scabs (replacement players) for next season. I trust this is just a bargaining ploy by owners. Even the NHL product has declined in quality over the last ten years because of the teams' emphasis on slow, hyperdefensive play and the league's refusal to crack down on hooking, holding and interference. But a second-rate product would be even more resoundingly rejected by fans. This wouldn't halt the league's fading into oblivion. It would accelerate it.


Update: The Players' Association is seeking trade union status in Quebec and British Columbia, reports the Canada's CBC. In those provinces, if unionized workers go on strike, replacement workers can not be engaged. This would prevent the Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens from using scab players, as the league has hinted it might do next season if the league-imposed lockout is not resolved.