Donald Fehr
Donald Fehr
Donald Martin Fehr is the executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association. He became nationally prominent while serving as the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1985 to 2009...
bigger deciding difficult issue period problems single time timing
There is that. And the timing issue is the single most difficult one that there is. The way we got to this time period is by considering all the other ones and deciding they all had bigger problems than this one did.
people players playoffs
A lot of people would like to do it in the fall. Once the playoffs start, the players who are not in the playoffs essentially go home. You can't find them. They're on vacation.
believe prepared process
We believe we've made strides. The process is working, and we're prepared to do a lot more.
believe ought penalties punish purpose strongly
We believe very strongly that the purpose of penalties ought to be to deter, not to punish for its own sake.
bud decision hope inquiry judgments nobody whatever
I hope nobody is making judgments about the inquiry before it's done. Bud will make whatever decision Bud makes and we'll go from there.
given hope increases ought reason rest revenue
I hope it's not going to be contentious. Given the kind of revenue increases we've had and all of the rest of it, I don't know of any reason why it ought to be from our side.
certainly expect hope precise
Can I give you a precise date? No. Would I expect it to be by the end of the World Series? I would certainly hope so.
certainly date deal formal goal hard obvious owners
There has been no formal date set. It's early. We'll have to see. The obvious goal is to get a deal done, and we'll certainly try as hard as we can to do it and, hopefully, the owners will, too.
We always thought it was out of line. Were we surprised? No.
adopt becomes hard test type valid
When a reliable, valid urine test is available, we will adopt it immediately. If another type of test becomes available, we will take a hard look at it.
board discussed executive players
We discussed it so much with the players that there is no need for it. The executive board has the authority, anyway.
concern criticism measures players program reasonable several share
We share your concern about the criticism our program has received, and, in response, the players have demonstrated, several times now, their willingness to take all reasonable measures in response.
appears concern criticisms current fair game initial measures penalty players program reasonable required response several share
It appears the 50 game initial penalty is principally a response to criticisms which have been made of our current program. We share your concern about the criticism our program has received, and, in response, the players have demonstrated, several times now, their willingness to take all reasonable measures in response. But we are still required to adopt, and defend, reasonable, fair and appropriate agreements.
agreement handled move
Hopefully, we can move on to other things. I still think it was something much better handled by agreement than it would have been by legislation.