Any more lockouts and I'm done.

[born_bad]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

Where do you all think the money comes from to pay those big salaries? It's from the fans (ticket prices, merchandise sales, TV ratings, etc.) Where else should most of that money go if not to the players?

These players could be hurt by a bad economy the same way any other business could - if people stopped buying their product. As of right now, that has happened across the board. Attendance at games might be lower in some areas, but it doesn't seem to be enough of an issue right now to cause problems for the players.

So, I can't fault players for disputing how the money is being split between owners and players because the fact of the matter is the money is there and if you believe in a capitalistic society in which the money fairly goes to those whose talents bring the money in, what is there to complain about? If you disagree the players should get that money - where else should it go?

If sports became less popular then you would see the salaries go down. I don't see it happening unless things get REALLY bad - like 30% unemployment or something crazy.

[aholbert32]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

This is why athletes always lose in lockouts. Because the public always looks at them as being "greedy" when that is further from the truth. Here are a couple of facts:

- The average NFL player plays 3 seasons so I would be hard pressed to begrudge a guy for holding out or striking when his salary isnt guaranteed and he's one injury away from making nothing. Should players manage their money better? YES. But I'm not going to begrudge them making more money when they are the driving force behind the success of a league.

- Owners are greedy. An example of how horrible owners can be is the Florida Marlins. For years, they cried broke and claimed that if they didnt get a publically funded stadium they would have to move from Miami. So what happened? The city gave them 350 million in public money to build a stadium with the Marlins getting all the revenue from the stadium. Guess what happened next? The financial records of the Marlins leaked and revealed that they have made a 50 million dollar profit each yr the last three years and could have paid for most of the stadium.

- People go to see the players not the owners so the players should receive a large majority of the revenue from the league. I have no problems with the owners making a profit but I dont go to a Lakers game to see Jerry Buss....I go to see Kobe Bryant.

[iAM-IncReDiBLe-]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

Well said. Thats how I feel about it all, you just worded it way better lol.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

Should players manage their money better? YES

Then you can't blame people if they want to call them greedy.

[aholbert32]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

Then you can't blame people if they want to call them greedy.

How is it greedy if you deserve to make more money? Lets say I'm a lawyer and I make 150k. Now thats more than enough for me to live on comfortably. Lets say I consider myself a top lawyer and all top lawyers make 250k a year. Is it greedy to demand 250k from my job when every other top lawyer is making the same?

[Skyboxer]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

How is it greedy if you deserve to make more money? Lets say I'm a lawyer and I make 150k. Now thats more than enough for me to live on comfortably. Lets say I consider myself a top lawyer and all top lawyers make 250k a year. Is it greedy to demand 250k from my job when every other top lawyer is making the same?

You holding out for more money wouldn't shut down a whole industry causing those middle or low income people to lose paychecks. No you can't say as a whole players are greedy but the majority is IMO. 4 mill a year is hard to get by with I'm sure....
Until there's a pay for "what you do" system we'll always have a failed system.

[Brandwin]

They make a ton of money now so why are you waiting for a lock out to stop watching?

Why not stop watching now If you're so tired of greedy athletes and the money they make?

Even if caps are put in place they are still going to make more money than most of us and complain for more.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

Most sports fans simply can't "quit" following their sports. I've gone through at least one work stoppage in the 4 sport leagues I follow (NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA) and I'm still a fan. While my level of interest has dropped during certain periods, I'm still a fan and nothing is going to change this.

I don't get the greed argument either. Nobody puts a gun to the Owner's head to sign off on large contracts.

[USF11]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

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.

The NFL needs a lockout. If I was an NFL player I would be pissed that I can be cut and lose the non bonus money in my contract at anytime.

When in less dangerous leagues like MLB and NBA have guaranteed contracts.

[12]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

This is why athletes always lose in lockouts. Because the public always looks at them as being "greedy" when that is further from the truth. Here are a couple of facts:

- The average NFL player plays 3 seasons so I would be hard pressed to begrudge a guy for holding out or striking when his salary isnt guaranteed and he's one injury away from making nothing. Should players manage their money better? YES. But I'm not going to begrudge them making more money when they are the driving force behind the success of a league.

- Owners are greedy. An example of how horrible owners can be is the Florida Marlins. For years, they cried broke and claimed that if they didnt get a publically funded stadium they would have to move from Miami. So what happened? The city gave them 350 million in public money to build a stadium with the Marlins getting all the revenue from the stadium. Guess what happened next? The financial records of the Marlins leaked and revealed that they have made a 50 million dollar profit each yr the last three years and could have paid for most of the stadium.

- People go to see the players not the owners so the players should receive a large majority of the revenue from the league. I have no problems with the owners making a profit but I dont go to a Lakers game to see Jerry Buss....I go to see Kobe Bryant.

I get your point but I'm not trying to argue semantics on who is more greedy, or if greed is even involved at all.

If deals can't be made and fans have to suffer it, I'm done. It's really that simple with me. I see your points and agree with them, but if it all ends in a lockout, I won't come back.

I don't expect people to think like me. It's just a personal choice that I'll choose to make. Either way, it won't be a big deal because pro sports don't define anything about my life, really.

[12]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

How is it greedy if you deserve to make more money? Lets say I'm a lawyer and I make 150k. Now thats more than enough for me to live on comfortably. Lets say I consider myself a top lawyer and all top lawyers make 250k a year. Is it greedy to demand 250k from my job when every other top lawyer is making the same?

Good point.

[12]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

They make a ton of money now so why are you waiting for a lock out to stop watching?

Why not stop watching now If you're so tired of greedy athletes and the money they make?

Even if caps are put in place they are still going to make more money than most of us and complain for more.

Making more money is fine. It's not a matter of being envious. It's a matter of seeing players/owners stick it to the fans, who are the people that make it all possible for them. Without fans, they're not millionaires. I just wish this was taken into account more often.

Why not stop watching now? That's a good question, one I've thought about before. As I said earlier, as I've gotten older, my interest in pro sports has waned a great deal. I still love watching my teams.

[Splitter77]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

i still havent gone to a baseball game (I barely watch it anymore) ever since they took away the potential world series from the expos in '94

[Speedy]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

If I can feed my family and live comfortably, I'm good.

Latrell Sprewell says hello.

[mKoz26]

Re: Any more lockouts and I'm done.

I really don't think it's fair to call any professional athlete "greedy" because they want more money than they already make. Sure they have plenty of money to live on. But taking a step back and looking at the world as a whole, aren't we in the United States the same way? The average family makes what, 40-50 thousand dollars a year? That must be far above the average family world wide. Yet people in that range are always looking for promotions and any way to make life a bit more comfortable.

It's completely possible to live on 20 thousand dollars a year, and even less, but to afford us all of our fancy gadgets, our nice houses, our many meals, etc., we all want excess money. Isn't that greed?

Then we see unions striking for more money in the real world so they can secure contracts in the average US wage range. Relative to the world, isn't that greed?

And if so, do those people have any right to criticize athletes for holding out or striking?

Granted, taking the world as a whole may be a bit extreme, but athletes' lives are also an extreme that 99.99% of Americans are unfamiliar with specifically. So it's not really fair to compare them to the average family in their earnings and what not.

I just don't think it's fair to write athletes off as greedy without first taking a look at ourselves. Actually, IMO, humans are naturally greedy and it is the reason why we are so ambitious and such an advanced society.