[hawkdrummer1]

Harsh reality is about to smack you in the face. Your sport is not as popular as you think...you're not "all that"... here come's the wake up call.

[thejumper5]

I think they are making a huge mistake by not coming to an agreement. I'll be there when they get back, so will the other die-hards. Unfortunately, a lot of the new fans they've gained in the last couple of years won't be back. I'm just hoping bouncing back won't be as bad as it was in '99. I don't think it will be since there is no Jordan retirement to couple with the lockout, but the league definitely won't at the level it was the last couple of years.

[tm3308]

Originally Posted by thejumper5

I think they are making a huge mistake by not coming to an agreement. I'll be there when they get back, so will the other die-hards. Unfortunately, a lot of the new fans they've gained in the last couple of years won't be back. I'm just hoping bouncing back won't be as bad as it was in '99. I don't think it will be since there is no Jordan retirement to couple with the lockout, but the league definitely won't at the level it was the last couple of years.

What's funny is that if they don't have a season, the players will have lost more money than they would have if they'd taken the owner's offer.

[HawkeyeMike23]

Yeah, they just had their best postseason in about 15 years and they're going to throw it all away. David Stern has quickly turned into the worst cominisoiner of the four major sports.

[HawkeyeMike23]

Originally Posted by tm3308

What's funny is that if they don't have a season, the players will have lost more money than they would have if they'd taken the owner's offer.

That's the most frustrating part of the whole thing. That 2% BRI change that they have been arguing about is what the league would bring in by January. So instead of finding someway to divide it up, they are going to just sit back and lose it all, and once it's gone, it's money they will never get back. Both sides are very much at fault for this mess.

[hawkdrummer1]

All of the above are true. And they prove what has always been apparent...NBA players are probably the dumbest pro athletes out there.

[thejumper5]

Originally Posted by tm3308

What's funny is that if they don't have a season, the players will have lost more money than they would have if they'd taken the owner's offer.

That's what happens when a bunch of guys that spent one or two years barely passes 12 hours worth of "college" classes try to barter with billionaires who have spent their lives making money as much money as possible and using shrewd deal making tactics to do it.

I'm obviously characterizing both groups, but that is pretty much the reality at the NBA bargaining table.

[herkyattack]

Yes, blame it all on the players.

[thejumper5]

Originally Posted by kmotuffe

I actually hope they start over, fire all the current NBA players, and start over as a NEW league this next near, with a brand new draft.

Wonder if some players might want to come back then?

Bet they might even be willing to take a paycut, right? wink...

If the NBA owners are willing to play, they have to honor the current contracts since it is is a lockout and not a strike.

[528646]

Originally Posted by herkyattack

Yes, blame it all on the players.

Yeah, people forget the owners agreed to the current revenue split % some years back...now they want it back because their accounts aren't as fat as they would like.

[trj]

Originally Posted by 528646

Yeah, people forget the owners agreed to the current revenue split % some years back...now they want it back because their accounts aren't as fat as they would like.

Exactly.

Those dumb, uneducated jocks should have never agreed to that 57% revenue split.....those shrewd business owners sure got over on that one.



Btw......I think there will be a 50-60 game season David Stern is an arrogant sob he does not want this lockout to tarnish his legacy, he will get the small market, small revenue teams to compromise.

[ssckelley]

I predict a deal will get done and they will be playing by February. There is no way these players can go all season without a paycheck. The owners know this so there is no reason for them to budge any further.

[thejumper5]

The 57/43 split was a solid, profitable split for both sides when it was signed. It isn't even close to profitable for the owners today. Yes, they did agree to the CBA before, but they also agreed to have it expire and renegotiate after this past season, so they can start over with whatever new type of deal they want. I think the "they agreed to it ten years ago" argument is silly.

Edit: After re-reading this, I am sorry that I seem a little harsh. I am just really passionate about the NBA not playing games. Couple that with generally being anti-union anyway, and I am not a fan of the player's union. I have (probably unfair) tendency to blame them more than the owners.

[Clark]

Originally Posted by thejumper5

The 57/43 split was a solid, profitable split for both sides when it was signed. It isn't even close to profitable for the owners today. Yes, they did agree to the CBA before, but they also agreed to have it expire and renegotiate after this past season, so they can start over with whatever new type of deal they want. I think the "they agreed to it ten years ago" argument is silly.

Exactly. People act like the economy hasn't changed since the last CBA.

Make no mistake, the owners haven't given an inch in these negotiations. The problem is, they don't have to.

It's nothing more than about pride at this point for the players. Their pride is going to cost them a collective 2 billion dollars to take the same (or worse) deal a year from now.

What I don't get is that the NFL players tried the decertification path and they were losing the court battle. Now the NBA players think it's a good idea?

[trj]

Originally Posted by thejumper5

The 57/43 split was a solid, profitable split for both sides when it was signed. It isn't even close to profitable for the owners today. Yes, they did agree to the CBA before, but they also agreed to have it expire and renegotiate after this past season, so they can start over with whatever new type of deal they want. I think the "they agreed to it ten years ago" argument is silly.

And the "the players should just accept any proposal the owners give them" argument is just as silly. Owners need to figure out how to divide revenue among themselves before they ask the players to make compromises.