Shut Up ………. It Is What It Is ……….. It is Boxing What The F#ck Did You Expect … A Bouquet of Red Roses And An Invitation To A Party ?
By tophatal …….. 06/12/2012 …. 11:57 PM (EST)
Well the uproar over the decision in this past weekend’s world title fight , for Manny Pacquiao’s (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) …. WBO welterweight title bout seemingly sent shock waves across the panacea of the sport . Timothy Bradley (29-0, 12 KO’s) the challenger , in many respects fought the fight one would come to expect of an adversary . The stage was set with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada , being the venue for Bradley’s title challenge . The promoter Bob Arum whose company Top Rank Promotions Inc. , also happens to be promoter of both boxers and the co-manager of the Filipino multi title-holder and world titlist . Far be it for me to suggest that Arum has a conflict of interest but in the aftermath of the split decision verdict , in which the challenger won the welterweight title, has me wondering why the outrage by the now beleaguered promoter ? Is it not bad enough that Arum himself , has been the subject of several lawsuits and as recently as two years ago . One of his fighters Antonio Margarito was suspended for a year and fined $250,000 having had his wrapped in the hardening substance Plaster-of-Paris prior to a title fight against Miguel Cotto . Arum would later try to wave off the claims that Margarito “ cheated “ but a monetary the fine and the very fact that two of Antonio Margarito’s trainers were also fined and suspended for a year , in light of their r actions shed light on the actions perpetrated .
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Slide show for your perusal .
Come full circle , to Saturday’s PPV ($54-95) event , where the unbeaten Timothy Bradley sought take down a modern-day boxing icon . Manny Pacquiao’s last defeat , was in 2008 but what might be even more ludicrous beyond this sanctioned bout by the Nevada State Athletic Commission , is the very fact that one of the three judges , C J Ross , who presided over the bout had less than three years’ experience as a judge . Ross was only presiding over his fifth world title fight in such a capacity . If that was not a harbinger of things to come then I certainly do not know what is ! C J Ross , Duane Ford and Jerry Roth were thought to be seasoned veterans of the fight scene but clearly was not the case . As for Bob Arum and the very fact that the split decision drew his ire when it was clear that there would be problems ahead in this bout . This decision if anything , will not change the landscape within the world boxing , as there have been far more egregious decisions rendered in a boxing ring over the years. That has certainly been the case in the state of Nevada and that state’s boxing Mecca , Las Vegas. Anyone who believes that to be the contrary has to be a naïve son of a bitch ! In addition, please let us get one thing clear , boxing is no longer the sport of ” Kings ” , or is it filled with men of integrity . If that were the case , then Bob Arum , Don King , the Nevada State Athletic Commission and New York State Athletic Commission would be doing their utmost to clean up the sport . That has never been the case , with these repeated travesties , we have seen routinely happening within a boxing ring .
Courtesy of Daily Telegraph (UK)
By Gareth A Davies , Boxing Correspondent ,
Promoter Bob Arum, Chairman and CEO of Top Rank, has submitted a formal request to the Nevada State Attorney General’s office for a full and complete inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the scoring of Saturday’s WBO welterweight championship fight between defending champion Manny Pacquiao and challenger Timothy Bradley.
The Pacquiao-Bradley welterweight title fight took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, overseen by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Arum has gone to a higher authority in government to instigate an investigation into a fight many are calling the biggest heist since Ocean’s 11.
Dissatisfied that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has decided not to call an internal inquiry, Arum said: “The public has a right to know. The fighters have a right to know. The only way to restore fans’ confidence in boxing is by letting an independent body investigate every detail of the fight, no matter how big or small. Sunshine never hurt anyone.”
Bradley, the undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion, won a controversial split decision, dethroning Pacquiao on scores or 115-113, 115-113 and 113-115, in a fight most ringside media and fans thought Pacquiao won by a wide margin.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission chairman said that it would be standing by the verdicts “of three seasoned professionals” and that there would be no internal investigation. Judge Duane Ford broke his silence to explain his verdict, insisting that Bradley had given Pacquiao “a boxing lesson”.
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Click on link provided to read this article in full .===========================================================================================
Manny Pacquiao, left, and Timothy Bradley exchange punches in the seventh round of their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. Bradley won by split decision. AP Photo/Julie Jacobson …
Boxing has become a corrupt sport from head to toe , with the two biggest promoters tightening the noose and their grip around the necks of their victim , as if they were a lynch mob that happened to be members of the Klu Klux Klan. Both Bob Arum and Don King are stifling the life-blood out of the sport but their narcissistic asses are far too dumb to realize that fact . Anyone who believes that either has actually made the landscape a much better place for the fans and placed it up on a sure footing acceptance really needs to check what is currently happening within the world of boxing .
