The owners and players warned us, and although fans expected the day to come, losing regular season games is heartbreaking.
NBA fans have been told from high-end officials and analysts that this work stoppage will last for quite some time, and unlike the NFL lockout, this situation involves a myriad of variables. The parties are very far apart on issues, and David Stern reiterated that fact during his late-night conference yesterday.
People in school have been warning me to brace for a shortened NBA season, but I intentionally avoided their comments. I was always refreshing my browser page to see any updates from the reporters telling fans like me what was going on at the L’Hotel du Lockout. Nevertheless, I remained optimistic and believed common sense and the urge to save the NBA would influence the sides to sign a deal.
To put it shortly, I was completely wrong.
Just like the millions of NBA fans across the world, my jaw dropped when I read the various tweets saying the first 100 games were wiped out of the season. Like I said, I anticipated the cancellation, but I could never imagine the feeling when it actually happened. At this point the situation seems surreal, but I guarantee you when I come home from school and the schedule on NBA.com says “0 games,” I will flip out.
What is most irritating about this lockout is that billionaires and millionaires are fighting over money that somehow is at a shortage. Both sides are to blame for this money lockout, and I do not side with any one party.
The owners should be willing to pay the players more money, because let’s be honest, when I go to Lakers and Knicks game I pay to see Kobe and Carmelo, not James Dolan or Jerry Buss kicking back in their suites. The players are the reason why the NBA is what it is today. People did not tune into ABC to watch Mikey Arison during the Finals, they wanted to watch LeBron James and his teammates. Let’s face it owners, with no players the NBA is no better than a recreational league. You must realize all the money you made off the league is all due to the players. Would Jerry Buss be as rich of a man if it weren’t for Kobe Bryant? I don’t think so.
Now as for the players, you may be the fan favorite in this lockout, but in no way are you free of criticism. In case you people don’t know, NBA players are among the richest professional athletes in America, with an average players’ salary about $5 million. So, it is only right for them to sacrifice a part of that money to help resolve the NBA lockout. NFL players aren’t nearly as rich as NBA players, and maybe the guys in a lockout right now should see how their counterparts negotiated their CBA.
All in all, this lockout is pathetic and both sides should feel ashamed that they had could not agree to a new deal by the Monday deadline. The NBA is not on the same level as the NFL, and some argue that it is slightly below the MLB. After an incredible successful 2010-11 season, the parties are actually willing to lose an entire season just so they can get the better end of the stick. Embarrassing! They guys are ready to eliminate 82 games and in the process ruin the future of the National Basketball Association.
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