Lockout Coming?

[mjs34]

Here is an article I haven't seen posted yet. It has Michelle Roberts talking about the CBA deal, and even though I realize it is mostly posturing at this point, it looks like the NBA might be in for a lost season.

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/nba-union-chief-michele-roberts-owners-are-expendable-salary-cap-needs-to-go-111314

There are a couple points that jump out at me. She seems to completely disregard the competitive nature of sports holding any relevancy for the NBA success. Myself, I couldn't care less what the name is on the back of the jersey, and I am actually losing interest in the NBA as a whole due to the superstar calls that completely change the complexion of a game. I think the game would be better off if they had 400 new players come in, taking reasonable salaries for their effort, and actually calling the game according to the rules. I realize this would be targeting another demographic completely, but it seems like something that would be more sustainable going forward.

She apparently doesn't understand a business model has to be profitable, and I am guessing she doesn't understand ROI. The owners should step up and ask her for a zero interest loan, because that seems to be what she is looking for from them. I am not sympathizing with the owners, but a salary cap is the only way to maintain some semblance of competitiveness, while not bankrupting half the teams. If an owner is ponying up $800 mil, is it unreasonable to expect to make $20 mil back? That is a paltry 2.5%. Her next argument would be that teams are increasing in value, but she won't concede that they can also go the other direction. What if the players walked and formed their own league? What would the LAC be worth in that atmosphere? Certainly not $2 billion.

Has she considered that the endorsements these players receive is based almost solely on their exposure due to the NBA? I myself couldn't give a rip if Lebron never played another game. There is always another player ready to step in, and while they may not be at his level, they may actually play harder because of it.

I say, "Bring on the Scabs!"

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Oh yea I'm sure you'll tune in to watch guys worse then Hummel playing 35 minutes a night. I'm guessing you watch a lot of WNBA as well.

Owners not making money is so old and such BS. Hey here's something you might not know. Steve Balmer paid 2 billion for the Clippers, but is probably going to be able to write off a billion of that to taxes!

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/30/report-steve-ballmer-could-save-1-billion-taxes-due-to-purchase-of-clippers/


Also guys aren't getting endorsements because they're part of the NBA. Durant gets endorsements because he can do something at a level that maybe 1 or two other people in the world can do. Guys like Robbie and Bazz aren't getting shit for endorsements

[AbeVigodaLive]

ANOTHER lockout is all but guaranteed. They sides are already beginning to draw lines in the sand. The beauty of it is that if it's like all the other CBA negotiations, they won't even begin to negotiate until right before the season.

And that makes a lockout all but inevitable. And a hasty agreement that skews the CBA more likely (like last time.)

But one thing is for certain. Neither side will give a shit about the fans in this debacle... but they will be fighting for our support in PR circles. The fans are the only guaranteed losers.

[mjs34]

Oh yea I'm sure you'll tune in to watch guys worse then Hummel playing 35 minutes a night. I'm guessing you watch a lot of WNBA as well.

Owners not making money is so old and such BS. Hey here's something you might not know. Steve Balmer paid 2 billion for the Clippers, but is probably going to be able to write off a billion of that to taxes!

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/30/report-steve-ballmer-could-save-1-billion-taxes-due-to-purchase-of-clippers/


Also guys aren't getting endorsements because they're part of the NBA. Durant gets endorsements because he can do something at a level that maybe 1 or two other people in the world can do. Guys like Robbie and Bazz aren't getting shit for endorsements

As a matter of fact, I watched quite a few Lynx games, regular season and playoffs. Great to watch players who are playing for something more than a big check.

I watch sports because of my competitive nature, not because a guy can spin around and dunk a ball. While I don't believe Hummel has the same talent level as most NBA players, he still competes hard and I can respect that. I am about winning and competing and if his level of play produces that, I will watch him. College and HS sports seem to have a pretty big following for being lesser levels of the same sports. People will watch what is available to them, and adjust their expectations accordingly.

The question would be what happens if the current NBA players create their own league. I don't think that ever happens because of their greed. They make substantially more than the owners do on an annual basis without any monetary investment. Why would they want to change that.

All Balmer is doing is essentially depreciating an asset. It will come back when he sells the team down the road. Nothing new to discover there.