The fight itself pitted a boxer in Manny Pacquiao and a puncher fighter in Timothy Bradley . Rounds one through four , saw both fighters routinely looking for opening s to expose the flaws in each other’s strategy. Pacquiao would land 345 of 568 (60.7%) punches in this bout , whereas his opponent Tim Bradley landed 185 of 433 (42.7 %) punches as stated by Comput-Box . For much of the fight the Filipino was seen as the aggressor but what may well have persuaded the judges in rendering the verdict was the very fact that many of the telling blows in this bout came from the challenger . With a volatile and racially diverse crowd the vast majority in attendance were undoubtedly there to support Pacquiao . Bradley for his part , had his loyal band of supporters cheering him on in his challenge .
Rounds six through seven this fight ebbed and flowed with both fighter s raising the pace and showing considerably more aggression during the latter rounds . From the ninth round onward this fight became one of desperation for both fighters and it became abundantly clear that Manny Pacquiao may well have felt that his gasp on his title belt was slipping . One thing was clear at the culmination of this title fight and it was that the fans would be in for a monumental surprise . From the eighth round onwards this fight became one where the events unfolding were of sheer ridicule . Timothy Bradley was on his way to a somewhat Pyrrhic and hollow victory. Boos and the utter anger that came about from the announcement of this verdict was met with a great deal of anger and derision from what appeared to be an increasingly volatile crowd .
As a once avid fan of the sport I have to say lost my passion for the “Sweet Science “ the moment the heavyweight scene became redundant and nondescript ! It has been almost a decade since the division had an undisputed champion , and not one divisional category in the sport currently has a bona-fide titular champion that rules a division outright . Is there a chance that Lennox Lewis could come out of retirement for $30 million and clean up this lame ass division ? Because there is certainly no boxer on the North American continent capable of doing that, and that includes the over the hill cruiserweight Antonio Tarver . Moreover , we wonder why this sport is under such a great deal of ridicule ?
Recently I read a contributor’s piece where he tried to analyze the sport and four others , as if he were analyzing the stock market . If the analysis not so stupid in terms of its lack of information then the very fact that all this individual could provide his readers with , was a few names of note and not much else to give his readers some insight . God knows it is one thing to put a few words on paper but at least have the goddamn common sense to show you have some intelligence with regard to the analysis you are providing on a topic ! It is not fu#king rocket science or is it ? A mind is such a terrible thing to waste .
With the sport having its alphabet spaghetti group of hierarchies overseeing the sport on an international level and on a national level here it is left to the various state athletic commissions . It will only be a matter of time before this sport literally falls off a precipice and into an abyss . There is a reason why MMA under the banner of UFC is now the fastest growing combative sport on the planet . Something, that the aforementioned individual failed to acknowledge in his article other than to mention three named fighters Georges St Pierre , Anderson Silva , and Frank Mir that he happened to know by name . The world of mixed MMA revolves around a great deal more than the aforementioned practitioners . With and with the emergence of Junior Dos Santos , Benson “Ben” Henderson , Jon “Bones” Jones and Dominick Cruz now becoming household names in a burgeoning domestic , and global market place. Many of these fighters have parlayed their newfound fame into commercial endorsements as well as earning seven-figure incomes from their careers within the octagon . Not bad considering where sport of MMA was a little more than a decade ago .
UFC President Dana White in conjunction with UFC co-founders Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta have a well-oiled machine that has now become a multi-billion dollar business concern and empire that is still growing . Wherein , the sport has much better safety protocols that can be found in the sport of boxing , the NFL and MLB (baseball) combined . The protocols put in place for all UFC sanctioned bouts has a medical professional , specifically a neurosurgeon or a triage specialist on site . Furthermore a fighter who is found to have used a banned substance while in training or during has used during the course of a bout has to forfeit their prize money and be subject to a mandatory suspension as rendered by UFC’s hierarchy . In the world of baseball and the NFL when left to the likes of Bud Selig and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and how they seemingly handle the misdeeds of the players under the jurisdiction .
