Ironman

JANUARY 27, 2024 MARKS THE 11,318TH DAY THAT GARY BETTMAN HAS BEEN THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NHL, WHICH IS ONE MORE DAY THAN CLARENCE CAMPBELL SERVED AS THE BOSS. IT ALSO MAKES BETTMAN THE LONGEST-SERVING LEADER OF ANY MAJOR LEAGUE, INCLUDING THE NFL, MLB OR THE NBA. BETTMAN, THE IRONMAN OF LEAGUE BOSSES

BY FRANK BROWN

11,318 FEBRUARY 1, 1993 JANUARY 27, 2024 DAYS AS PART OF ITS special section previewing the 1993-94 NHL season, the Hartford Courant published perhaps the most prophetic sentence that Gary Bettman ever spoke. On Oct. 5, 1993, the day before the first games of Bettman’s first full season as NHL commissioner, Viv Bernstein’s two-page story was headlined by an NHL shield that was surrounded by the words “NEW AND IMPROVED!” “While dealing with the issues of the day,” Bernstein wrote, “Bettman also has plans to market the NHL in a way that will someday put it on a par with the other major sports, financially and perceptually. But he realizes it’s going to take some time. “There’s a big challenge here,” Bettman said. “I’m not lacking for challenges. As long as it’s on…

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The Hockey News (Digital) - 1 Issue, Money & Power 2024

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