Re: Lockout News

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

Douglas342@aol.com wrote:
> 
>     I sure would feel better if someone out there could tell me something that
> would make me abandon my opinion that everything in this lockout is being done
> for the benefit of the few highest-paid players.  What is being done for Bruce
> Bowen?  Or, more pointedly, what is being done for Bruce Bowen that couldn't
> be done with a hard cap?  My orientation is historically pro-labor, but this
> is getting tough.
>      I think there's an ABL team in Long Beach.  I better check it out, huh?

You hit the nail on the head, this strike originally and is only for the
highest paid players (about 30) and their agents. They don't give a rats
ass for the rest of the players, they never have and they never will.
Why do you think the Bird exemption is so important to them, it is only
important to the Ewing's and Jordans of the league. The Bowens and the
DeClerques and the other 90-95% of the players in the league do not
stand to make one extra penny from this lockout when and if it is
resolved. The gang of 30 and their agents are in total control of Hunter
and the Union and want to control the NBA totally, and unless the other
300 or so players open their mouths like Tim Legler tried to do, do not
expect any quick result. In reality, this lockout isn't rocket science,
it is quite simple, the league stands to bring in $2 BILLION in total
revenue and are willing to Guarantee 50% to the players. If those greedy
and stupid ego-maniacs can't figure out that a $1 BILLION divided among
350 players is not enough, than GOD could not settle this strike. If the
strike doesn't get settled, the revenues get cut and their take gets cut
and ultimately salaries will decrease. The players are afraid that with
revenues this year and next year sure to drop due to fan disgust that
they want to protect themselves against a decrease in take by demanding
a 60% take. They must think that the owners were born in a cave or
something and surely one of these union guys will wake up and smell the
coffee one day and realize that now the best thing for the owners now is
to give up the year. So unless the union/agents stops its hardheadiness
and accepts a new deal quickly, they will be the ultimate losers not
only with the fans but among their own peers. I have been saying all
along that the union can't win this strike, they are not dealing with
Baseball Management, (where most of those owners are truly greedy and
only care about their own teams), they are dealing with David Stern who
has the blessing and control from ownership to do what is best for the
league and the teams.  

Regards,
Hart