Any more lockouts and I'm done.

[12]

Who's with me?

With the possibility of the NBA and the NFL having a lockout in the foreseeable future, I find myself feeling that if it happens, I'll be all done with professional sports.

We're in a busted economy that has a lot of us living paycheck to paycheck. I'm not quite in that boat, but it's close. The state that I live in is conducting massive cuts for state agencies. I am employed with the Department of Corrections and if all of these cuts are implemented, I stand to lose about $500 per month. I am the sole income and provide for my wife and 8-month-old son. We have a mortgage but it's very manageable. We live within our means but with these upcoming cuts, things are looking pretty grim.

That has led me to reflect on what a horrible perspective professional sports have in relation to the rest of the country. These guys are unaffected by the economy. They have millions and millions of dollars, and where millions of Americans are forced to tighten their belts and cut back, these guys are fighting over already bloated salaries. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those guys that constantly complains about athletes' salaries as I realize that they have a special set of skills and talent. That enables them to be paid very handsomely for what they do. I get it.

But I just could not support pro sports any longer if there are any more lockouts. I know I'll be done.

Not trying to whine or make a "woe is me" thread, but this is just how I feel. Sometimes I really feel like I (we?) place sports on a level of importance that it just doesn't belong.

I just hope they realize that if there is another lockout, they stand to lose thousands upon thousands of fans. People won't put up with it.

[12]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

...guess I should acknowledge that I realize not ALL athletes have "millions and millions" of dollars, but even the lowest paid professional athletes make nearly half a million dollars per year.

Maybe this is just sour grapes. Maybe it's not. I never envy athletes and their money, I guess my point is that I'll change my priorities if this happens. I hope others do the same.

[SPTO]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

I just hope they realize that if there is another lockout, they stand to lose thousands upon thousands of fans. People won't put up with it.

I agree with you in principle but this statement is more than likely wrong. MLB is as popular today as it was in '94. The NFL when it wasn't quite the behemoth that it is today went through a work stoppage and replacement games only to grow exponentially to become THE premiere sports league in the world (only the EPL could come close i'm guessing) The two sports that do have to worry about work stoppages killing things for them are the NBA and NHL.

I do hope that you're right though as I believe it's a perfect storm for punitive measures against the pro sports leagues for this petty squabling. We're living in an era now where every aspect of these negotiations are exposed and we see the pettiness and selfishness for what it is. I'm pretty sure the NBA players will make it extremely hard for themselves to win the PR battle as money slips through their fingers like sand.

I have NO CLUE what the dynamics of an NFL lockout will be. The players association there seem to be emboldened and far more united in a lot of ways than they were in the '80s. I think the owners will make fools out of themselves as the "lower class" owners are going to want to keep the economic structure pretty much the same and I bet a few of them wouldn't mind a pre-free agency type system in place again. The big boys like Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder are going to look very greedy with their "me me me" thinking at the exclusion of other owners.

That's where things will get very messy with the fans no doubt.

All I can say is, it's always taken me a couple years to really get back into the sports I love when they go on a long strike/lockout and I could see many people being just as jaded if not more so.

[Happy29]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

That's why I'm a NASCAR fan, no lockouts. If you want more money you drive faster than the other 42 guys out there.

[iAM-IncReDiBLe-]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

I don't have any problem with athletes trying to get more money. If they can then they will. I would do the same thing and so would a ton of "average joes"

[12]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

I agree with you in principle but this statement is more than likely wrong. MLB is as popular today as it was in '94. The NFL when it wasn't quite the behemoth that it is today went through a work stoppage and replacement games only to grow exponentially to become THE premiere sports league in the world (only the EPL could come close i'm guessing) The two sports that do have to worry about work stoppages killing things for them are the NBA and NHL.

I do hope that you're right though as I believe it's a perfect storm for punitive measures against the pro sports leagues for this petty squabling. We're living in an era now where every aspect of these negotiations are exposed and we see the pettiness and selfishness for what it is. I'm pretty sure the NBA players will make it extremely hard for themselves to win the PR battle as money slips through their fingers like sand.

I have NO CLUE what the dynamics of an NFL lockout will be. The players association there seem to be emboldened and far more united in a lot of ways than they were in the '80s. I think the owners will make fools out of themselves as the "lower class" owners are going to want to keep the economic structure pretty much the same and I bet a few of them wouldn't mind a pre-free agency type system in place again. The big boys like Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder are going to look very greedy with their "me me me" thinking at the exclusion of other owners.

That's where things will get very messy with the fans no doubt.

All I can say is, it's always taken me a couple years to really get back into the sports I love when they go on a long strike/lockout and I could see many people being just as jaded if not more so.

