The beginning of autumn is here, and sports are finally starting to get interesting again. The Red Sox are in an amazing decline, the NFL is more entertaining than ever, and the NHL will begin in a few simple weeks. However, one might be wondering, where is the NBA in this? Well, ladies and gentlemen, they’re locked out–and it may be serious.
Now, here’s an information session to bring everyone up to speed. Back in 1998, the league experienced a lockout in which players couldn’t play because there was no collective bargaining agreement (CBA). A CBA is an agreement between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees that regulate working conditions.
This lockout ended after 204 days when Commissioner David Stern made a solid threat to cancel the season if there was no agreement by January 7, 1999; the new CBA was agreed to on Jan. 6th. The 29 teams played 50 games, and peace was restored to the world.
However, the 2005 CBA has expired, and the National Basketball Association is again in limbo. A key issue is that players want a soft salary cap, which allows for higher salaries, while owners want the opposite, to save money. There is also the issue of an efficient revenue sharing among the teams themselves in order to better spread earnings. Players Association President Derek Fisher has made a point to try and keep players informed and united, while also calming fears. At the same time, he has been realistic about the many issues, noting that this will all take time.
All the same, there is something missing: what are the players doing? Well, there are two things going on. First, many players have been playing in pro-am tournaments in cities like L.A., NYC and Baltimore all summer to keep in shape and to please fans’ palates. YouTube has been aflame with clips of amazing plays and street game highlights, which show gyms and outdoor courts filled with cheering people. Basically, they’ve been giving the fans what they want.
Next, players have been making deals so they can get paid to play. A number of small name players have signed up to play overseas, like Brian Scalabrine who is going to Italy. Players have clauses in their contracts that allow them to return to the U.S. if and when the lockout ends. Some major players jumping the great divide include Deron Williams signing with Beskitas in Turkey and Kenyon Martin to a Chinese team. There are also a flurry of rumors linking Kobe Bryant to Italy.
In the end, there is always hope this will be resolved. The players want to play, and the owners want to have a season just as badly. Just get it together everyone, because I really want to watch the Celtics go for banner number 18!
