The best column on the NHL Lockout by Mike Brophy

[leaflover]

Brophy just said what many of us have been posting on HF for sometime now. NHL players lead a sheltered and protected life and very few have the ability or willingness to step outside the box to speak out.

Good lord.

 

[Lanny MacDonald*]

That's a pretty bold statement. Have any facts to support it?

Just a couple of discertations on the subject. Beyond that, nothing that can be posted at this time.

 

[chara]

Brophy makes an excellent point that must be restated over and over again until the NHLPA finally get it: There is no jackpot at the end of the rainbow.

The owners are paying the bills. They chose the last system and mucked it up. That said, they can choose another system too. Whether it works or not is not for the players to decide. But they will be allowed to hammer out some of details of that system (guaranteed contracts, free agency, cap exceptions, etc) which is something Goodenow should be working on immediately.

If this season is lost, the next will go by the wayside as the deal gets worse. The owners will just wait out the players. Eventually, they'll be back.

 

[Motown Beatdown]

That's a pretty bold statement. Have any facts to support it?

Off Topic: Well Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins got off of a DUI charge because his lawyer argued he didn't know his ABC's. And thats why he failed the field test.

 

[chara]

He won the salary cap battle in '94; he figures he can win it again. Unfortunately, things have changed. The owners have circled their wagons and will fight to the bitter end.

Worse for the players. There are no wagons. The owners are waiting back at their fancy ranches. The players are out on the range fighting by themselves. If they don't play hockey soon, they'll be squabbling amongst themselves.

The real dropdead date for the owners is Sept. 2006 when they'll have both their rollback (only 99 players under contract) and their cap. Goodenow knows this and that's why for his sake and that of the NHLPA there has to be hockey this year.

 

[discostu]

Just a quick word on this issue regarding player knowledge of the issues.

I don't think it's fair to blame the entrenchment of positions on lack of intelligence on behalf of these players. True, not many of them have a great deal of post-secondary education, but at the same time, they have been around the game, and the economics that support it. While they may not have the same perspective as someone who has taken a lot of university courses in business and economic issues, they have witnessed how the realities of business have gripped the game first-hand. They may not have the same perspective on the issues as most of the posters on this board, but it doesn't make their perspective less valid. Plus, they have agents and other business and legal advisors, who have backgrounds in the subject, and who are giving them advice.

Going back to the entrenchment of positions though, I think it's more of a function of their personalities. All of these guys got to where they are because they are competitors. They don't like losing, and for many, it will be very difficult to vote for a CBA that will be viewed as the players caving in. None of these guys will be happy to wave the white flag, even if they do feel it is the best move for the long run.

 

[jcpenny]

Some are dumb others greatly educated but thats not the point. They are in a fight that they cannot win. This starts with their leaders like Goodenow and guys like Damphousse and Linden. They make it seem like with a cap they will all be poor and unable to support their family. Players say that they dont want a cap but many cant even tell us why. With a cap they will still be rich and if the league makes more money their salaries will go up. Sure even myself there are some aspects about the cap that i dislike but no system is perfect. If it helps to save the league and make profits why not? BTW players yall have big bills to pay....