Juicy raises, funny hockey commercials and more

Funny what 15 years and a couple of plot twists can do for a guy’s image in this town.

So word came out Monday courtesy the Sports Business Journal that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman received a four per cent pay hike and is now making $7.5 million. It was a tidbit that barely drew a mention locally and nationally.

Interesting non-reaction.

You see, back in ’96, when the Jets were packing up and exiting for Phoenix – and in the years since – news like that would have had folks in this town all worked up in a lather and burning the man in effigy. Now the collective sense appears to be: "$7.5 mill for the guy who helped orchestrate the deal to bring the Jets back?... Sounds about right."

Just FYI, Bettman’s $7.5 million pales in comparison the $10.9 million NFL boss Roger Goodell makes and the $18.35 million – unbelievable – that MLB commissioner Bud Selig pulls in annually.

Best hockey commercials

Love this bit put together by SI.Com on the funniest hockey ads of all time. As someone who loves this stuff, I watched every minute (please note: the click here to watch the commercial is on the right-hand side and tough to spot at first).

My faves are the Shanahan spot (No. 5) , the Sedin twins (No. 4); Gretzky-Sundin (No. 18) and because Tracy Morgan makes me howl, No. 21. Meanwhile, the Rangers’ Sasson Jeans bit from 1979 is too cheesy for words.

A new to-do list

Thanks to Down Goes Brown for his regularly comical look at the NHL and this take on the Jets.

Wedding planners alert

Not sure what to make of this video, but you can bet somebody will be copying it this time next year right here in River City.

And, finally, while I don’t agree with this commentary, in the interest of fair comment some fans – especially those who are complaining about the new Jets logo -- might find it interesting.

-- Ed Tait