NBA On The Same Road As The NFL, Just A Different Direction

As the NFL finally takes the final junction off the lockout freeway, it appears that the traffic the NBA is enduring is not letting up anytime soon.

Since the start of July 1st 2011, the NBA has shut down its operation and players cannot have any contact with ownership or coaches. The talks to revive hopes of creating a new collective bargaining agreement have since dissipated into silence as both sides have no interest in resolving their issues in the near future.

On the other side of the spectrum, an agreement was finally reached after over 130 days went by since the NFL locked out its players. Realizing that the 2011 season could be lost if they didn’t work out their differences, both the player’s union and owners decided to bury the hatchet on squabbles and bring the public what they want: playing actual football this season.

Although the NFL was able to work out their differences during the longest lockout in the league’s history, a vision of compromise by both sides to end the lockout for professional basketball in America is much hazier at the moment.

The reasoning behind this issue is more understandable when looking from the perspective of the NBA players; they have multiple outlets to which they can produce an income and play basketball.

When it comes to visibility and popularity in sports on a global level, the guys that run on hardwood courts in shorts are bigger phenomenons than their helmet wearing, pigskin-playing athletic cohorts.

Football, arguably, is the most popular sport in America, but it is practically an unknown in discussions outside of U.S. soil. Americans undoubtedly know who Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Larry Fitzgerald, and Adrian Peterson are; but putting a name to a face would be like playing a game of “Guess Who” for anyone outside of the country.

The NBA, on the other hand, have standouts that are rock stars in other continents around the world. That is evident with the recent tournament held out in the Philippines, with the notable attractions being Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul. The event was a huge success, with the players bringing out huge crowds in a country they rarely, if ever, play in.

While the NFL has gone overseas (London) and south of the border (Mexico) to play various games during their regular season, the idea of seeing Manning and Peterson heading anywhere outside of the U.S. to play a tournament or a setup game is pointless because the appeal of their sport doesn’t cross over like the NBA’s does. Not only do mass quantities of players head from their native countries to play pro basketball in America, but Americans go to those same countries and play before foreign fans as well.

With this option in their back pocket, NBA players have alternatives that will allow them escape plans if the lockout continues to extend into the coming months. If the fans of the league want to watch their favorite players they are so fond of, they will most likely have to acquire international cable outlets to get a gander.

Deron Williams is already heading out to Turkey to play since the league appears nowhere near coming to a conclusion on their problems. Bryant appears to be pondering the notion of joining the Nets’ point guard and may ultimately sign on in the near future. Carmelo Anthony and Paul are also considering playing in China as their options during the lockout.

Others might even swap sports as a means of dealing with the break they get during this trying time.

Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love will be losing his basketball shoes and running barefoot atop millions of grains of sand. The former UCLA star will be heading to Manhattan for a pro volleyball tournament event in August, which may possibly lead to future events in the sport.

Now that the NFL lockout is over, another star from pro basketball is thinking about trying to see if he can get back into an activity he hasn’t gone through since college. Nate Robinson may be one of the smallest players in the league, but with a five-foot, nine-inch stature and a previous history as a two-sport stud (he played both football and basketball during his time at the University of Washington), the NFL could be his new calling if the shut down of the NBA lingers.

Given what is transpiring for the players in the NBA, they appear to be in a stronger position of shrugging off the ill-effects of not playing in their professional leagues more so than their football cohorts. The NFL and their players may have taken a lengthy period to reach an agreement, but the players understood that no other decent alternatives were available to combat the issue of trying to earn an income in another competitive football league.

All of these issues lead up to one conclusion for where the NBA lockout will be heading in the near future: stuck in neutral with no road leading to an exit.

A Call For Fans To Lockout The NFL And NBA

This has got to be one of the most frustrating summers in sports.

With the NBA and NFL reaching heights never seen in their history, both are now going into the next season…

Wait, there is no next season.

Say what?

Repeat that again please, because after seeing two underdogs emerge to be victorious in both of their championship games, all fans want is an encore. Yet, football or basketball have yet to figure out when that will kick or tip-off because both of the league’s owners and players can’t find a common ground as to what is fair for both sides.

