Re: A personal observation

[Josh Ozersky <josh_ozersky@yahoo.com>]

I agree with these sentiments, but they  aren't my reason for
supporting the NBA's position.   Other people "identify" with the
players, etc.  But I think my position is unassailable on those
grounds, because it isn't about sentimentality.  It is this:  I only
care about the Celtics, and the Celtics can't compete in the NBA that
the players want.  It's as simple as that.





---"R. Bentz Kirby"  wrote:
>
> I have been trying to figure out why I am so solidly in the owners
camp.
> I don't do legal work for any of them (though if you saw the story
about
> George Shinn trading one of his players because they were dating the
> same Honey Bee, I suppose Shinn could use me).  They are mostly
wealthy
> beyond my imagination.  I have nothing in common with them or their
> goals.  I just love the Celtics.  The owners locked the players out.
 So
> why am I in their favor.
> 
> 1.  Stupid rhetoric.  The players like Ewing, who are looking out for
> themselves and their agents, not the league, not the majority of the
> players, say stupid things like, we can't survive dividing up a mere
> billion dollars, we must have more.  This new article I just posted
has
> the agents talking about the owners trying to grind the players down. 
> Well, it the players want to just be fair, why not take 52% of one
> billion.  Hell, after the owners pay expenses, the players take home
way
> more than the owners.
> 
> It is in fact the Players who are not negotiating.  Not the Owners.
> 
> 2.  Inflated egos.  While the owners may be greedy.  They are trying
to
> establish sanity in a world where "Garnett money or you're dissing me"
> has become the norm.  Players simply refuse to report where they are
> traded.  Sprewell's contract is not able to be terminated?  And the
> likes of Walker thinks he is on a level with Bird or Magic.  The
egos of
> Coby Bryant and Nick Van Exel cost the Lakers a trip to the finals. 
> This is a joke.
> 
> But the worst is the ego of Billy Hunter.  He is more interested in
his
> ego, than what is going to happen to Charles Oakely, Muggsy Bogues and
> others who will might not even get another contract.  He just wants to
> show David Falk that he is a tough guy.  Hey, get the best deal you
can
> for the players.  Don't commit suicide.  He should never have let
> Stockton get shouted down.  He didn't want a dialogue.
> 
> 3.  The players are living in a dream world.  Most of these guys have
> been given money etc since they could play.  They think it is
something
> they are entitled to.  No way Garnett should have his contract. 
When he
> is MVP on a winning championship team then fine.  What is going to
stop
> the costs.  To feed the egos of the players, the common man can't
afford
> a pair of sneakers or a ticket to the game.  Much less afford to take
> his family.
> 
> So, I could go on and on, but basically, the players only care about
> their short term greed and they can't imagine being told no.  If they
> aren't told no now, the league will implode and will be wasted.  The
> owners must regain control, or it is going down the tubes. 
> 
> Wake me up when someone like Kobe Bryant learns the value of team
play,
> how to make a jumper under pressure and when to pass and when to
shoot.
> Larry and Magic knew, and that made the game something to watch.  Now,
> in all honesty, it is more like pro wrestling than the NBA.  If it
> wasn't for my love of the Celtics, I would not even watch a game or
read
> about it.
> 
> End of sermon, but there is lots more where that came from.
> 
> PS, I would not allow my spell checker to add "Lakers" to its memory. 
> Bad karma that would be.  ;-)
> -- 
> Bentz
> bocelts@scsn.net
> 
> http://www.scsn.net/users/sclaw
> 

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