Thread: The Lockout Begins

Originally Posted by Bruno

Perhaps long enough that the viewers decide not to bother with hockey anymore, at which point the players might regret going on strike because they're not making an extra 10% extra on top of more money per year than what normal people make in their lifetime.

I hear what you are saying Bruno and you think after how much they lost last time both sides would of tried to avoid this at all cost

I do believe I remember hearing the players were willing to operate under the old agreement and start the season. Continuing negotiations during the season.

I start the thread saying Bettmen couldn't get a deal done again because it is now the third time since he took over control of the NHL.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Perhaps long enough that the viewers decide not to bother with hockey anymore, at which point the players might regret going on strike because they're not making an extra 10% extra on top of more money per year than what normal people make in their lifetime.

The owners are forbidding players from entering team facilities. The players are not on strike. At this point the Board of Gov.'s has the responsibility for any delay to the onset of the season.

Originally Posted by rolodave

Could the lockout force a combining of the majors with the minor leagues ala Mr. Cangooner's "67s".

Can't happen due to the disparity in skill levels. Unless you are referring to NHL players taking jobs in minor leagues a la the previous lockout.

Originally Posted by Birnando

It is a sad situation for all hockey fans.
The selfishness and greed shown by both sides at the negotiations proves they really have far less rspect for their fans than the fans actually deserves!

Player greed?!? I never saw one owner go face-first into the glass for a paycheque. Never saw one get stitched up on the trainer's table or hauled away in an ambulance for a broken neck, either. Where is their risk to life and limb for $$$?

Originally Posted by BobH

Only one small point and that is the players will not be on strike but rather the owners have locked them out. End result is the same for the fans though but the stoppage is owner initiated in this case, NOT the players.
Bob

Quite right.

Originally Posted by BobH

Well, the fans might have a share in the blame for what is happening now. Without their seemingly slavish devotion to professional sports of all kinds making such businesses so lucrative the true benefactors of all that, owners and players, would not be able to argue over the spoils. If you are really upset, stay home and don't buy tickets or merchandise and watch something else on TV. The tail is wagging the dog.

Bob

That is certainly an option.

To Castel33:
I think the total loss will be about 20 games per team.

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

Player greed?!? I never saw one owner go face-first into the glass for a paycheque. Never saw one get stitched up on the trainer's table or hauled away in an ambulance for a broken neck, either. Where is their risk to life and limb for $$$?

You almost make it sound as if this is not a voluntary chosen career
Lots of jobs involve a risk when performing it, most for a lot less money too.

I wonder how long it will take for the"winning side" in this conflict to make up for the losses the lockout will inflict on all parties?

Originally Posted by Birnando

I wonder how long it will take for the"winning side" in this conflict to make up for the losses the lockout will inflict on all parties?

There will be no "winning side". As of right now, the owners stand to lose the most because they are still responsible for office staff salaries and building rent (contractual obligations for the arenas they use which are usually owned by the communities in which they play). Players can always head to Europe/Russia for a season (like in '03-04). Owners will have no revenue without their teams playing games.
Auxiliary staff lose completely -- popcorn/programme vendors, security personnel, parking lot attendants, trainers (good ones are taken care of by players, and most trainers are good ones) locker room attendants ("gophers") to name a few -- are completely screwed. Unfortunately, there's no recourse for them.

Originally Posted by Birnando

You almost make it sound as if this is not a voluntary chosen career
Lots of jobs involve a risk when performing it, most for a lot less money too.

I wonder how long it will take for the"winning side" in this conflict to make up for the losses the lockout will inflict on all parties?

Last time there was a lockout, the league came back more popular (and profitable) than ever.

I think that professional athletes should be remunerated with a fair share of the profits generated by their sport. I just think the amount of $$ flying around pro sports of all kinds is absolutely bonkers these days. It just strikes me as odd to have millionaires and billionaires fighting over shares of billions of dollars in profits, all of which is derived ultimately from normal everyday people like you, me, them... It just seems so utterly out of kilter with what the rest of the western world is experiencing at the moment.

Originally Posted by Birnando

You almost make it sound as if this is not a voluntary chosen career
Lots of jobs involve a risk when performing it, most for a lot less money too.

Then why do REMFS (Rear Echelon Mother Fu#%^&$) like generals/admirals and Prime Ministers/Presidents/Senators make so much more $$$ than the grunts who do the actual fighting? I'd love to hear a cogent reason for that.
Sorry, Birnando. When I played in Hampton Roads, VA (naval base nearby) I became friends w/sailors and Marines. One common complaint I heard from both servicemen was that the idea that "Nothing but the best for our boys" was always supplanted by expediency. I did not mean to attack you personally. If it seems I did, I apologize.

I'm sitting here watching the NFL right now. The NHL needs to realize that they can't withstand two lockouts in just a few years. I don't care who gives in. It's a less than $2B league paying over 50% to it's players now. Sorry, the players can't make MLB money in this league. And Bettman is a joke. Both sides are wrong.

I love playing hockey, and I like college hockey. I've only been to two NHL games in the last two years, and I live in one of the best hockey cities in the US. The history of the NHL is legendary, but the league and the NHLPA are standing in the way of the league continuing its former glory.

Originally Posted by Cangooner

Last time there was a lockout, the league came back more popular (and profitable) than ever.

I think that professional athletes should be remunerated with a fair share of the profits generated by their sport. I just think the amount of $$ flying around pro sports of all kinds is absolutely bonkers these days. It just strikes me as odd to have millionaires and billionaires fighting over shares of billions of dollars in profits, all of which is derived ultimately from normal everyday people like you, me, them... It just seems so utterly out of kilter with what the rest of the western world is experiencing at the moment.

No one forced me to play. No one is forcing the owners to operate clubs. And certainly no one is forcing people to spend their $$$ on game tickets, team gear, or cable bills to watch sporting events.

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

Then why do REMFS (Rear Echelon Mother Fu#%^&$) like generals/admirals and Prime Ministers/Presidents/Senators make so much more $$$ than the grunts who do the actual fighting? I'd love to hear a cogent reason for that.
Sorry, Birnando. When I played in Hampton Roads, VA (naval base nearby) I became friends w/sailors and Marines. One common complaint I heard from both servicemen was that the idea that "Nothing but the best for our boys" was always supplanted by expediency. I did not mean to attack you personally. If it seems I did, I apologize.

No worries mate, I did not take it as such.
I live in a country where we actually take pride in our social structure, and wealth is politically distributed throughout the population so I do not have problems seeing your points

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

No one forced me to play. No one is forcing the owners to operate clubs. And certainly no one is forcing people to spend their $$$ on game tickets, team gear, or cable bills to watch sporting events.

Couldn't agree more: those profits they are fighting over are there because the market has produced them. It just as a whiff of South Sea bubble to me.