StanTheMan said:
I'm actually not convinced they are really into the NLRB thing at all. maybe they are keeping it in mind just in case, but from what I've read it would be a huge mess to go down that road what with having to address the impasse in US courts and in Canadian provincial courts.
Until yesterday I had believed the owners when they said they were firm in the whole cap/long term vision, but yesterday's move makes me think they are more desperate than the players. Just a feeling.
Let us weigh the pressures:
Owners:
1. Losing about 25 regular season games, and playoff revenue . . . but if they cave those would be not well attended anyways. And if they do not get a win, they would lose more money having that season than if they kept the lockout going. Also, if they 'win' franchise vlaues through the league currently weighed down by the problems league wide would skyrocket. Plus they have enough in the bank to take this lockout another year. The vast majority of fans are basically supporting them. If the season is cancelled, as long as they negotiate in good faith, they have a very good chance of declaring an impass and getting their last offer implimented. Is this really a pressure?
Players:
1. Average career 4 years. Most players just lost a quarter of what they ever will earn, after spending virtually their entire lives working their tails off to get here. Lose another year and it will be half. Already some will never play a game again as they have been passed, and many who are not in the top feel that pressure from more and more minor league players becoming ready, ready to take their jobs.
2. Even if they would 'win' next year . . .for those players who actually remain with jobs, the pie will be much smaller to divide. They could have gotten more 'losing' now when the pie was larger than if this settles late into next year.
3. The public is so very against them and mostly for the owners.
4. They very likely could lose before the NLRB after all this wasted fight on their part and end up with a worse deal than if they had compromised ont he Cap issue.
So how is that pressure at all on the owners or at least anywhere close to the pressure on the players?