Lockout/Strike/Agents

[Sherry & Hart <hartleyo@ix.netcom.com>]

ESPN reported that in a poll of Basketball fans: They were asked if they
miss the games. The result shows that 63% of the fans they polled don't
miss it and could care less. I think this result would probably bother
the owners more than the players. Most players can't fathom the 
destruction they are doing to this league. The less revenue that comes
in the less their share is and the cap reduces by contract.
My take on this is that there is both a lockout and a strike. The owners
lockout was aimed exclusively at all the players involved directly with
the Bird rule. The strike portion is by these same players and their
agents who only care about their own little clique of players. The
league's owners have no problem whatsoever with 90% of the players in
the league who for the most part are probably under the average salary.
Why are these players underpaid; because you have pigs in this league
named Jordan,Shaq, Ewing,Mourning,ETC, who for the most part take up (in
most cases) 60-100% of the cap of each team. I think it would be in the
best interest of all, if the negotiations took place between the 10% pig
players/agents and the 90% of the league players who have the real beef.
When they come to their agreement, then they should sit with the owners
and hammer out the final agreement. 
If this can't be done then I for one who loves BB above all sports,
would be willing to forfeit the entire year of seeing BB for the long
term benefit of the fan, who would reap some benefits of lower ticket
prices for the owners and players would have to almost beg fans to come
out and support them.
The players so far have taken a big hit in salary(200 mill) as well as
losing countless millions in sales of NBA licensed products and in their
individual endorsements. Has anybody seen any TV ads for Nike or Adidas
or Reebok for anything resembling a BB shoe. XMAS is right around the
corner. This loss wiill be staggering to the players and their agents.
Phil Knight must be pulling what remains of his hair out of his head.
Their business over the last year has been reeling due to lousy sales.
The athletic companies stock prices are on the opposite end of how the
rest of the stock market has done over the last year.

Just a little bit of differnt look at this lockout/strike.

Regards,
Hart