Alles Andere » harshly criticized for being too lenient or not acting

TORONTO - Gary Bettman understands the intense scrutiny NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is under. Goodell has been harshly criticized for being too lenient or not acting quickly enough to punish Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and other players involved in a rash of recent domestic violence incidents. "I think hes working very hard in a difficult situation," Bettman, the NHLs longtime commissioner, said Monday. Bettman, who has been in his position longer than any current commissioner in North American professional sports, said its impossible to be too comfortable in a job like his or Goodells because unpredictable things happen. Comparing it to being a CEO of any major company, he added theres no luxury of having a night off. "Whenever that phone rings, and sometimes it does at two in the morning, youve got to respond and youve got to have your A-game otherwise youre liable to make a mistake, and when you make a mistake in this position, it gets magnified," Bettman said at a meeting for The Canadian Club of Toronto. "And it doesnt matter if youre right 99 out of 100 times, which is a pretty good batting record, its that one that youll have to live with and deal with." Arrested for punching his then-fiancee and now wife earlier this year, Rice was originally suspended for two games, but after a video surfaced on Sept. 8 showing the violent attack, he was released by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely. Peterson has been indicted on child-abuse charges and deactivated by the Minnesota Vikings but has not been suspended. At a news conference last week, Goodell took responsibility for the leagues failings in investigating Rice, saying he "didnt get it right." During several interviews Monday, Bettman didnt reference Rice or Peterson. Instead, he spoke in general terms about how professional sports leagues can handle those kinds of situations. "You do the best you can, and thats something in areas that are important weve tried to be proactive," Bettman said. "It doesnt mean that things are going to happen in any league, in any business, in any situation that you cant control, but we try to address issues head-on and we try to do the right thing on a consistent basis." Bettman said the NHLs security department and behavioural health counsellors have talked to players about the topic of domestic violence for more than a decade. "Based on our experience to date, we believe that the appropriate procedures are in effect that we can do what we need to do on a case-by-case basis," he said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "I am extraordinarily proud of our players and how they conduct themselves. If and when something needs to be addressed in terms of discipline, it will be. But more importantly we try to focus, with the Players Association, on educating and counselling." The collective bargaining agreement includes procedures on how to handle off-ice incidents and gives the NHL power to suspend a player amid a criminal investigation if failing to do so would "create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the league." After the NFL instituted a new policy that made a first domestic-violence offence a six-game suspension, Bettman said the NHL would continue to handle incidents on a case-by-case basis because it has not been an issue that requires setting a standard punishment. In October 2013, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov was charged with felony kidnapping and assault for attacking his girlfriend. Varlamov was not suspended, and the charges were dropped in December when prosecutors said they did not have enough evidence to convict him. Bettman was not specifically asked about Varlamovs arrest in light of the NFLs handling of domestic violence. He said sports leagues have an obligation to try to do the right things. "I dont think anybody whos in the league, be it as an owner, an executive or a player, has any illusions as to whats expected of them," Bettman said. "Our code of conduct is we expect you to do the right thing, and if you dont, we hold you accountable." In a question-and-answer session with new "Hockey Night In Canada" host George Stroumboulopoulos and those attending the Canadian Club luncheon, Bettman also addressed expansion and other topics related to on-ice action. Bettman reiterated that the NHL has no current plans to undergo a formal expansion process beyond the 30 teams that have existed since 2000. "Im not suggesting that at some point in the future we might not look at, but were not ready to do it now," he said. "And I dont want to build up anybodys expectations because thats not unfair to people in a community that want to have a franchise." One recent report said the NHL would expand by four teams, one each in Quebec City, Las Vegas and Seattle and a second franchise in Toronto, by 2017. Asked by Stroumboulopoulos about his philosophical opinion on having two teams in one market, Bettman explained in hypothetical terms that there are pitfalls, especially in Toronto. "If we decided that we were putting a second team in Ontario, and the year the team was supposed to start, the Leafs won the Cup, that second team wouldnt exist," Bettman said. "When you have historically established teams with great histories and traditions, the second team — even if the first team isnt having tremendous success at the time — the second team will never quite get the premier coverage." 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Cheap NFL Jerseys From China .C. -- Steve Spurrier was much happier about South Carolinas improved performance than about his lastest career milestone.LONDON -- Paolo Di Canios turbulent and divisive Sunderland reign was abruptly ended after less than six months on Sunday as he became the first manager to be fired this Premier League season. Sunderland announced it had "parted company" with the Italian a day after a 3-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion left the northeast club bottom of the standings and without a win from five games this season. The firing comes amid reports of player unrest after Di Canio said his "players need to release the rubbish from their brains," and brings an end an uneasy chapter in the clubs 134-year-old history. "The club would like to place on record its thanks to Paolo and his staff and wishes them well for the future," Sunderland said in a short statement, 175 days after hiring Di Canio. Di Canios appointment in March provoked a widespread backlash, with anger within and outside the club after American owner Ellis Short brought in a manager who had made well-publicized statements in the past expressing fascist leanings. Despite achieving the initial objective of avoiding relegation last season, the single point Sunderland had collected from five games this season means he is out of a job after just 13 games in charge. "It was perhaps (the club) felt that the players were finding it hard to conform to his unique style ... and by the looks of things the players werent buying into it," former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn told Sky Sports television. "Theyve made a very brave decision to appoint him, they got what they wanted out of him, and now theyve made a brave decision (for him) to go. It wouldnt have been my style." Kevin Ball, a former Sunderland captain, has been put in temporary charge, with a League Cup game against Peterborough on Tuesday. Di Canio was only hired at the end of March, with the maverick replacing Martin ONeill when the team was nose-diving toward the League Championship. Critics not only questioned his lack of coaching experience -- just 21 months at lower-league Swindon -- but also his past statements that expressed fascist sympathies. On the evening he was appointed oon March 31, former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband resigned from his positions as vice chairman and non-executive director of the club in protest.dddddddddddd Following an outcry during a stormy few first days in charge, Di Canio eventually renounced his links to fascism but refused to be questioned on the matter. The row faded as he masterminded the three wins that preserved Sunderlands Premier League status, including a striking derby success at Newcastle. Given the resources to strengthen in the summer transfer window, Di Canio brought in 14 new players. But the decision to sign just one Englishman provoked the ire of the Football Association, whose chairman Greg Dyke held up the club as a reason for the inability for homegrown talent to gain opportunities in the countrys topflight. And the new first-team recruits failed to gel on the pitch -- with the only win this season coming in the League Cup against third-tier side MK Dons. Di Canios only managerial experience until landing the Sunderland job had been in League One. And his outspoken approach at Swindon had already angered many while flagging up the potential pitfalls of putting him in the dugout. Already this season, Di Canio had been fined 8,000 pounds ($12,800) by the FA after accepting a charge of misconduct for an outburst at a referee that saw him sent off. After a colorful playing career in the top divisions of Italy, England and Celtic, Di Canios downfall was not unexpected. Although he scored sublime goals, there were also headline-grabbing antics, notably when he pushed a referee to the ground after being sent off while playing for Sheffield Wednesday in 1998. He scored more than 100 goals in over 500 appearances as a player with Lazio, Juventus, Napoli, AC Milan, Celtic and West Ham among other clubs before retiring in 2008. Now his next steps in football remain uncertain -- particularly in England -- while Sunderland searches for its sixth permanent manager in less than five years. Possible candidates for the job are former Chelsea and West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo, and Gus Poyet, who left Brighton earlier this year. ' ' '