Chayos1 said:
I agree i do not understand how the union is structured, but i do know that any organization has to have some sort of non confidnece clause where with enough support a vote can be brought about to bring down current leadership.
Chayos, I'm no union expert either. (Nor am I a union "supporter", despite suggestions by Crazy Lunatic to the contrary.
)
What I was getting at was simply that while it is fair to guess that there is clearly not unanimous support for the NHLPA's stance across a membership of some 700 players (good luck getting 700 people to agree to anything!), it really is a leap to assume that there is a mutiny among the membership. If, as some hypothetize, there was significant rebellion in the ranks, a vote would be taken, word would have gotten through loud and clear, repeatedly, to Linden and Goodenow, the media, etc.
It's a fine line. Yes, Goodneow represents the players. However, the union is not a democracy consisting of 700 separate independent states so to speak. If it were, there would be no
union to begin with. Ultimately, the players have charged Goodenow with getting them the best deal. Some (many) fans believe that he has failed in that regard.
However, they are substituting their own beliefs for that of the players. Or at least, portaying them as one and the same. Therein lies the problem.
As such, your original question about where are the players speaking up on behalf of the union assumes that there are many who wish to. I would simply suggest that if there really were that many who hold the same utter lack of confidence in Goodenow as some fans hold,
nothing could ultimately stop the union from splittering, and numerous (not a smattering) players giving out contrary comments.
Rightly or wrongly, the union, all signs indicate otherwise. The players are dug in, together. As are the owners. If that weren't the case, this would have been over long ago, and the union would have been "crushed", they would have "caved in," as some here experts have incorrectly predicted/wished for repeatedly overr the last several months.