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Gary BettmanCommissioner of the National Hockey League
Date of Birth: 02.06.1952
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Gary Bettman: National Hockey League Commissioner
- Early Life and Education
- Career in Sports Law
- NHL Commissionership
- Personal Life
Gary Bettman: National Hockey League Commissioner
Since 1993, Gary Bettman has served as the Commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL). Before that, he was Vice President and General Counsel of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bettman holds degrees from Cornell University and New York University School of Law.
Early Life and Education
Born to Jewish parents, Bettman studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, where he was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. He graduated in 1974. In 1977, Bettman earned a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law.
Career in Sports Law
After law school, Bettman joined the New York-based law firm Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn. In 1981, he joined the NBA, primarily handling marketing and legal affairs. He rose through the ranks to become the league's General Counsel and Vice President. Bettman played a key role in the development of the NBA's salary cap in 1983.
NHL Commissionership
On February 1, 1993, Bettman became the first Commissioner of the NHL, succeeding Gil Stein, the league's final president. Bettman was tasked with expanding the NHL into American markets, completing league expansion, dealing with labor issues, and modernizing the league.
Under Bettman's leadership, the NHL's revenue has skyrocketed, from $400 million when he was hired to $2.2 billion in 2006-07. He also expanded the league by six new teams. However, Bettman has been criticized for "Americanizing" hockey and for expanding into the non-traditional hockey market of the Southern United States, rather than expanding into Canada and the Northern United States. He has also been a key figure in two NHL lockouts, including the 2004-05 lockout that canceled an entire season. These controversies have made him an unpopular figure among some hockey fans.
Personal Life
Married to Shelly, Bettman is the father of three children: Lauren, Jordan, and Brittany. His stepbrother, Jeffrey Pollack, is the Commissioner of the World Series of Poker. Bettman hosts a weekly one-hour show on NHL Home Ice Radio (XM 204), allowing fans to connect directly with the commissioner and share their views on hockey.