All of this idiocy as how to unappealing a combative sport (MMA) is said to be when it has been far more proactive in ensuring the safety of its members than either baseball , football or boxing could ever claim to be and that is a fact , not an aberration . But you would be hard pressed to make the uninformed more acquainted with such instances and the very salient points in question . Stupid is as stupid does ! Run Forrest , run .
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Whatever transpires now in terms of an investigation either by the WBO or the Nevada State Athletic Commission not a great is about to change . We have seen far more egregious miscarriages within the sport when it comes to a verdict and that is unlikely to change in the near-term or long-term because the sport has no real wish to change. Bob Arum can pontificates all he god damn wants it is not as he has ever come up with an initiative or proposal that will change the landscape of the sport for the better . Arum like his rival Bob Arum is simply in the sport to make money , nothing more , nothing less . Not that there is anything wrong in making , it is how you go about making it and what lengths you are prepared to go to in order to make that dollar . Let it not be said that either, Bob Arum and Don King have conducted themselves in an appropriate fashion that one would come to expect of the said individuals who are the forefront of their professions .
In the midst of this idiocy, we should remember that while boxing is legal in the state of New York , the state legislature deems MMA unlawful and a dangerous sport . At present Dana White , Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta are making a spirited drive , to place an initiative , that would call for a straight-up-or down vote within the New York State Senate as well as their House Assembly , calling for the legalization of MMA (mixed martial arts) . The fact that the state could profit to the tune of anywhere between $150 to $275 million annually from UFC sanctioned events staged within the state , would provide much-needed economic impact , seems to be lost on the legislators opposing the proposed bill . Within the state of New York as well as neighboring the state , New Jersey , there too , they have seen their fair share boxing travesties in terms several ringside verdicts rendered from the sport of boxing . It is also dawning on the proponents of the bill that they are losing out on a sizeable income from what has now become a multi-billion sport’s enterprise . Never let be it said that money cannot “ trump “ stupidity and what we are currently seeing from New York’s legislators is their utter stupidity and otherwise disdain of a sport they simply have no wish to understand.
Nevada , California and thirty-four other states now sanction MMA within their jurisdiction and each said to be happy with the that parent company has conducted their business dealings as well as meeting the prerequisite safety measure called upon by each of the various state athletic commissions . The “ Big Apple “/New York City may well be many things but when it comes to understanding the impact that MMA now has , they are most definitely behind the times !
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Picture gallery . ( By clicking on an individual frame you can view the picture in its original formatted size)
In light of this fight verdict do you believe that there will be any major changes proposed that will ultimately benefit the sport of boxing ? On the other hand, do you believe as I do , things will remain the same with whatever change being slow and incremental ? If there were to be change within boxing what specifically would you like to see ?
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http://facebook.com/tophatal
Picture and slide show details below .
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(1) Manny Pacquiao listens to the announcer call the decision in favor of Timothy Bradley of their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. Bradley won by split decision. AP Photo/Julie Jacobson …
(2) Manny Pacquiao, left, and Timothy Bradley exchange punches in the third round of their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. Bradley won by split decision . AP Photo/Julie Jacobson …
(3) Manny Pacquiao, left, and Timothy Bradley exchange punches in the 12th round of their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. Bradley won by split decision. AP Photo/Julie Jacobson …
(4) Manny Pacquiao, left, and Timothy Bradley exchange punches in the seventh round of their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. Bradley won by split decision. AP Photo/Julie Jacobson …
(5) Manny Pacquiao, left, lands a punch against Timothy Bradley in the fourth round of their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. Bradley won by split decision. AP Photo/Julie Jacobson …
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(6) Timothy Bradley lands a punch to the body of Manny Pacquiao in the ninth round of their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. Bradley won by split decision. AP Photo/Julie Jacobson …
(7) LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 09: Manny Pacquiao addresses the media during the post-fight press conference after he was defeated by Timothy Bradley by split decision at MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images …
(8) Freddie Roach , trainer of Manny Pacquiao, addresses the media during the post-fight press conference after Pacquiao was defeated by Timothy Bradley by split decision at MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images ….
(9) Timothy Bradley is wheeled into the post-fight press conference in a wheelchair after defeating Manny Pacquiao by split decision at MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images … (10) Top Rank promoter Bob Arum addresses the media during the post-fight press conference after Manny Pacquiao was defeated by Timothy Bradley by split decision at MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images …
(11) Brothers and co-owners of the Ultimate Fighting Championship Frank (L) and Lorenzo Fertitta (2nd R), UFC president Dana White (2nd L) and photographer Kevin Lynch attend the ‘Octagon’ private view at Hamilton’s gallery on January 17, 2007 in London, England. The exhibition showcases work by Lynch documenting the world of Ultimate Fighter Championship (UFC) events. Source: Claire Greenway/Getty Images Entertainment ..
