Rank the Commissioners

[Megatron]

I think it's safe to say that, over the past few years, each of the 'Big 4' league commissioners haven't had the biggest fanbases. At one time or another, for each mans tenure, there's been some black eyes on their decisions. So why not have some fun deciding which of the four commissioners - Bud Selig (MLB), Roger Goodell (NFL), David Stern (NBA), and Gary Bettman (NHL) - has been the best, worst, and everything in between. I'll go in reverse order:

4. Gary Bettman (NHL)
Why he's the worst: One word: lockouts. He's had 3 of them during his tenure, including one that cost the league the whole season, and another that's ongoing and could end up the same outcome. The worst thing a commissioner can do is take away his product, and that's what Bettman has done three times now, a mistake when it seems like the league was gaining some popularity back and growing in fanbases. This lockout could turn fans away just as bad as it did last time.
Why he could be higher: League revenue has grown from $400 million to $3.3 billion. He's added 6 teams to make it 30. When he hasn't been busy locking the players out, he has helped the league grow and earn more money.

3. David Stern (NBA)
Why he's #3: Like #4, lockouts. He's had 4 of them in his soon to be 30 year tenure, including 3 in 4 years. While he hasn't lost a complete season like Bettman has, he's lost a few games himself, including 20 games just last year. He's also had many lottery controversies, most famously in 1985 with the 'envelope' and Patrick Ewing going to the Knicks. The microfiber ball was a failed experiment, and the dress code was controversial for a few weeks. Also there was the CP3 to Lakers trade vetoed just last year.
Why he could be higher: He's added 7 teams to the league, and the league has grown substantially since he's been at the helm. Games also moved away from tape delay, and I'd say he's done a fair job at handling controversies involving suspensions.

2. Roger Goodell (NFL)
Why he's #2: He is the shortest tenured of the 4, but he hasn't avoided the lockout stigma. While the players lockout last year didn't cost him any games, the use of replacement refs this year for 4 weeks certainly didn't have the fans patting him on the back. Also, bountygate. Whether you believe there was something going on or not, Goodell clearly over stepped his boundries by suspending 4 current/former Saints.
Why he could be higher: Has tried to crack down on player safety, whether people think he's half assed it or not. He's also cracked down on player conduct, something that I think has been his biggest plus as a commish. While the league was already the most popular league when he came into the role, he's helped it grow.

1. Bud Selig (MLB)
Why he's #1: Wild Card's were added to each league twice, increasing the amount of playoff teams from 4 to 8 and eventually 10. This is good because MLB still has the toughest playoffs to get into (in terms of % of teams getting in). He's also added 2 teams and included Interleague play. While some people aren't a fan of interleague, I like it because it gives the fans some matchups they'd otherwise not have seen. The league, as the other 4, has also increased in viewership and many teams are experiencing great attendances. Plus, he's gone the longest without having a work stoppage, whether the league missed games or not.
Why he could be lower: Having the All-Star game, once a notable exhibition game, determine Home Field Advantage for the World Series after a tie in 2002. While he eventually invested in tougher steroid testing (and the suspensions levied now are fair), he turned a blind eye to it early on in his tenure to help bring popularity to the league back. It took him forever to institute some form of instant replay, and it's still probably needs more added. Also tried to contract two teams before the owners voted otherwise.

So there's my list. All are flawed and I really could be talked into any one of 1-3 being #1, but losing games knocks down Stern and Bettman and Goodell has been 50/50 on his decisions, at best.

So what's your ranking of the Big 4 commissioners?

 

[CH David]

The list is there. Though for me it isn't a consistent 2-4. It kinda rotates for me depending on the time. As of right now your list is where I'm at, though if hockey comes back this season it may change.

4) Gary Bettman - The guy is a tool. He has expanded business, so I give him credit. But when he came in he was a basketball guy. I can only guess he barely had an idea of how hockey works, and he is certainly one of the most disliked sports figures around. Two lockouts in less than a decade is certainly not good. Hell, the guy gets booed like crazy when he presents Lord Stanley's Cup, though he doesn't give a shit.

