Picture: Google images.Here we go again. We just finished with the NFL CBA drama, and now the National Basketball Association (NBA) postponed camp and cut 43 preseason games, because league officials and the players’ union weren’t able to come up with an agreement.
The main issue stems from the financial capability of all teams to participate equally for the championship-- it boils down to a hard cap vs a soft cap-- but fans really don't care, they all just want the season to start already and continue the stories. Plus didn’t Dallas’ championship run, the Spurs’ remarkable season, the rise of the Thunder, and even Memphis’ play in the first round of NBA playoffs last year prove this stuff wrong.
Anyway, here’s a realistic message to the NBA: as sad as it will be, the world will continue to spin without your league. Why?
#1- Although players will not get the money they were expecting, leagues around the world will be happy to accept most NBA players' services.
#2- The NBA coincides for the most part with the college basketball season, and because of its intense competition and devotion of fans, college basketball already gives the NBA a run for its money. The only problem is that young players will have to aim for a new league, either aboard or…
#3- another home grown league that gains popularity. The self-destruction of the NBA will not be the end of American basketball.
#4- Not to mention the National Hockey League could see an increased in coverage that fans have prayed on hands and knees for.
It doesn’t look like there will be a NBA season this upcoming year, so prepare yourselves, but for me, I can’t wait for the college basketball season so I can see the Red, Storm the court.
--La Guerre
Sources: NY times, NY Post, NBA.com
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/nba_postpones_training_camps_nixes_mQbrRVT7nNoha6BTgm6mbM
http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/steve_aschburner/09/13/labor-update-tuesday/index.html
The thing that is most striking, to me, when it comes to labor disputes is that fans and media most often side with the owners, saying that the "greedy players" are holding the process up and "we just want basketball."
ReplyDeleteI never understood that sentiment.
Just like anyone else, these players have a boss (the owner). Most owners are billionaires. Most players are millionaires. Yet, for whatever reason, fans seem to demonize the players, the ones who make the league the product that it is, instead of point fingers at the owner.
In my opinion, the players put in all the physical work and, without their incredible talents, the league couldn't run. It would be an interesting story to cover as a general assignment reporter because, once again, it shows the diversity of knowledge that a sportswriter needs.
Covering a lockout/strike really is no different than covering a player's contract negotiation. Think about this: this is really just a negotiation between the league and the players. Each side has its representatives, and those are the folks you as a reporter have to build a relationship with in order to cover this as well as possible. It's when these scenarios hit the courts, as the NFL lockout did, where covering it can quickly get all-encompassing for reporters. That's when you start reading up on labor law as much as you can, to sound knowledgeable with your sources and also present the story as clearly as possible.
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