(12) Anderson Silva (left) seen here facing the challenger , Chael Sonnen for the UFC middleweight title . Silva would enforce a triangular choke hold for a submission by Sonnen in the waning moments of the fifth round of his middleweight title defense . MMA Junkie ………
(13) Jon “Bones” Jones (R) punches Rashad Evans during their light heavyweight title … bout for UFC 145 at Philips Arena on April 21, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin Cox / Getty Images North America …
(14) Jon Jones (L) elbows Rashad Evans during their light heavyweight title bout for UFC 145 at Philips Arena on April 21, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin Cox / Getty Images North America ….
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Tophatal's Blog 
People wake the ##ck up boxing is no longer relevant on the panacea of the sports’ landscape so why all this asinine belief that any change will now make the sport a great deal better ? We have been waiting on th ” powers to be ” to be proactive for almost a decade and absolutely nothing has been done or achieved . So please wake up place your interests elsewhere . Why waste your time in something that has become archaic and where to top fighters simply refuse to meet each other unless they’re being vastly overpaid for a fight that in the end tends to be tediously boring.
Bob Arum is a disingenuos son-of-bitch with his outrage ! He promotes both Bradley and Pacqcuiao , the latter whom be co-manages . Where was the outrage from the promoter when Antonio Margarito (one of Arum’s fighters) entered the ring in his title fight against Miguel Cotto with an illicit substance wrapped over his fists ?
One of the judges in this title bout between Bradley and Pacquiao was so inexperienced that you might as well have had Stevie Wonder judging this bitch ! And now not only is the Nevada State Athletic Commission getting involved but so is their state Attorney General … Catherine Cortez . Why ?
Isn’t this the same goddamn state and state judiciary that recently allowed spousal abuser Floyd Mayweather to fight under the agreement he would later serve his jail sentence ______ at a later date having been found guilty on four of eight charges ?
WTF ! How fu_king hypocritical !
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If Pacquiao had any doubt during the fight thought he may well be on the losing end of a bad decision then why didn’t follow the mantra of LL Cool ? ” Mama Said Knock You Out ” . Or more affirmatively mama said … I should knock you the f#$k out !
The Filipino fighter did indeed look sharp but he was also being exposed by a quicker and younger fighter in Timothy Bradley .
The travesty of this decision is that the state athletic commission won’t have solved a thing no matter what decision they come to . Nevada’s AG Catherine Cortez-Mastro if she has anyb damn sense she should investigate the state commission , Arum , Top Rank and the WBO .
As for the WBO they’re in the hip pocket of Bob Arum and Don King . Anyone who believes to the contrary knows absolutely nothing about the sport of boxing .
tophatal ………..
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I watched the entire fight, and, like many, I am stunned. Pacquiao won that fight fair and square, but props to Manny for being a good sport about all this!
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Sam’s Sports Brief
How is that you deduce that Manny Pacquiao won the fight either unanimously or via a split decision ? Is it because of what the press has stated or by the actual events that took place in the ring ? That fight was far from a convincing win and neither should it have been a split decision favoring Tim Bradley.
Boxing at all levels has become a complete travesty ran by a bunch of corrupt individuals . Nothing that’s done now by the Nevada State Athletic Commission , New York State Athletic Commission , the WBO (World Boxing Organization) or Catherine Cortez-Masto , the AG for the state of Nevada will actually change a thing .
All of this belly aching and whining by the press and fans alike is asinine because such miscarriages as this event has been going on for years . The only reason why fans are bitching and whining is because of the popularity for a boxer who’s in the waning years of a career that is now definitely on the decline .
Manny Pacquiao is Bob Arum’s ” meal ticket “ and he has been ever since Floyd Mayweather Arum’s company Top Rank Inc left to “go it alone” to self-manage and promote himself . That’s the real reason Arum is now whining . Arum along with Don King have been the main and only reason why boxing has sank to such levels of ridicule ! The fans are still too friggin’ dumb to realize that fact , as are the lame assed announcers and writers who cover the sport !
tophatal …..
