The NBA should grab the NFL’s labor notes. Just when football is showing signs of progress toward resolving its offseason labor woes, basketball appears ready to create its own lockout limbo. The two leagues are in opposite circumstances. The NFL owners and players are dividing $9 billion in profits. The NBA reportedly has 22 of 30 teams losing money, though the players claim it’s only 10. Either way, that’s a lot of troubled franchises.
The NFL is trying to become the dominant league on the planet. The NBA is seeking to avoid the retraction of franchises.
Washington owner Ted Leonsis conceded the Wizards lost money last season. Nobody wanted to watch one crummy game and 81 sequels. It’s no surprise that tickets were reselling on StubHub for all of $1.
The NBA owners certainly will lock out the players Friday when the new league year begins. The public won’t care at first, especially if the NFL soon follows with its labor agreement and training camps start by the end of July.
The NBA’s biggest problem is it outgrew itself. Too many franchises, too many games, too many big-money contracts. College basketball is much more interesting because it’s only 30 games. The NBA’s 82-game season is a grind, and players walk through games. It’s boring despite super players.
There are also too many franchises. Few fans would care if the NBA lost some teams. But the league can’t lose teams or games because that would cost money. Wait — how does fewer teams or games equal more money? The horse racing industry is benefitting from its new strategy of operating locally a few months annually rather than year-round. By decreasing the supply, it increases the demand.
The bottom line is players must take less money just like NFL brethren are preparing to do. Sorry fellas — this is the new America. Everybody’s getting by with less. It’s just your less is still more in one season than nearly every working Joe makes in a lifetime, so forgive our lack of tears. You might have to drive just one or two cars worth more than many homes. The league is still offering $2 billion in salary and benefits, about 10 percent less than before.
Players want high schoolers to be draft eligible instead of forcing them to take one year of basket-weaving in college before entering the league. No problem there. If an 18-year-old is ready, let him play. It would be nice if anyone cut in training camp could still play in college, though.
How long before the NBA gets a deal? No one cares before January, but it’s more likely the NFL’s peace will somehow trickle over to bring an earlier resolution to basketball.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