Durant gets the endorsements because fans seeing him doing it during his NBA games.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Oh sweet, more doom and gloom talk! After the last strike was resolved, Billy Hunter told the players to save their money, because another one was coming soon.

[Monster]

While I'll be dissappointed if there is another work stoppage I'm not going to lose sleep over it either. Is most rich people fighting over a huge ton of cash and yeah the fans are the ones that will get screwed the most. Both sides have a reason to fight for what is theirs but whatever.

If both sides were smart they would come to an agreement that would require each team to have a D-league team and set up a true minor league system. The players should really push this and maybe even give up something to get this done (assuming its not happened by the time the negotiations happen). Why? More players get money more opportunities for players to excell older players may be able to hang on longer and it would keep some players from going to a non-US league and their are players that would be happy about that. Why should the players give up $ or something else? Like its been said before Owners are the ones responsible for paying for the teams and especially these D-league teams they may lose some money at first. A true minor league system would benefit everyone, players, fans, franchises, the entire league.

Players want to do their own league fine. They will have to hire all the people to run everything and that's a hassle and costs money. I've thought about being an independant contractor for what I do instead of working for the company I do. Its just not worth it. If I can't come to work one day I don't have to find a sub. I get healthcare days off don't have to worry about all the paperwork etc. I could probably make more money but it isn't worth it. The company I work for is great. My direct supervisers are great. You can't say that for every basketball team but players get big contracts in the NBA and don't have much downside finacially. Ultimately they will all figure out how to divide up the billions.

[Papalrep]

"Why don't we have the owners play half the games?" Roberts said in an interview with ESPN The Magazine. "There would be no money if not for the players.

"Let's call it what it is. There. Would. Be. No. Money," Roberts said, adding emphasis after each word. "Thirty more owners can come in, and nothing will change.'

if I were the commisioner the way I would deal with this ignorant bitch - I repeat, ignorant bitch - is to call her bluff. Don't need owners? Fine, honey. Have all the players resign their contracts, start a new league. You take care of the leasing of facilities and all other logistics, and forget the draft - just let whom ever has the most money sign all the best players. I could go on and on. You dont like the business plan, you cow? Write a better one.

[Papalrep]

AND ANOTHER THING no really, I just had to vent. But if this is the tone the players will take, I am already resigned to a lockout.

I was hoping for reasonable, intelligent adults using the basics of negotiating - let's make this work for all of us.

[Monster]

"Why don't we have the owners play half the games?" Roberts said in an interview with ESPN The Magazine. "There would be no money if not for the players.

"Let's call it what it is. There. Would. Be. No. Money," Roberts said, adding emphasis after each word. "Thirty more owners can come in, and nothing will change.'

if I were the commisioner the way I would deal with this ignorant bitch - I repeat, ignorant bitch - is to call her bluff. Don't need owners? Fine, honey. Have all the players resign their contracts, start a new league. You take care of the leasing of facilities and all other logistics, and forget the draft - just let whom ever has the most money sign all the best players. I could go on and on. You dont like the business plan, you cow? Write a better one.

I like what you are saying but I'm gonna go another direction and go with her first suggestion. Who here would pay to watch NBA owners actually play basketball? Hell I would man that would be freaking hilarious. Teams would start getting ringers for minority owners right? Damn I want this league to happen so bad... Lol

[AbeVigodaLive]

"Why don't we have the owners play half the games?" Roberts said in an interview with ESPN The Magazine. "There would be no money if not for the players.

"Let's call it what it is. There. Would. Be. No. Money," Roberts said, adding emphasis after each word. "Thirty more owners can come in, and nothing will change.'

if I were the commisioner the way I would deal with this ignorant bitch - I repeat, ignorant bitch - is to call her bluff. Don't need owners? Fine, honey. Have all the players resign their contracts, start a new league. You take care of the leasing of facilities and all other logistics, and forget the draft - just let whom ever has the most money sign all the best players. I could go on and on. You dont like the business plan, you cow? Write a better one.

I like what you are saying but I'm gonna go another direction and go with her first suggestion. Who here would pay to watch NBA owners actually play basketball? Hell I would man that would be freaking hilarious. Teams would start getting ringers for minority owners right? Damn I want this league to happen so bad... Lol

I'm putting $100 on Charlotte winning the title.