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The stats within the fight notwithstanding fans are simply too delusional to believe that Pacqiao won that fight by a wide margin . Consider the fact that in several of the rounds , as the aggressor he was unable to put Bradley away and that is the mark of a great champion …………. being able to take out an opponent clinically and cleanly . Manny was simply unable to do that. His career is on the decline and skills are clearly eroding . It is by no means in a guarantee that in a rematch he will be able to beat Tim Bradley . If anything the advantage may well lay with the new WBO welterweight champion . Fans are way too naive for their own good , especially those with little or no knowledge of the sport .
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Boxing is suffering a long slow death. Lots of folks loving watching and going to the MMA. My daughter and son love the MMA. I stopped following boxing went Ali quit the sport.
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Bobby Gee
Not even a defibrillator can now save this sport’s ass ! It’s dead and needs to buried under the tenets of Judaism and Islam because the sport has been stinking up the joint for far too long ! Enough with the this bull$hit that it’s still relevant on the sports’ landscape ! Boxing no longer has any real relevance . Even with the recent death of the sport’s most well known and respected amateur fighter , Cuban , Teofilio Stevenson . His death and with this decision it’s closing another chapter in one of the many low points there have been within the sport in recent years .
Now you have the lawyers for Floyd Mayweather seeking the early release of the figther from his incarceration in prison for felony assault , intimidation of a witness and spousal abuse . All because they believe the fighter is now said to be suffering from clinical depression and has allegedly become suicidal . That’s another load of bull$hit ! Mayweather has become a cowering bitch because he’s no longer relevant on the scene .
tophatal ……….
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I’ve always enjoyed boxing, it’s just a shame that it doesn’t function by a more practical business model. The sport lost a lot of respectability by allowing so many sanctioning bodies. I believe boxing is a sport worth saving, but it may be too late.
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aero
I grew up watching the sport primarily because of my father . He was an avid fan and had countless tapes on some of the all-time greats going back the likes of Willie Pep , Marciano , Sandy Sadler , Dick Tiger , Joe Louis , Marciano , Carlos Monzon , ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinsoin and others far too numerous to mention .
My own all time favorite isn’t Ali but Marvin Hagler , who to my mind is the greatest middleweight in history with the exception of ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson .
What took place between Pacquiao and Bradley was indeed a farce . But a travesty of justice ? Hell , there have been far worst decisions in a boxing ring that have taken place in the last four decades at least . The only reason there’s a great deal of complaining is simply because the events were caught live and has now gone ” viral” for the whole world to see . Bob Arum is a disingenuous ba$tard and the world should now realize that fact , and not continue to make excuses for this bigoted a$shole !
Sugar Ray Robinson taking it to Jake La Motta
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Marvelous Marvin Hagler
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Come and feel my melons ! Ewa Sonnet
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tophatal
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Where to begin, where to begin, Al?
You and I have written and conversed about this for years and agreed 100% all along.
And yet we keep writing about it, as if something might change.
One of these days, brother, we, along with a whole bunch of others, are going to stop caring altogether.
Arum and King will be sitting homeless on the side of the road, destitute, asking for change, and in return, we’ll tell them they should have changed their sport for the better years ago.
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Chris aka sportschump
The real embarrassing loss here , will be the fans who migrate away from the sport rather than continuing to watch this goddamn mess continue unfold in-front of their very eyes ! Boxing has become a joke , hence the reason I gravitated towards MMA . As a martial artist ( karate & taekwondo ) I have to say , I find the bouts (under the UFC banner ) to be far more exhilarating than the absolute bullshit being served up by the likes of Bob Arum , Don King , Dan Goosen and Oscar De La Hoya , as promoters . None of these indviduals have brought about any change whatsoever , in spite of the claims that they have made down the years .
I’d take MMA over both boxing and the NHL (hockey) any frigging day of the week !
tophatal ….
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Hockey? What’s that?
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Chris Humpherys
There are idiots within this forum trying to hype up that sport as if it’s relevant. Consider the fact that the Phoenix Coyotes are now on verge of bankruptcy (with debts of over $100 million) and no one wants a part of that ” bitch” without assurances from the NHL hierarchy . Something that the so-called fans of the sport don’t talk about much less have the frigging aptitude to understand but yet they’re trying to laud us as to how part of the sports’ fabric the game is meant to be . That has to be the biggest god-damn joke of the moment . Gary Bettman is a joke as the commissioner of the NHL .
Even when the Stanley Cup is being televised by NBC or the NBC Sportrs Network , is there anyone actually watching ? Let’s call the NHL for what it is ……….. irrelevant ! I rest my case !
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