Read The Best of Down Goes Brown Online
Authors: Sean McIndoe
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The shoot-out has long been a topic that divides hockey fans. Many feel that it's an overly long and drawn-out skills competition, and a cheap gimmick that diminishes the emphasis on team play and tarnishes the integrity of the game. Others disagree, pointing out that it's actually not all that long.
But while the shoot-out may cause its share of controversy, there's no disputing that it has also created some unique hockey memories. Here's a sampling of some of the most indelible moments from the brief history of the NHL shoot-out:
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The NHL will be celebrating an important anniversary on February 1, 2013: the twentieth anniversary of Gary Bettman's first day on the job as commissioner.
Whether hockey fans will also be celebrating is another matter. Bettman's reign has been nothing if not controversial, and has been marked by several notable successes (massively increased revenue, southern expansion, and unprecedented TV deals) as well as some definite failures (work stoppages, franchise instability, and the “dead puck” era).
It seems like Bettman's every move has been extensively examined and analyzed. Well, all except for one: his hiring. Sure, we all assume that it was the typical big-time executive hiring process, with a competitive recruitment, extensive interviews, and a high-stakes negotiation. But believe it or not, the entire process actually started with a simple application form.
And as luck would have it, DGB spies were able to track down the world's last remaining copy of the NHL's 1993 application form for potential commissioners.
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