NBA Players Reject Latest, Disbanding Union

[venture]

Just popped up on CNN's website: NBA players say they have rejected league's latest offer and are starting to disband union, likely jeopardizing season.

I guess they can start on the arena renovations earlier now. lol

[Roadhawg]

I saw that.... I forgot what the players wanted but I'll be happy to take their salary for playing a game and being treated like royality. I don't feel a bit sad for them or the owners.

[Just the facts]

The thing is, most NBA teams lose money so it is actually to the owners benefit not to play. The players don't seem to understand that.

[okcisok]

Can someone explain (in 20 words or less) just exactly what the lockout was all about in the first place?

[Roadhawg]

Can someone explain (in 20 words or less) just exactly what the lockout was all about in the first place?

Greed

[Bellaboo]

Can someone explain (in 20 words or less) just exactly what the lockout was all about in the first place?

No matter how it looked, it was the major market owners vs the smaller market owners.

16 words.

[Native Okie]

It is always a good thing when a union disbands.

[Bellaboo]

Except in this case, they want to litigate now, it will be held up in the courts and would guarantee losing the season.

[Just the facts]

Can someone explain (in 20 words or less) just exactly what the lockout was all about in the first place?

Players wanted 52% of all revenue and owners wanted to pay 48%. Keep in mind it was 52% of revenue, not profit.

[Easy180]

Average player salary is $5 mil median is $2 mil...Sure they are standing on principles but way too many folks can live w/o the NBA so the players better be careful

[MDot]

Well, feels like 2007 again in OKC plus a really tall building.

[jn1780]

Well, feels like 2007 again in OKC plus a really tall building.

We also have a nice remodeled arena with Thunder banners all over the place, but no games to actually watch. lol

[Easy180]

Maybe we can land another Gaga concert now...golf clap

[ou48A]

This is not to rain on anyone’s parade but I just don’t care one way or another.

[Just the facts]

This is not to rain on anyone’s parade but I just don’t care one way or another.

I actually hope the owners win this one and ticket prices can be reduced to about half of what they are right now. It is one thing to buy expensive tickets to see a really good team, but the reality is that most NBA team are sub-500 and some are down right bad, but the ticket prices don't go down.

[dankrutka]

I actually hope the owners win this one and ticket prices can be reduced to about half of what they are right now. It is one thing to buy expensive tickets to see a really good team, but the reality is that most NBA team are sub-500 and some are down right bad, but the ticket prices don't go down.

Lol. The owners have no intent on reducing ticket prices no matter what. I primarily blame the lockout on the owners. They have been complete jerks and even though they've got almost everything they've asked for they won't work to make a deal. The players already agreed to a giant reduction of their share of the Basketball Related Income (BRI) from 57% to 50%. That is a huge concession on their part. Still, the owners wanted more and more and more. I think the players should have taken the latest deal just because they are the ones that really get hurt by the cancellations. They should have told the owners they accepted the most recent deal with a few minor changes because they can't win this fight ultimately.

The owners all want to a system that guarantees a profit. Sorry. That's not how capitalism works and it's certainly not how sports teams work. Owning a sports team is a luxury and rarely has ever turned a profit. People own them because of ego and these owners certainly are egomaniacs (some more than others for sure). I'm disappointed with the players (for not taking the deal even if it was unfair) and disgusted by the owners.

[Roadhawg]

Tell ya what... I'll work for 2-5 mil a year, well half a year and the owners/bosses can make whatever they want to.

[Bellaboo]

I think the majority of us are all chapped. Hopefully, the litigation threat is just that to get the owners to bend a bit.........to be continued.

[RadicalModerate]

I'd like to hear Felonious Monk's take on all this.
(He did a nice commentary on The Budget Deficit not long ago.)

[dankrutka]

Tell ya what... I'll work for 2-5 mil a year, well half a year and the owners/bosses can make whatever they want to.

It's easy to say that when you're not generating 50 million in profit. Remember, the players aren't just employees. They are the entire product. Why should they not get their fair share?

Having said that, I am mad at both sides. I'm mad at the players for their recent decisions and the owners/Stern for their actions the entire time. Stern's interview on ESPN was so over-the-top condescending that he probably set back future negotiations further. He is a pompous jerk.

[Bellaboo]

Now some of the players, Kevin Martin of the Rockets for one, is saying that they wanted the right to vote, and not let the player rep vote for the entire team. In other reports, a lot of the rank and file would have taken the deal.

[Jersey Boss]

The thing is, most NBA teams lose money so it is actually to the owners benefit not to play. The players don't seem to understand that.

Really? When did the owners open the books up to validate their claim? If the owners are losing so much money, when was the last time a team was sold for less than the purchase price? For that matter how many teams have been sold during the last CBA?

[Jersey Boss]

It's easy to say that when you're not generating 50 million in profit. Remember, the players aren't just employees. They are the entire product. Why should they not get their fair share?

Having said that, I am mad at both sides. I'm mad at the players for their recent decisions and the owners/Stern for their actions the entire time. Stern's interview on ESPN was so over-the-top condescending that he probably set back future negotiations further. He is a pompous jerk.

Stern was the commish when the last CBA was signed, so what is his problem?

[Just the facts]

So what's the deal - some of you hear the word "union" so you immediately take that side? Selling the team for a profit is a far cry from turning an operating profit.

[MadMonk]

So, are they going to have a "replacements" call for talent? I'll take a salary of 10% of the average. I can go for maybe 10-15 minutes a half, huffing and puffing down the court. Who's with me?!