3) David Stern - To me he just does things weird. Fining the Spurs $250,000 for sitting four guys, in what, November? That's fucking stupid. He was instrumental in that dumbassery that was the Chris Paul situation last year. Sure he has helped business grow, but I think it's more that he has had great players to have the NBA market than actually him doing it.

2) Roger Goodell - I like that he is trying to protect players. I really do. Concussions are bad business. Certain things I don't like, such as refs calling penalties on clean plays, but hey, my interpretations are different than a guy that does this for a living. He seemed to blow his load too early with Bounty-gate, only for Tagliabue to go in favor of the Saints players, and he also fucked up with the whole ref thing. Don't say you back the replacement refs and then quickly strike a deal with the ref's union to bring them back. Bad form, sir.

1) Bud Selig - Could he be lower? Probably. Should he? No. I don't mind the All Star Game being played for home field advantage. I like it and it gives incentive for the guys to play hard. Others don't, that's cool. His main issues are steroids and replay. He dealt with steroids, even if it was later than he should have. Those punishments are fair. Replay is something that maybe should've been implemented sooner, but you have to figure out how. I like the fair/foul aspect on home runs, but I think there should also be a challenge that managers can have maybe once a game.

Regardless, there are worse commissioners than Bud Selig. That is a fact. I'd say his mistakes have either been rectified or are on their way, whereas the others have significant problems or have had them in more recent times.

Now if only he could get Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame...

 

[Sinister Shadows]

I don't follow hockey much at all, but read the other day that the Players Union executive is the same one that lead the MLBPU through one or two lockout/lost seasons, so It's hard for me to pin the lockout entirely on the Commissioner.

Goodell has been ok at certain things, but i really disliked how he caved to the officials, generally because NFL officiating is the worst in major sports, the replacement officials were just as good as the "real officials"

I don't personally have much against Bud Selig, except for the just plain stupid second wild card game with a one game play off.

 

[Big Sexy]

4. Gary Bettman- This is an easy one. He already lost one full NHL season and is likely going to lose another one. At times he seems to be incompetent.

3. Bud Selig- People keep talking about lockouts affecting their rankings yet they fail to mention that Bud Selig was the acting commissioner during the player strike of 1994 which forced the cancellation of the last part of that season and the cancellation of the World Series for the first time since 1904. They also had to cancel 18 games for the 1995 season and attendance plummeted because of the strike.

2. Roger Goodell- Goodell has had chances to take over the top spot but recently he has had some questionable moves. The whole bountygate scandal as well as the replacement ref fiasco were major negatives. It can also be argues that he sometimes abuses his power with his discipline of players. Overall he has been great not the best.

1. David Stern- Stern is by no means perfect. He has his share of questionable decisions (Spurs fining this year, CP3 trade veto last season) but he has done so much good for the sport over his tenure. He is the longest tenured commissioner having held the position since 1984 and during that time he has helped the NBA increase its popularity not just in the US, but worldwide. Of the four major pro sports, the NBA is at the top in terms of worldwide popularity. He has had a couple lockouts that lost some games but never lost a full season and the NBA has always had a champion crowned. The positives that he has brought in his tenure in terms of popularity increase, revenue increase, and image makeover easily outweigh his negative moments and it puts him at the top of my list.

 

[Papa Pillman]

1) Selig.

He wins by default as the only one of the four I would rate in a positive light at all. Yes Selig is the only commisioner to see a World Series cancelled on his watch, and he also has to shoulder the blame for the All Star "tie" fiasco that ended up leading to another bit of ridiculousness, with the All-Star Game now deciding home field in the W.S., and the black eye of the "steroid era", but there are some nice revolutions that have occurred under him as well.

Despite the fact that Selig has made decisions that have angered the purists, many have turned out great for the sport. Interleague play and the Wild Card being cheif amongst them. The landscape of the sport is better for those enhancements.

Tied for useless) Bettman, Goodell, and Stern.

Bettman is the biggest shill for his owners of any commmisioner in any major sport I can ever remember. He is a spineless patsy who is about to cost his sport its second lost season on his watch.

As for Stern and Goodell... both are self important power-hungry racists with extreme superiority complexes who should be run out of their sports' with pitchforks and torches.