NBA Lockout thread

[atl14dat]

Doesn't address the great point televisionarchives made. NOBODY is forcing you or anybody else to spend a large amount on tickets, or $8 for a hamburger. That is a choice YOU (meaning all fans) make freely.


Sandra

Spot On Take Above

here's hoping the whole season gets wiped out.

 

[salsadancer7]

Spot On Take Above

here's hoping the whole season gets wiped out.

Your hope...not mine..and oh by the way..it was addressed. ;-)

 

[dangue]

I honestly don't believe the extent of the owners' claims of unprofitability. If they were true, they'd open up their books. And no, I don't mean to the public, but to an independent auditor that could just verify the basic overall numbers (both direct and indirect revenue from basketball related operations) while keeping the potentially sensitive business details confidential.

By refusing to do this, the owners lose all credibility in my mind. Their claims are therefore unproven and smack of exaggeration for the sake of bargaining position. It doesn't help that they really only have themselves to blame for the costs of players salaries. They need to own up to the fact that they signed the contracts and can't resist opening their wallets to a ridiculous extent.

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys

 

[meStevo]

I honestly don't believe the extent of the owners' claims of unprofitability. If they were true, they'd open up their books. And no, I don't mean to the public, but to an independent auditor that could just verify the basic overall numbers (both direct and indirect revenue from basketball related operations) while keeping the potentially sensitive business details confidential.

By refusing to do this, the owners lose all credibility in my mind. Their claims are therefore unproven and smack of exaggeration for the sake of bargaining position. It doesn't help that they really only have themselves to blame for the costs of players salaries. They need to own up to the fact that they signed the contracts and can't resist opening their wallets to a ridiculous extent.

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys

Have they refused to prove it, or has this been a known quantity for some time, accepted by both sides? This was a demand the NFLPA made but never got from the NFL, I'm not paying much attention to this lockout but the finances of individual clubs isn't a drum ive seen anyone beating until your post really.

 

[Ramy]

Bryant Gumbel obviously thinks it's his job to make inflammatory racist comments every once in a while. He branded David Stern a 'modern plantation overseer treating NBA players like his boys'.

That's just outrageous and disgraceful.


Sandra

He needs to shut his mouth for sure, because he keeps sticking his foot in it.

 

[SandraC]

He needs to shut his mouth for sure, because he keeps sticking his foot in it.

Absolutely. Agree or disagree with him, David Stern is guilty of nothing more than doing his job, and trying to get the best possible deal he can for the owners...some of which ARE BLACK.


Sandra

 

[cosmo_kramer]

He needs to shut his mouth for sure, because he keeps sticking his foot in it.

It's all on purpose. He's just trying to make himself (and his show) relevant again....

 

[Ramy]

It's all on purpose. He's just trying to make himself (and his show) relevant again....

He has always been that way so it really didn't surprise me that he said something like that.

 

[salsadancer7]

Let's ask Gumbel: Stern has no problem with these guys when there is a CBA in place. Why is it only racial while there are labor issues??

I listen last night to his ENTIRE commentary and though he used the wrong analogy as to the way Stern has treated the entire process, I understood what he was trying to say. By using a plantation and "boys", he brought racism in to the mix.

Now as far as what you said Cosmo... You can say the same thing about owners...they have no issues hyping up players when a CBA is in place...but.....

 

[SandraC]

Actually, it occurs quite often. From 2006:

LATEST HATEFUL COMMENTS MAY COST BRYANT GUMBEL HIS JOB AT NFL NETWORK

Thank goodness Gumbel is buried on HBO now.

Jeez...


Sandra

 

[salsadancer7]

I honestly don't believe the extent of the owners' claims of unprofitability. If they were true, they'd open up their books. And no, I don't mean to the public, but to an independent auditor that could just verify the basic overall numbers (both direct and indirect revenue from basketball related operations) while keeping the potentially sensitive business details confidential.

By refusing to do this, the owners lose all credibility in my mind. Their claims are therefore unproven and smack of exaggeration for the sake of bargaining position. It doesn't help that they really only have themselves to blame for the costs of players salaries. They need to own up to the fact that they signed the contracts and can't resist opening their wallets to a ridiculous extent.

