So, since the so called "nuclear winter" of our NBA discontent began, there has been a new wrinkle...both sides got back together again to see if they can resolve this dispute before the court system takes ahold and won't let it go. Optimism certainly, but cautious optimism at best. Keep in mind both sides have met multiple times before now and were reportedly "close to getting a deal done" only to end in what can only be called a spectacular failure. But since I comment on all things NBA, here it is. In case you don't follow my Twitter feed (@dubbsaq), I've posted the link to the article from ESPN.com below.
New NBA Lockout talks begin again
In other news, as most of you know, I'm a huge KD fan. Well, huge probably isn't the right word but you get the idea. I've been commenting on his webisode series from time to time that is called "The 35th Hour" and you can catch all 4 of the currently out episodes on YouTube.com. But did you know that LeBron also appears to have a web series (called Striving for Greatness)? Nikebasketball.com has posted on their Facebook page a video of LeBron and KD working out together in Ohio while the lockout continues. Some great footage there, especially of the gym workouts where you can see LeBron working on his perimeter game (which, while edited mind you, looks pretty darn good) and KD doing the same. And you can also get an up close and personal look at KD's new ink, if you into repping Maryland on your back as well. The link for that is below as well.
Striving for Greatness Video
That's all I got for now. Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. With any luck and a lot of hard work, we'll have our NBA back as the first present under our collective Christmas tree.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The End is Near (actually, its a long way away)
Well, there you have it folks...we have reached the end of the negotiations between the NBA and the players. With the players rejection of the latest contract offer from the NBA, and the subsequent legal action filed today, 11-15-11, we are pretty much looking at the end of the 2011-2012 NBA season. Games through December 15th have already been cancelled, leading to a loss of about a quarter of the season. I'm really beyond words at this point, and I don't have much good news to share. With the intent to file for decertification of the NBA players union, we have a clear direction - its going to be up to the courts and the legal process to determine if we ever see professional basketball again.
Start with this ESPN.com report on today's news:
Most recent ESPN.com updates
And then check out the 2 part podcast with Bill Simmons, Marc Stein, and Ric Bucher from ESPN:
NBA Lockout Podcast - Nuclear Winter
The decertification process dissolves the union, to allow individual players to in essence, represent themselves, and thus file class action lawsuits against the NBA for unfair labor practices. This is something that goes on a lot in the real world, by employees in companies all across the US every day. But now, its going to go on by our favorite NBA players in a much more public way. Either way, this process is going to drag out for a long, long time. Ask yourself how many lawsuits you know of have been resolved in a quick and tidy fashion. Yeah, I didn't think so.
Since we all need a bit of a bright spot after this craptacular news, check out the latest version of KD's web series "The 35th Hour - Horns Up" in the link below.
Episode 4 of the 35th Hour
And also the Mars Reel's Highlights of KD's play in the Drew and Goodman League games...he IS the NBA Lockout MVP:
KD Highlight Factory Video
As much as it might pain me, I'll keep you all up to date on the latest NBA Lockout news as much as I can. But steel yourself...it ain't gonna be pretty folks.
Peace.
Start with this ESPN.com report on today's news:
Most recent ESPN.com updates
And then check out the 2 part podcast with Bill Simmons, Marc Stein, and Ric Bucher from ESPN:
NBA Lockout Podcast - Nuclear Winter
The decertification process dissolves the union, to allow individual players to in essence, represent themselves, and thus file class action lawsuits against the NBA for unfair labor practices. This is something that goes on a lot in the real world, by employees in companies all across the US every day. But now, its going to go on by our favorite NBA players in a much more public way. Either way, this process is going to drag out for a long, long time. Ask yourself how many lawsuits you know of have been resolved in a quick and tidy fashion. Yeah, I didn't think so.
Since we all need a bit of a bright spot after this craptacular news, check out the latest version of KD's web series "The 35th Hour - Horns Up" in the link below.
Episode 4 of the 35th Hour
And also the Mars Reel's Highlights of KD's play in the Drew and Goodman League games...he IS the NBA Lockout MVP:
KD Highlight Factory Video
As much as it might pain me, I'll keep you all up to date on the latest NBA Lockout news as much as I can. But steel yourself...it ain't gonna be pretty folks.
Peace.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
A wild Wednesday coming up folks
So here we go...the lastest news from this weekends talks between the NBA owners and the players & players union have led us to this - David Stern gave the owners latest offer to the players & union and said basically "its good until Wednesday, November 9th. After that, the offer gets worse." Word is that Billy Hunter and Derek Fisher have already told the league that they not only wouldn't accept this offer from the owners, but that they wouldn't even put it to a vote of the players that make up the union. Wow. The details range on the offer from what Stern said (a flex band which is a range of BRI split from 49-51% depending on how much BRI is generated during the season) to what the union lawyers said (basically a refutation of Stern's description, saying it realistically wouldn't be more than 50.2% under best case scenarios) but one thing is for sure: the offer on BRI isn't about to go up from the NBA owners side.
