We Have a NBA Season!!

Last Saturday, in the early morning the owners and the players finally came to agreement and signed a tentative deal that would end the lockout. The 66 game season is schedule to start Christmas Day. Many people think it is better this way and from now on should start this. One of the reasons why the deal got done is because of the pressure of the season being lost. Fans and the players were sick of the lockout and wanted to play basketball. David Stern, the NBA Commissioner, said that training camps will open on December 9th.

This has had a positive impact on everyone, mostly the fans. Business in and around arenas now will have customers and make money. I think everyone is happier now because of the end of the 129 day lockout. It is about time honestly, it was too long.

Unfortunately, however, this could just be temporary and there could be a whole new lockout after the season this year. Both the players and owners are in disagreement about the topics that a new collective bargaining argument needs and haves. So, NBA players and fans, this could just be a break and become into another disaster so get ready.

The NBA Season Lost?

Will this lockout ever end? Not soon. This Monday, the NBA players rejected the latest proposal from the league’s owners and are ready to now turn to the courts to settle the stand-off between the two parties. Slowly, the NBA fans are starting to realize there is not going to be a 2011-2012 NBA season. The lockout has now been going on for 5 months. Both the NBA commissioner, David Stern and NBA Players Association executive director, Billy Hunter, are very worried. They finally agreed on something. The NBA season is legitimately in jeopardy. They have been on opposite sides of the agreement on every single issue.

This lockout is all that everyone is talking about and is becoming a huge mess. However, one thing the lockout is doing is giving people, besides NBA basketball fans, a reason to talk about the sport. Depending on how you look at this, it could be either good or bad.

One thing for sure that this lockout is doing is making everyone lose money. The television companies are losing money for not having the games televised. The shops in and around the arenas are losing money because no one is coming to eat or shop. Also, the arenas are not open. And finally obviously everybody involved in the lockout is losing money ie. players and owners.

They should just settle their differences and end the lockout, but not one side is willing to budge. People are starting to question whether the lockout is going to continue through next season too. For everyone’s stake, hopefully not.

Did Penn State Really Fire Joe Pa?

Yes, the rumors are true, Joe Paterno is no longer the head football coach of the Penn State. Arguably, the best college football coach and I would go as far of saying the best college coach ever has been fired. Why you ask? Joe Paterno’s former defensive coordinator and assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, was arrested on the accuse of molestation on Wednesday. Sandusky has been charged of molesting 8 young boys between 1994 and 2009. Why was Joe Paterno fired from this? Apparently, Sandusky told Paterno he was doing this and Paterno did not say anything. The school wanted him to tell the school or police immediately but Paterno kept it to himself and did not tell anyone. Paterno probably did not tell because he was protecting a good friend and colleague of his.

The first question I would have to ask is why Sandusky did this? It is a very good question. Why would anyone want to molest young boys? It is illegal number one and number two I personally think it is disgusting.

Now, because of Sandusky’s action, he has just gotten fired the one of the greatest college coaches of all time. Joe Paterno was one of my favorite coaches to watch on the field and in press conferences. Also, Penn State football is now going to struggle immensely on the field and off the field. What I mean by off the field is high school students are started to rethink going to Penn State and playing football.

It is a really shame that all this happened. The one thing for sure is if he wants to, Joe Paterno will coach next season I am sure of it. Any college football team will want and be lucky to have him as a head coach. As for Penn State football, their future is up in the air and looks like it could be heading down hill.

Still Locked Out and No More Players Association?

Yes, the NBA lockout is still going on with little progress made. However, this morning I was looking at the news on Yahoo and I found something big. The players are discussing to decertify the Players Association. This means that they are aiming to break-up the Players Association. I found this interesting and then asked my teacher why they would do that. I discovered that this is a way for all the players to get there own opinion through and not be decided through a group. This way each player individually could fill an antitrust suit in federal court. This is being considered because so many players are disgusted on the concessions the Players Association has made with the owners. The owners would now have a huge advantage because all of them just need to deal with one player at a time.

In order to break up the Players Association, there needs to be a 30% vote within the association. Relatively that is not that much and will probably happen because so many players are really upset at the Players Association. The players also have a motive of not having to listen and take a back seat to  Billy Hunter, the head of the Players Association. The players do not like what he suggested to the owners. He is in favor and suggested a 52/48 percent revenue split. The players are extremely upset with his decsion

I think this would be both bad and good for solution of unlocking the lockout. One hand, each player can speak his mind and have his own opinion on that topic. However it makes the players much more weaker in the fight with the owners.

Unfortunately this is looking hopeless and hopeless with each passing week. Both sides are nowhere close to each other and show no signs of giving in to the other.

Mark Cuban Has a Blog?

The Dallas Mavericks Owner actually has a blog on which he writes. He calls it Blog Maverick. Although he does not post regularly, Mark Cuban post some interesting things. I am very impressed that Cuban posts. It shows that he is paying attention to the outside world. It also shows that he is just not an owner and does not let all that money go to his head. This is one reason why I think he should buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are a historic team and are in one of the biggest cities. This would help the city of Los Angeles and the Dodgers. In one post, he talks about the government and his thought on taxes. He says he does not like paying more taxes. However, he says “this country has created unique opportunities for entrepreneurs and paying taxes is a small price to pay.” He explains what bothers him about taxes is the inefficient way the government distributes our tax money. He goes on to argue that even people who make $250K and over per year cannot afford it.

I agree with what Cuban is saying. Our government has lost the ability to tell what is right and wrong for our country. For example, raising taxes and going into wars. Why did we go in to Iraq? What was the point? I think Bush was an idiot for doing that. Another thing is our economy. It is suffering and the government and not really doing anything to fix it.

Still No Unlocking the NBA Lockout

As the season becomes closer, the NBA is still locked out. Both players and owners still cannot agree on a new CBA, Collective Bargaining Agreement. As I was saying in my last post, the owners want a stricter salary cap. The players just want more money. What a surprise right? NBA superstars, along with superstars in other sports just want their paycheck. When has playing a sport become all about the money? Back in the day, people played sports not for the money to have fun. In my opinion, the players do have some argument though. NBA players should be treated fairly with players in other sports. Because of this many fans are going to be upset when there is going to be no season this year. Yes, I said it. There will be no NBA season this year. I do not think a deal with come anytime soon.

This hurts the business side of sports as well. With no season, fans with no be paying for tickets, as well as food and parking. Ticket sites are going to lose what could be money with no season. Also, the food venders in the arena will not have jobs this season. The lockout also hurts the restaurants around the arena, because many people will only eat at those places when they are on their way to a game. Some of the most important lossers, however, are the television stations and radio stations. With no games, they cannot broadcast games on television. That means cable and satellite providers lose tons of money for people not watching games on tv.

Everyone including me are asking, why can the players and owners agree and not be selfish? The problem is neither side wants to give in. Both are being completely selfish and as a result we fans will suffer with no NBA season for this year.

As it is almost November, the players and owners really need to get this deal done. I am truly sorry for saying this though. The way it is looking now there is going to be no basketball season. We,the fans just might have to becomes fans of college basketball. Also, fans do not say your life is over because it is not. I know it sucks, but it is not the end of the world.

Is There Going to be a NBA Season This Year?

The owners and the players are just not agreeing right now. The NBA wants play to give more money. Both players and owners cannot agree on a new CBA, Collective Bargaining Agreement. The owners want a stricter salary cap. The players’ offer to come down to a 53 percent share of the Basketball Related Income, BRI. The players got 57 percent in the previous CBA. That is a significant concession which would amount to over a billion dollars over the course of a new CBA. Neither side is willing to give in. David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, says if we cannot reach a deal soon, I am sorry to say that there will be no NBA season this year.

What both sides need to do is each one needs to give up a little. Both the players and the owners are being very selfish. Because of this, the lockout has not ended. It would make everyone happy for both the player and owners to agree with each other and sacrifice something they want in the new CBA.

But what does that mean for the fans? No basketball. Some people say that their lives will be over if there is no basketball this season. Me personally, I do not really care. I am no that big of an NBA fan. I mean basketball is fun to watch, do not get me wrong, but I prefer baseball and football. I know this is controversial and I am going to get a lot of arguments, but I think college basketball is better than the NBA. In my opinion, March Madness is the greatest sports event in the entire sporting calendar.

So when do fans think the lockout is going to end? That is a good question. The NBA has already canceled all of the preseason games, all training camps, and so far 100 games of the regular season. Some analysts predict the lockout will end sometime in February. I, however, disagree. As well as, many fans are hoping for an NBA season, but the way it is going and with everyday passing it looks like there is going to be no season this year. NBA fans might have to find a new sports to watch due to the lockout.

So what do you think? Is the lockout going to end?