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys

Excellent points. The question I have is, what is the difference between "not profitable" and "losing money"? I understand stating that the situation in the NBA in this economic environment is not profitable...and I believe that ...but to state that 2/3s of the league "is losing money"?! As you state, you better damn well PROVE that. And though I do not need to see this proof..as long as those that are in negociations sees it...it is good enough for me.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

I listen last night to his ENTIRE commentary and though he used the wrong analogy as to the way Stern has treated the entire process, I understood what he was trying to say. By using a plantation and "boys", he brought racism in to the mix.

Now as far as what you said Cosmo... You can say the same thing about owners...they have no issues hyping up players when a CBA is in place...but.....

Huh?? I haven't seen or heard any racist comments from Stern or the owners during this mess, just Gumbel. This is a business, so you can't expect ownership to be 'hyping up' players during a labor stoppage like it's the NBA Finals or something....

 

[SandraC]

Even Stephen A Smith is calling out Gumbel on this one...so you KNOW it's bad.


Sandra

 

[salsadancer7]

Absolutely. Agree or disagree with him, David Stern is guilty of nothing more than doing his job, and trying to get the best possible deal he can for the owners...some of which ARE BLACK.


Sandra

I agree that Stern is doing his job. Maybe he is a victim of his own success? Byt the way, I think there are 2 majority owners in the NBA, Michael Jordan being one of them and 11 partial owners. So you really cannot minority owners as "some". Unless you count all the white partial owners...and that is over 100.

 

[salsadancer7]

Huh?? I haven't seen or heard any racist comments from Stern or the owners during this mess, just Gumbel. This is a business, so you can't expect ownership to be 'hyping up' players during a labor stoppage like it's the NBA Finals or something....

I havent heard it either...NOR did I say he did. I am making the point that once a CBA is finally signed, sealed and delivered...the owners and the league will go back to hyping UP the players.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

Even Stephen A Smith is calling out Gumbel on this one...so you KNOW it's bad.


Sandra

Michael Wilbon too...

 

[salsadancer7]

Even Stephen A Smith is calling out Gumbel on this one...so you KNOW it's bad.


Sandra

Again...Gumbel used the wrong analogy as to how Stern is running the process. TERRIBLY wrong...but I understand what he is trying to say.

 

[SandraC]

I agree that Stern is doing his job. Maybe he is a victim of his own success? Byt the way, I think there are 2 majority owners in the NBA, Michael Jordan being one of them and 11 partial owners. So you really cannot minority owners as "some". Unless you count all the white partial owners...and that is over 100.

Seriously? We're going to debate the word 'some' now? I think 13 qualifies as 'some'. If you want to argue what makes up 'some'...jeesh.


Sandra

 

[cosmo_kramer]

Gumbel's negative characterization of the commissioner turned the high-beam spotlight on the NBA's money game. All the reports concerning economic models, revenue splits, federal mediators and basketball-related income (BRI) make millions of eyes glaze over.

Yet when Gumbel, a well-known black commentator, calls Stern, the white commissioner of a league with predominantly black players, a racist, everyone suddenly has a perverse reason - the wrong reason - to become interested in the NBA story.

The case Gumbel tried to make against Stern was beyond weak. The only legs he had to stand on were his own perceptions. Our perception is this: Gumbel's central mission here was to highlight Stern's patronizing, condescending style over the course of these negotiations. Among other things, Gumbel was offended by Stern saying union boss Billy Hunter was providing players with "inaccurate information."

Gumbel was looking to turn some heads here. A measured, clever approach wouldn't seal the deal, so he dropped the bomb, turning over the race card on Stern.

This is absolutely no surprise. On "Real Sports" Gumbel once suggested Paul Tagliabue should show then-incoming NFL commissioner Roger Goodell "where he keeps Gene Upshaw's leash." In 2006, Gumbel compared the Winter Olympics to a GOP convention for its "paucity" of black athletes. "I've been cursed out by David Stern, I've been lambasted and vilified by David Stern," Stephen A. Smith, the ESPN commentator, said Wednesday over the telephone. "You can accuse this man of a lot of things, but what Bryant Gumbel said I would never associate with the commissioner of the NBA. He has never been that guy - not once. I've never seen it. I've never seen any evidence."

Let's just say in Stern's NBA there was never a need for a Rooney Rule and leave it at that.

HBO's Bryant Gumbel drops bomb, race card in calculated move to turn heads during stale NBA lockout

 

[salsadancer7]

Seriously? We're going to debate the word 'some' now? I think 13 qualifies as 'some'. If you want to argue what makes up 'some'...jeesh.


Sandra

Meh... semantics....