Add into the mix this one nugget of interesting news...the rumor is that none other than Michael Jordan himself has been one of the most vocal hardline owners in the room. As a player, he was interested in generating revenue for the players...and now has completely changed his position as the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. His stance now seems to be that he needs to get paid, and that the players should be happy to accept a 47-53% split in favor of the owners. Funny, but perhaps not surprising. As Jordan is legendary for this competitive nature, its small wonder that he wants to "win" these negotiations - and as a small market owner, he has perhaps even more of a vested interest in ensuring that his team has a chance to compete for a championship without the deep pockets of teams like New York, LA, Miami, or Chicago. And if you throw into the mix that he also had to pay his ex-wife approximately $168 million in divorce settlement money; perhaps Jordan is looking to get his divorce financed by the NBA players? Jordan's divorce was finalized a few years ago, but much like the games lost in the month of November, that is money that's gone and won't ever come back again.
Here is the link to the most recent update from the Worldwide Leader
ESPN NBA Article
Coming up next - Decertification: What it is, what it means, and how its the NBA players weapon of last resort.
Stay tuned.
Add into the mix this one nugget of interesting news...the rumor is that none other than Michael Jordan himself has been one of the most vocal hardline owners in the room. As a player, he was interested in generating revenue for the players...and now has completely changed his position as the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. His stance now seems to be that he needs to get paid, and that the players should be happy to accept a 47-53% split in favor of the owners. Funny, but perhaps not surprising. As Jordan is legendary for this competitive nature, its small wonder that he wants to "win" these negotiations - and as a small market owner, he has perhaps even more of a vested interest in ensuring that his team has a chance to compete for a championship without the deep pockets of teams like New York, LA, Miami, or Chicago. And if you throw into the mix that he also had to pay his ex-wife approximately $168 million in divorce settlement money; perhaps Jordan is looking to get his divorce financed by the NBA players? Jordan's divorce was finalized a few years ago, but much like the games lost in the month of November, that is money that's gone and won't ever come back again.
Here is the link to the most recent update from the Worldwide Leader
ESPN NBA Article
Coming up next - Decertification: What it is, what it means, and how its the NBA players weapon of last resort.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
A little hope is now just - little hope
As of 10-28-11, the NBA has announced that they will be cancelling all NBA games through November 30th, effectively ending any hope of a full 82 game season being played this year. This is expected to lead to a loss of approximately $400 million in salaries. Money that will never, ever come back. And even worse, at present there are no more talks planned by the league between the owners and the players union. After a week where the news was mostly positive, and most of the reports were giving signals that progress was being made towards resolving most of the outstanding issues of a new CBA - we still have nothing. And by all accounts the sticking point behind the falling apart is still yet the division of the BRI, or basketball related income. The owners group wants a 50/50 split, and the players union isn't going to budge below a 52/48 split. And while its estimated that 1% of the BRI is worth about $280 million, it really seems like there is more to this issue than meets the eye.
For why else would the players union risk $400 million in salaries for $280 million of BRI? Has this become something of a pissing contest between David Stern and Billy Hunter? Or something else entirely? Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports has written a recent article intimating that Derek Fisher is in league with Stern and that there was a handshake agreement between Fisher and Stern to deliver the new agreement to the owners at a 50/50 BRI split. This would be an unbelievable betrayal of the players union if true. And could be exactly the kind of thing that would lead to Billy Hunter rejecting an agreement the owners would bring to the table and just walk out away from the negotiating table. And would be exactly the kind of backup plan that Stern would have wanted before these negotiations began - holding the power of a continued paycheck AND an ace in the hole in Fisher’s complicity in his plans? A brilliant move on Stern’s part if true. You gotta admire the guys moxie, if nothing else.
But where has all of this gotten everyone? No basketball means that everyone loses. Kevin Durant has been playing flag football for crying out loud! This guy could very well be the MVP of the league this season and he’s been reduced to shredding the local comp at black top parks all across the US and putting up (admittedly very interesting) YouTube videos to pass the time. This is a clear sign that this lockout has gone on far too long. And KD is not the only example of NBA stars for all intents and purposes sitting at home doing nothing but waiting for the phone to ring. While the Twitter campaign by the same name wasn’t a spectacular success, I think it really is time to “Let Them Play.” Past time, actually.
For why else would the players union risk $400 million in salaries for $280 million of BRI? Has this become something of a pissing contest between David Stern and Billy Hunter? Or something else entirely? Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports has written a recent article intimating that Derek Fisher is in league with Stern and that there was a handshake agreement between Fisher and Stern to deliver the new agreement to the owners at a 50/50 BRI split. This would be an unbelievable betrayal of the players union if true. And could be exactly the kind of thing that would lead to Billy Hunter rejecting an agreement the owners would bring to the table and just walk out away from the negotiating table. And would be exactly the kind of backup plan that Stern would have wanted before these negotiations began - holding the power of a continued paycheck AND an ace in the hole in Fisher’s complicity in his plans? A brilliant move on Stern’s part if true. You gotta admire the guys moxie, if nothing else.
But where has all of this gotten everyone? No basketball means that everyone loses. Kevin Durant has been playing flag football for crying out loud! This guy could very well be the MVP of the league this season and he’s been reduced to shredding the local comp at black top parks all across the US and putting up (admittedly very interesting) YouTube videos to pass the time. This is a clear sign that this lockout has gone on far too long. And KD is not the only example of NBA stars for all intents and purposes sitting at home doing nothing but waiting for the phone to ring. While the Twitter campaign by the same name wasn’t a spectacular success, I think it really is time to “Let Them Play.” Past time, actually.
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