The Price Of Transparency?

1) The price of honesty/transparency has apparently been set by the NHL at $250,000 (US).  That's the size of the fine imposed by the NHL on the Detroit Red Wings organization by the NHL following the very candid and honest comments made by senior VP Jimmy Devellano. Now, by honest I'm not saying I agree with his assessment of the league/players, but its clear that its his, and he believes its also the league stance on these issue(s). Specifically,  Devellano in an exclusive interview with Scott Harrigan of Island Sports News, he discussed the lockout and collective bargaining talks.  He was quoted as saying: "It's very complicated and way too much for the average Joe to understand, but having said that, I will tell you this,"...The owners can basically be viewed as the Ranch, and the players, and me included, are the cattle. The owners own the Ranch and allow the players to eat there. That's the way its always been and that the way it will be forever. And the owners simply aren't going to let a union push them around. It's not going to happen."  He went on to also say that the players should take 43 per cent of the revenue, instead of the current 57 per cent.

2) The league, through VP Commish Bill Daly stated that  The Detroit Red Wings' organization and the League agree that the comments made by Mr. Devellano are neither appropriate, nor authorized, nor permissible under the League's By-Laws.  Such comments are neither constructive nor helpful to the negotiations"   Of course its not helpful when you have one of your own tell the players/the public the truth on how you view them; as pieces of cattle, or probably more accurately as chattel. Once again let me first preface all my following statements with the usual dispensement of class war fare nonsense.  Don't fall into the trap of vilifying those around you who make more money than you.  NHL players, like any other well paid profession, are well compensated for a reason. Few can do well what they do.  How many of the "players are over paid" whiners can boast that they have 20,000 people paying $50-100 82 times a year to see them "work".  Exactly!   This short out burst of honesty from the owners side should tell all of us out there how entrenched their side is. How they feel about their "partners", and by extrapolation how far apart they really are in these negotiations.  Its yet another reason why we at Fauxrumors believe that there will be NO NHL hockey in 2012-2013.   For I believe the players already knew that the owners felt this way toward them, and these infrequent bursts of candor only bolster/confirm those beliefs. Thus the messenger(Devellano) had to be dealt with severely.  The price for honesty is now known.  Beware!