What fair really means, though, is that each party is trying to gain a bigger portion of the massive money pot the leagues bring in.

The solution to this issue is simple and doesn’t require assistance from either side: fans should ultimately lockout the leagues

A fan lockout would allow both sports’ biggest producers to take a stand that these actions are not acceptable. The last thing fans want to hear is how big of a crisis both leagues are currently in when the issues of the world are reaching nearly unprecedented heights. It’s hard enough to worry whether or not a person’s job will ever be lost or if they will be able to put food on their table to feed their families.

These leagues are supposed to be the saviors during these problematic times, not adding more sadness.

Fans not only have every right to boycott both leagues for these actions, but should deploy this option at this very moment. The NFL and NBA have no understanding that they are destroying the purity of the game and the reason that professional sports exist; they are here to inspire those that admire and fantasize about being their heroes in the sport.

This illustrates how significant the NFL and NBA are in American life, but they are not essential for living. If either league never existed, it wouldn’t destroy society or affect any average Joe in the most serious of ways. Sports are watched as a means of enjoyment, spawn hope, and escape from the treacheries of regular life.

While everyday people are dealing with a horrendous economy, taking out bigger loans to combat growing college tuition fees, searching tirelessly for jobs to feed their budding families, and hope they can obtain a three to four figure income; both leagues sit back and fight over millions and billions of dollars that come out of the fans’ pocket.
Why both sports would bicker over money is obvious, because the all mighty dollar is essential for living. If administrators realize their businesses are losing money, they downsize their company by shrinking their payroll or reducing wages. Occasionally, this causes employees to clash with their bosses if they feel they are treated unfairly or are getting underpaid, usually leading to a strike.

Yet, this is an everyday occurrence and is needed in order to survive.

The owners and players continue to protest that they want what is best for the league and to return back to work for their adoring fans. That discussion is hard to believe when money is more the focus of the discussions. Yet, that same issue they fight over is obviously a more vital issue for those who attend the sporting events than those who participate in it.

Multi-millionaires in the league are only a small percentage of the players and all of the lower end players don’t make nearly as much as their superstar cohorts. Yet, any person who doesn’t play professional sports would gladly trade their crummy, 9-to-5 job just to sit on a bench or just be a practice dummy.

Being a professional athlete was always thought of as a privilege and a great honor, not a job or an occupation. Of course, the NFL and NBA are businesses, but it’s an industry that is viewed as an enjoyment or a luxury for fans, not a necessity. Other sectors in commerce produce goods or services that are required for existence.

What’s more important in life? Seeing LeBron James dunk a basketball and seeing Adrian Peterson breaking six tackles, or, being able to see a doctor if you are sick or getting help by the police in a time of need?

The owners of both leagues complain about money and that they are deserving of a bigger cut of the pot. This concept would be logical if everyday people had the kind of cash to invest into a company that could net them millions of dollars. Most of these owners have various other businesses that can generate revenue or come from a wealthy family, which is why a stoppage of the league doesn’t dent their bank accounts. All these are benefits that each member of the public could only dream of having while they struggle just to make it through each day of their life.

Money was never meant to drive sports, and yet it has stepped behind the wheel and maneuvered its way to the peak of the mountain as the reasoning why people want to play it.

The hope will be that both situations will pan out and the leagues can come to an agreement of what is “fair” to both sides. In reality though, what should truly be reasonable is that the feelings of the fans should be at the forefront of this issue and how both sides can provide the best product for its followers. Sadly, the definition of sport will forever be changed from a recreational activity to a greedy business that generates billions of dollars from its fans.

In order to demonstrate our disgust with the new characterization of sports, fans should lockout the NFL and NBA and take a stand that their current status is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

NBA Commissioner David Stern Is Not Scared Of NBA Lockout

Earlier today, reports surfaced that the NBA collective bargaining agreement would expire and send the league into lockout mode.

NBA commissioner David Stern at a press conference regarding this situation commented that he was not scared of the lockout but resigned to the possible issues that come from it: