(A quick note from Bots: The Angry Black Man is a friend of mine here in The A, as well as our newest author. In real life he’s not that angry but we thought the screen name was funny, so we’re running with it.)
I know it’s very difficult for us mere mortals to comprehend what’s at stake in the NBA lockout negotiations. I mean, for us fans this means nothing but a few missed TV slots during an otherwise boring work week. But to these “athletic gods”… I mean, come on man, this is life.
I can’t imagine what it must feel like to have to negotiate for your job. Oh wait a minute, that’s what the job description, interview and salary requirements are for, right? Well for professional athletes… not so much.
Back in the day, sports franchises were owned and run by people who were knowledgeable about their respective sports and they were dedicated to winning. Not only winning for their respective teams, but winning for the fans, for their cities and even for the sports themselves.
Now it seems like we’ve replaced the dedicated owners with bottom line-driven businessmen.
But the dismal state of professional sports right now doesn’t solely fall unto the greasy shoulders of the Gordon Gekkos in the front office. I mean, let’s talk about, mm hmm, the professionals.
There was a time in the past when an athlete was an athlete and a celebrity was in the movies. Nowadays we’re blessed with the wonderful hybrid creature that I call the “athlebrity.” We get all up in their personal business even though all we really want is to watch them play ball.
As a fan, it’s pretty hard watching rich people fighting with even richer people — billionaires fighting with millionaires — and it’s even tougher to take sides. Both sides have very good points to make and to prove: It is true that some NBA teams aren’t as profitable as others and it’s also true that some professional athletes are overpaid.
What I don’t want to hear is either side saying that they want to get a deal done and get back to playing “for the fans!!!” Really? Is this all really for the fans? If it were really for the fans, then I’m sure both sides could just ask us what we want, and I am sure we’d tell them.
Well any way you look at it, a lockout is a gamble. The NFL managed to get a deal done in time for a full season of football, but as for the NBA… it ain’t looking too good.
If they asked me what I would do, I’d lock the representatives from both sides in a room with about a hundred season ticket holders and Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler” playing in the background and then make them all write a full-length essay on these lyrics. Cause this fight ain’t the sport or the fans, it’s all about the money.
You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table
There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealing’s done
