The main person we have to thank for a no-hockey holiday season is the little Napoleon himself, Gary Bettman.
If I were a referee in this negotiating game between the owners and the players, I'd be whistling him off the ice for unsportsmanlike conduct. He's worse than the dirtiest fighter in hockey.
Gary Bettman is a disgrace to the NHL and should be banned from the sport for life.
-- Tom McQueen, Palm Harbor
Seeing a picture from inside the Forum with a Lightning flag waving and hockey being played is a reminder of the sad and bitter squabble going on between two parties over money.
Yes, there is the loss of funds and the loss of games, but there is going to be a much bigger loss, especially in cities like Sunrise (Panthers), Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, St. Louis, etc.: The loss of fans.
-- Dave Cutler, Tampa
Devil Rays mismanaged
I just read where Devil Rays owner Vince Naimoli pleaded for the fans' patience. He rationalized spending no money by proclaiming that the talent has to come from within the system.
He has his talking points - "growing our own" and "difficult to compete with the Yanks and Sox." He wants the fans to believe this is the best course. To believe that having a major-league low payroll is in our best interest. That spending money would somehow destroy the 20-year plan GM Chuck LaMar has to contend with mediocrity.
Nobody is buying it. Stop talking down to us. We want better for our team.
But therein lies the irony, where he has "won." There aren't any Rays fans. The locals don't feel anger, they feel nothing. He has created apathy.
-- Jay Bradley, Rocky Mount, Va.
It's that time of year when we have to listen to the Rays complain about how they do not have the money to improve the team. It's getting old hearing the same building-for-the-future attitude. Yet the Rays didn't hesitate to ask fans for a ticket deposit by Dec. 3, not giving them time to see what acquisitions were going to be made to improve the team. Fans could base their ticket purchases on whether they were going to see an improved team fighting for a wild-card spot, at least finish .500., or more 90-plus losses, empty blue seats and an atmosphere surrounding the Trop like at a Class-A game.
I'm not asking for the Rays to match the Yankees' payroll, but at least move up to one of the spots above the lowest payroll in baseball. The Rays need pitching. At least get an Eric Milton/Brad Radke type, plus Tony Batista, and you'll still be at the bottom of the pay scale. Maybe it's time for new ownership that at least wants to move up a little in the standings and payroll. I don't know how Lou Pinella tolerates it.
-- Danny Di Nicolantonio, St. Petersburg
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