http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/cfl/Outdoor-Heritage-Classic-game-could-be-postponed-289193531.html

 

 

 

The Heritage Classic hoped to be played in Winnipeg next season is in danger of being postponed for one year.

The NHL and Winnipeg Blue Bombers are struggling to find a date that works for both sides. The NHL wants to play the game in late December while the football club is pushing for a February date.

 

The Bombers don’t want the game played that close to the Grey Cup while February won’t work for the NHL due to its all-star game and other soon-to-be announced outdoor games.

 

Both sides are hopeful a compromise can be reached but time is running out for a game in the 2015-16 season.

Bombers CEO Wade Miller is pushing for a greater gap between the two games and wants the NHL to pick up costs, believed to be more than $500,000, associated with keeping the stadium operational through a Winnipeg winter.

 

The league is expected announce its slate of outdoor games for next season this weekend at its all-star weekend in Columbus. Unless there is a dramatic softening of stances, Winnipeg will not be on the schedule.

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How is that different than the Jets and Bombers agreed on a Feb. date and the NHL said no?

 

I was just thinking about all the times people have complained about how cold it could be for Grey Cup and saying the league should start the season earlier so the GC isn't played at the end of November. It's funny how no one is talking about how cold it can be in mid-December. 

 

Yeah its much warmer in February

 

I wasn't talking about December-May. I was talking about November-December.

I simply took exception to him trying to frame Bettman as being disingenuous when all Wade did was confirm that what Bettman said was true - namely that the NHL and Jets agreed on a December date and the Bombers said no.

 

 

I don't recall seeing it anywhere that the Jets had agreed on the December date.

How is that different than the Jets and Bombers agreed on a Feb. date and the NHL said no?

It isn't. But Bettman didn't get pissy about wade's remarks and then confirm everything he said was true.

 

How is that different than the Jets and Bombers agreed on a Feb. date and the NHL said no?

It isn't. But Bettman didn't get pissy about wade's remarks and then confirm everything he said was true.

 

 

This is Bettman's statement: 

 

 “I was disappointed (the Blue Bombers) wouldn't make the stadium available to us. That's really what it comes down to,”  “We wanted to play the game in December and we were told we couldn't have the stadium. That was disappointing."

 

You don't consider that statement as not "getting pissy about it"?

 

He could easily have said - The 3 three parties couldn't reach an agreement to use the stadium on a date that worked for all parties involved.

But no, he was being Bettman.

 

 

How is that different than the Jets and Bombers agreed on a Feb. date and the NHL said no?

It isn't. But Bettman didn't get pissy about wade's remarks and then confirm everything he said was true.

 

 

This is Bettman's statement: 

 

 “I was disappointed (the Blue Bombers) wouldn't make the stadium available to us. That's really what it comes down to,”  “We wanted to play the game in December and we were told we couldn't have the stadium. That was disappointing."

 

You don't consider that statement as not "getting pissy about it"?

 

He could easily have said - The 3 three parties couldn't reach an agreement to use the stadium on a date that worked for all parties involved.

But no, he was being Bettman.

 

Yes, correct, those remarks are *not* Bettman getting pissy at Wade's comments.  Wade's comments were in response to those statements by Bettman.  Unless Bettman has a time machine, he was not being pissy as a result of Wade's remarks, which is what I stated.

Bettman is a smarmy little weasel. He's smart enough to realize how his wording would point all of the blame at the Bombers. I feel I can safely assume his ommittance of their role in what lead to the cancellation wasn't a simple oversight.

Bettman is very very smart.  He roped Wade into looking bush league in my humble opinion.  Wade should have simply said "Gary is correct that the December date didnt work for us but this will be a fantastic even for IGF and Winnipeg and we're anxious to confirm a date for the following season."  But guys at this level on both sides usually have to get out the rulers and start measuring dicks first.

I really have no problem with what Wade said, I don’t think it is bush league at all.  The truth is what Wade said wasn’t a pissing match back at Gary Bettman, I’m sure Gary doesn’t care what Wade said if he was even told of the quote at all.  What Wade did was because of the Winnipeg sports fan backlash at the Bombers.  The Bombers were coming off looking like the bad guys in this, and as CEO he needed to move to change that perception. Let’s look at the two quotes from the Winnipeg Free Press article

.

