Who is the worst commissioner in sports?

[Landshark]

Roger Goodell for turning the NFL into the No Fun League

David Stern for destroying the dynamics of the NBA

Gary Bettman for having three work stoppages in 18 years in the NHL and somehow holding onto his job

Bud Selig for the biased decisions he's made as MLB commissioner

Anyone else?  What do you think?  Can the mods please add a poll?

[Sunstroke]

Any vote for someone other than Bettman is a vote from someone who doesn't watch hockey.

[Phishfan]

Bettman is terrible but I vote Stern and it may be a bit personal. When Chris Paul was leaving and a deal was in place for him to go to the Lakers, Stern allowed Mark Cuban's loud mouth convince him to void the previously agreed upon trade on the premise that such a star player should not be allowed to go from a small market team (new orleans) to a large Market (Los Angeles). What deal ends out getting worked, a trade to the Clippers which brought less talent to New Orleans and move Paul into not only the same city but the same building that it was a travesty for him to play in with another uniform.

While Bettman may suck, Stern is actually putting the fix into how his league is run.

[masterfins]

Sadly, Goodell is the best of this sorry bunch.

[Brian Fein]

I get a good laugh once a year when Bettman shows his ugly mug right before handing out the Stanley Cup.  Invariably, no matter what stadium he is in at the time, he gets boo'ed mercilessly by the fans.  Hilarious.

[Dave Gray]

I don't really know Bettman, so I chose Selig.  I hate what baseball is.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

David Gross.  Almost nobody even watches.

[Brian Fein]

Dave has a good point.  I once loved baseball, but what the Marlins have done makes me care more about the Octogenarians Knitting Championships more than Major League Baseball.  And Bud Selig allowed it to happen. 

[Phishfan]

David Gross.  Almost nobody even watches.

I think it takes more than that to be the worst commissioner, especially considering the sport. While I have watched some college lacrosse on TV, I've never seen a game at any level in person and I would guess I am in the majority.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I think it takes more than that to be the worst commissioner, especially considering the sport. While I have watched some college lacrosse on TV, I've never seen a game at any level in person and I would guess I am in the majority.

I should have included a smiley face. 

[EDGECRUSHER]

Bettman by a mile. 3 work stoppages in 18 years is insane. They are all pretty bad, but I will say Stern is the 2nd worst for his obvious corruption then Goodell and then Selig. I do hate Selig more on a personal level though due to Grandfathering in luxury tax penalties.

[Spider-Dan]

Stern is a mixed bag.  On the one hand, the league has grown incredibly during his tenure (the NBA was only 3 years removed from tape-delayed Finals when he took over).  On the other hand, he doesn't really act as a commissioner as much as he does a front-man for the owners (Seattle move, Chris Paul blocked trade).  I like the fact that the NBA is willing to make changes to the rules (like re-allowing zone defense) but stuff like the mandatory draft waiting period and the dress code are just silly.

Goodell's only major problem is his stupid quest to try to prove that he will run the most disciplined league.  He oversteps his bounds.

Selig has the worst hand; in the other sports, the players are powerless and the owners are unified, while in MLB it is reversed.  I think he does a reasonably good job under the circumstances.

Bettman is an incompetent fool and the NHL seems to be run very poorly.  The proper way to recover from multiple lockouts in a mostly-regional sport is NOT to have your playoff games go from ESPN to Versus.

[Downunder Dolphan]

Andrew Demetriou aka Vlad the Impaler, current CEO of the AFL.

[BigDaddyFin]

They're all equally worthless.  As much as I despise Bud Selig, the game of baseball has still been somewhat recognizable under his little reign of terror.  Roger Goodell is going to ruin the game of football before he's done with it and nobody will recognize the game.