NHL chief's hotline is open one hour a week

0 Comments | USA TODAY, May, 2008

Is the caller there?

Bettman reaches out to fans

Howard Stern. WFAN in New York's Mike and the Mad Dog team of Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman?

At a studio above the NHL Store in Manhattan last Thursday, the commissioner strolls in one minute before air time for his weekly NHL Hour show on XM Satellite Radio and NHL.com (channel 204, Thursdays, 4-5p.m. ET).

Some fans are surprised to get a sports commissioner on the line. "I don't know of any other sport that allows their fans to have a direct link to the commissioner," says one caller.

Give the NHL its due. At a time when sports fans are demanding more openness and accountability, the commissioner has been on the air since Nov. 27. ...