I just don't know. I mean, I'm not disagreeing with you... but in previous lockouts, millions of people were not losing their homes and dealing with a nearly catastrophic economy that has crippled so many families. I was reading an article today about the thousands of people living underneath the city of Las Vegas. I think this will be different because it is so appalling considering the times we're living in.

But I fully admit I could be wrong on that and people could return in droves within time. I hope not, but I could see it. People have short memories when it comes to sports.

My interest has waned in professional sports as I've gotten older anyway. I still love following my teams and share Seahawks' season tickets with my brother, but for me, the jump off won't be hard.

Ugh, I don't know... I just know if it happens, I'll be done. I was 12-years-old in 1994 and the lockout still had me hating baseball for a couple years. I can only imagine now that my affection can't be won back.

[12]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

I don't have any problem with athletes trying to get more money. If they can then they will. I would do the same thing and so would a ton of "average joes"

I tend to think that I wouldn't be that way, but you're right, it's easy to say that from my vantage point.

I'm all for live and let live and by no means am I really saying they shouldn't try, but what I am saying is that if they do, I won't support professional sports anymore. Just a personal choice, the athletes and owners can and will do what they ultimately want to do.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

What about the lockouts affecting all the employees of the organizations and stadiums who ARENT the millionaire star players or coaches?

[12]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

What about the lockouts affecting all the employees of the organizations and stadiums who ARENT the millionaire star players or coaches?

Great point and that's another issue. It's not just the athletes who rely on the games being played. Lockouts will affect so many thousands of people that are never in the public eye. It's just a bad situation all around.

[12]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

After the baseball strike of 1994 killed baseball that year, I have reached the point where I generally don't care as much for professional athletes as I used to. If I see one walking the streets in NYC, I won't go out of my way to try and meet them. Frankly, I can't stand them. When people who make millions of dollars are fighting with people who also make millions of dollars, I have no respect for them. What's really sad is that the individuals who worked their asses off in order to get these guys their millions upon millions of dollars had to do so at a pittance compared to modern athletes. They worked non-stop due to their love of the game they played and were just happy to be playing an earning a living that could support their families. Athletes today don't care. They just want the biggest salaries in order to say they're "better" than the other athletes.

It sounds really bad and it hurts to say this as a human being, but if I were to see an athlete or a sports team owner on the side of the street in need of help, I'd let them sit there and rot. Try living the life that all of us here on the forums are living. Where silver spoons aren't thrown in our mouths and people aren't doing everything for them. I respect the "lesser athletes" who work their asses off to just make AAA or practice squads in hopes that they'll make it to the big-leagues one day. It's when people who haven't done jack **** before, and get signed to multi-million dollar contracts and bitch because they only got $5,000,000 instead of $8,000,000 that make me want to see them all get career ending injuries without any guaranteed money and have to actually earn a living. **** them all.

The last part of your post is pretty harsh but I understand the frustration. Times have definitely changed. That's why I LOVE reading old books about Mickey Mantle, Johnny Unitas and countless other old time stars who truly loved the game (not saying that all players now don't) and played it because that was their heart's desire. They were well off money wise, but so many of the athletes back then had to get jobs in the off season to support their families. They knew how lucky they were.

I won't be mad at the players specifically. I mean, not all of them want more money, not all of them want to strike. I will just be done with the whole empire of pro sports. I can't come back and support something that is so appalling to me. It would be like me rooting for the Yankees! It just can't be done.

[ehh]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

The NBA needs a lockout, it's a mess that needs some big adjustments. The league will benefit greatly long term so as fans we'll have to suck it up and sacrifice a season for better future.

[dan_457]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

I don't have any problem with athletes trying to get more money. If they can then they will. I would do the same thing and so would a ton of "average joes"

Honestly, if i made their wages for playing a damn game, I'd be happy.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

The NBA needs a lockout, it's a mess that needs some big adjustments. The league will benefit greatly long term so as fans we'll have to suck it up and sacrifice a season for better future.

Agreed. Wish they'd take off like 3 seasons, and fix everything. Rules, salaries, reffing, marketing, priorities, etc. Fix the whole damn thing.

[Dog]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

I could never see myself disliking the NFL or MLB

[12]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

The NBA needs a lockout, it's a mess that needs some big adjustments. The league will benefit greatly long term so as fans we'll have to suck it up and sacrifice a season for better future.

Honest question... Where is the NBA at popularity-wise? Truth be told, I'm pretty much done with the NBA after they hijacked the Sonics. I still follow it a bit, but all the opinions I hear from friends is that the "NBA sucks" so I am just wondering... A league on the down slide can't afford a lockout. Maybe I'm wrong. I'd definitely never watch another NBA game again.