 

Bettman:

 

"We had hoped to have a fourth outdoor game in 2015-16 season, a Heritage Classic in Winnipeg," he said. "We were unable to agree with the Blue Bombers on a date that would make each comfortable. Hopefully we can schedule something for the following season. There are no firm plans to announce other than it’s something we’d like to do because we very much wanted an outdoor game next season in Winnipeg."

 

 

Miller:

 

"It’s unfortunate the commissioner of the NHL may not have all the facts with regards to the Heritage Classic in Winnipeg," said Bombers President Wade Miller. "All three parties had agreed on the date in February. Within the last two weeks, we were told that didn’t work for the NHL.

"There was a date in January that didn’t work for True North and a date in December that didn’t work for the Bombers. We look forward to hosting the game next year or the year after."

 

 

Sure Wade could have left the first part out taking a shot at Bettman, but if what Wade is saying is true (and I have no reason to believe it isn’t since February was what the rumors have been saying for a long time), then there was an agreement, but the NHL changed its mind.    Maybe Bettman himself didn’t rubber stamp it, but someone in the NHL did, and they were going by those dates. 

 

If the November date was being bandied about a year ago when these talks first started, then Miller could have said no, lets delay a year back then.  News of this wouldn’t have leaked out, and the Winnipeg sports fan wouldn’t have been up in arms at losing something they never had or knew about. 

 

Wade has a right to be mad at the fact that the date was changed on him two weeks ago, and he is the one who is being blamed by the Winnipeg sports fan anger.  

 

Your proposed statement wouldn't have addressed that at all.   And that is really what Wade's words are about ... not about pulling out a ruler.

Gary Bettman gets off the phone with the Brick - "I finally nailed down a delivery date for that new furniture.  Wife was getting on my case about that.  The Cindy Crawford collection will look great by the fireplace, and the Sophia Vegara pieces will be really comfy in the basement."

 

Bettman chatting with his friends - "I finally nailed down a delivery date for that new furniture.  Wife was getting on my case about that.  The Cindy Crawford collection will look great by the fireplace, and the Sophia Vegara pieces will be really comfy in the basement."

 

TUP - Everything Bettman said was 100% accurate!

Gary Bettman gets off the phone with the Brick - "I finally nailed down a delivery date for that new furniture.  Wife was getting on my case about that.  The Cindy Crawford collection will look great by the fireplace, and the Sophia Vegara pieces will be really comfy in the basement."

 

Bettman chatting with his friends - "I finally nailed down a delivery date for that new furniture.  Wife was getting on my case about that.  The Cindy Crawford collection will look great by the fireplace, and the Sophia Vegara pieces will be really comfy in the basement."

 

TUP - Everything Bettman said was 100% accurate!

Your example isnt even close to a fair comparison and the humour is a 5 out of 10 at best.  But good try!

 

Gary Bettman gets off the phone with the Brick - "I finally nailed down a delivery date for that new furniture.  Wife was getting on my case about that.  The Cindy Crawford collection will look great by the fireplace, and the Sophia Vegara pieces will be really comfy in the basement."

 

Bettman chatting with his friends - "I finally nailed down a delivery date for that new furniture.  Wife was getting on my case about that.  The Cindy Crawford collection will look great by the fireplace, and the Sophia Vegara pieces will be really comfy in the basement."

 

TUP - Everything Bettman said was 100% accurate!

Your example isnt even close to a fair comparison and the humour is a 5 out of 10 at best.  But good try!

 

 

I give the humour a solid 7.

 

 

Gary Bettman gets off the phone with the Brick - "I finally nailed down a delivery date for that new furniture.  Wife was getting on my case about that.  The Cindy Crawford collection will look great by the fireplace, and the Sophia Vegara pieces will be really comfy in the basement."

 

Bettman chatting with his friends - "I finally nailed down a delivery date for that new furniture.  Wife was getting on my case about that.  The Cindy Crawford collection will look great by the fireplace, and the Sophia Vegara pieces will be really comfy in the basement."

 

TUP - Everything Bettman said was 100% accurate!

Your example isnt even close to a fair comparison and the humour is a 5 out of 10 at best.  But good try!

 

 

I give the humour a solid 7.

 

at least...was well played.