Gary Bettman: "I really thought the Versus Network would be more popular by now."

NHL Commish claims he had no idea network's coverage would fail so horribly

By Jeremy Strauss

NEW YORK -- Even the smartest and most devoted hockey fans who still support the game realize that the Versus Network has made the National Hockey League even less relevant than it already was. However, apparently, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman cannot count himself among this select few.

"This is our fifth year now that we've been away from ESPN," Bettman commented this week. "I have to say, I really thought the Versus Network would be more popular by now."

The NHL signed a deal to broadcast games on the incredibly non-germane network in 2005 when it was coming out of an almost equally irrelevant lockout. Four years later, many believe that the network -- which was known as the Outdoor Life Network at the time of the deal-- has actually caused the NHL to lose a generous amount of respect.

"ESPN shows such awful programs as the Little League World Series and WNBA games," said Howie Schwab of ESPN's 'Stump the Schwab' fame. "By the rules of sporting, the NHL is now less relevant than those two programs. The league has Versus to thank for that."

Yet, despite the widespread believe that Versus has become "that channel you always skip over," Bettman maintains that he didn't think things would pan out like this.

"I remember the meeting so well," he recalled. "The network execs. assured me they'd be a really popular network in just a few years.

"I only wish I hadn't been gullible enough to believe them."

Players around the NHL have been vocal about the situation -- which some insiders are calling a "crisis" -- at hand.

"Versus isn't offered in some basic cable packages," said Scott Gomez of the Montreal Canadiens. "For that reason, I have many friends who still don't realize or believe I'm actually a professional hockey player."


Players like Scott Gomez are desperate to prove they do play a pro sport that gets shown on television

"NHL should throw away TV contract," added Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. "Nobody ever gonna get to see me play while it like this."