Re: Pierce

["Noah P. Evans" <ishbak@conknet.com>]

Michael A.DiZio wrote:

> The owners aren't choirboys and you are right in saying that they are
> trying to maximize their profit as well as the players. However, the fact
> remains that demands for "market value" are preventing a lot of owners from
> keeping more than one "marketable" player and are doing a disservice to the
> fans by constantly fragmenting their favorite teams.

And where does this "market value" come from? Idiotic owners trying to
get a player for the media guide and sell luxury boxes. The owners are
the root of the problem not the players. The owners steal other players
because they(the owners) will make more money. One owners loss is
anothers gain(or cap millstone).
	As for the fans, do you think either party cares? The owners care only
insofar as that the fans fill their pockets. The players only care
because the fans(in the stands and watching NBC and TNT) line their
pockets as well. Basketball isn't much of a game anymore.

> How much damn money do
> you need?

Again I refer you to Jack Welsch, Bill Gates and their ilk.

> Enough to keep your enterprise profitable, and the # of N.B.A
> teams losing money has jumped up this year, despite the continued rise in
> poularity. Whose fault is that?

The owners. Anyway I'll side with the player's association and blame the
NBA for creative bookkeeping. The NBA owners just want a bigger piece of
the pie so they're putting the screws on.

> I think the salaries are out of control

Are they? Then why do the owners pay them?
	Really with the new NBC deal, salaries could and probably
should(because of the ton of money coming in with the new deal) rise
even more than they already are to maintain an even distribution between
the owners and players.

>,and
> I do agree that ownership has a hand in the blame for giving in to people
> like Falk.(Re: Clippers/Bibby/Falk, Falk/Antoine/Nazr/Celtics "my client is
> dissatisfied" with the C's not taking Nazr). My dad always told me that two
> wrongs don't make a right. I'm not taking sides between the owners and
> players, but both parties have to show some fiscal restraint or the whole
> enterprise will come crashing down.

I doubt it(although I, personnally, would love to see the NBA collapse).
The NBA is probably in the money for the next millenium.

>  So far, Antoine has proved you correct on this.
> It really makes me sad to see the owners and players rushing toward their
> doom like lemmings, but I think you're absolutely right, neither side can
> see beyond their greed.

Yup. Frankly I hope they jump off the edge with abandon. I would love to
see the owners cut out the equation entirely, and have the players
establish the basketball equivalent of a "Sam's Club". By cutting out
the owners both the players and the fans would profit(the fans with
cheaper tickets[hell if you paid player salaries with the NBC deal,
tickets could be free], and the players with more money[which BTW they
deserve, how many other jobs leave you basically crippled after you
leave and take up so much of your time?]).
	Like it'll ever happen though.

Noah