Just days after the NHL and Gary Bettman have been accused of turning their backs on Atlanta hockey fans and allowed a relocation sale of the Thrashers team to Winnipeg buyers the controversial commissioner took another kick in the nuts, this time in court.

Earlier in the year in a notice of application filed at the Ontario Superior Court, Labatt Brewing Company asked a judge to stop the NHL’s record seven-year $375 million sponsorship agreement with their competitor, the Molson Coors company.

In that document the company pulled no punches saying, “The NHL … in bad faith and in breach of their contractual obligations, went behind Labatt’s back to an agreement with the Molson Coors Respondents for the rights Labatt has held for almost 13 years.”

Last week, that court led by Judge Frank Newbould nixed that deal ending what Bettman expected to be the the most lucrative sponsorship deal in NHL history.

Hats off to Judge Newbould who stood up to a league that appears to make rules as they go along with issues like their so-called relocation policies and disciplinary policies against its players.

At the ruling Judge Newbould made this statement:

“In my view the NHL should not be entitled to profit from its breach of its agreement with Labatt. Labatt should be entitled to its bargain and to its unique marketing position resulting from the agreement to be the Canadian sponsor of the NHL for the next three years.”

There’s the first kick in the nuts to the sac of who many believe is the worst commissioner in sports and lets add a bitch slap for good measure.

“In my view, there should be an injunction preventing the NHL and Molson from proceeding with their agreement so far as the Canadian rights are concerned,” the judge added.

And there’s your head meeting the glass with a vicious check in the corner.

Anheuser-Busch who owns Budweiser is the parent company of Labatt and currently sponsors 22 of the 24 U.S.-based NHL teams. This company has been loyal to the NHL and Mr. Bettman but like many fans have asked over the years, “What does Mr. Bettman know about loyalty?”

Labatt made a statement following the court’s decision saying they are looking forward to a very productive relationship with the NHL through the 2013-14 season adding that “Budweiser and hockey are a natural fit.” Yeah, just like back-stabbing and fan desertion.

After deserting the Atlanta fans and attempting to bail on a loyal advertiser, the NHL grabbed our attention and we had to look no further to find our Bitch Slap of the Week recipient.

Oh and BTW, Molson owns the Montreal Canadians NHL team; that only adds fuel to what’s behind the NHL’s breach of contract.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

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