More and more he is reminding me of Brian Mulroney and his failed brinksmanship on the constitution. Here is the latest from the Globe:

Almost 40 per cent of the NHL's Canadian fan base said they don't miss the pro game, according to a new poll that spells further trouble for warring National Hockey League partners. The national survey suggests that five months into a labour lockout that has darkened NHL rinks since September, "opinion seems to be drifting towards indifference," Decima CEO Bruce Anderson said Wednesday. Overall, 39 per cent of those polled said they were regular NHL followers. That was down three points from a similar Decima Research poll a year earlier. Among those self-described fans, more than one in three - 37 per cent - said they weren't pining away for NHL hockey. When fans and non-fans alike were included, barely a quarter - 28 per cent - said they missed the game.

I read a sappy piece by Ron MacLean, CBC's sport/movie host, called "The Art of the Deal" in which he equates Bettman's irritated interviewing posturing with negotiating skill. It is an odd comparison as it ends with a fawning tone...oh - I forgot: it's Ron MacLean. I am still convinced Bettman has misjudged the despiration of the players, a bunch of small-town Canadians with loads of cash set aside. A group three of which just joined a minor league team just to keep playing. Hardly hoop dreamers. And the fans are moving on to other habits. So where is the foothold for the brinksmanship? Nothing sadder to see than a one man game of hardball.