First of all, let me preface this by saying a person of my skin color (brown) speaking about anything remotely related to being Un-American will no doubt spur an investigation by the FBI into this blog. That being said and having heard the countless opinions of those on this NFL Labor Dispute with the majority of them defending the players and accusing the owners of greed, I have to ask...when did we all become so un-American?
Unions have long been a part of American history and have provided the country with many changes politically and economically...but then again so has big business. I was reading Bill Simmons' article the other day about the labor disputes and he makes out the owners to be heinous villains. It is true that they are making several billion dollars off the product. It is true that regardless of team success (ahem Redskins), they are still making a profit. It is true that they charge ridiculous prices for beer, food, parking spots that it's almost better now to sit at home and watch the games on HD, 3D, 4D, 3560D TV....but isn't that what America is about?
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| $8 beer - one of many reasons why to drink before games. |
America was built on Capitalism, not a socialist model. We laud the American dream and the potential to do as well for us as we can, but as soon as someone starts making billions, we throw a hissy fit. Yes, the owners are not facing the same risks as the players are physically, but they are the ones who are paying the players exorbitant salaries. The NFL minimum salary is approximately $250,000. There are players who practice and never get in games who make $250,000. There are plenty of American families for whom $250,000 would solve 90% of their problems. If the players don't want to risk their bodies physically, they can go do something else. Many of them have a college education - perhaps it is time to put that to use. People get on the owners' case for wanting a billion dollars off the top before splitting the revenue in the new CBA, but they don't realize that if the NFL goes down the drain, it is not the players who suffer the most - it is the owners.
True, many owners have inherited their wealth - the Mara family of the Giants, the Hunt family of the Chiefs and others - but there are also those who have worked their way to where they are. Say what you want about the man, but Daniel Snyder made it big in telecommunications, bought the Redskins and despite the team's lack of success, has spared no efforts in trying to build a winner. The same cannot be said for all the owners ( see Bill Bidwell of the Cardinals and Mike Brown of the Bengals), but it is they who will suffer the most if the NFL shuts down tomorrow - not the players. I am not saying the owners are going to be homeless if this happens, but this country has become so anti-big business and anti-corporate America, we fail to realize that if ANY of us were in that same position as the owners, we'd look out for ourselves first too.
The players do have a valid point in that their safety should be a higher priority and that they want a higher portion of the pie, but it's not like the players aren't making money now...HAVE YOU SEEN ALBERT HAYNESWORTH'S CONTRACT?! That man, by himself, has ruined any sympathy the players deserve.
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| Typical Haynesworth play |
The Heat Crying
Dwayne Wade said something to the effect of the world loves seeing
the Heat lose. He's right. Everytime I see the Heat lose, I get giddy. Perhaps if they hadn't come out with that whole fireworks shenanigans to introduce the team and jersey popping routine before even winning a playoff game, people would feel different. But they don't.
On a positive note, at least the Heat care when they lose courtesy Coach Erik Spoelstra's admission that there were players inside the locker room crying. Apparently Chris Bosh was crying because his Gucci bag had not been delivered yet.
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| Miami Heat starting Power Forward/Personal Shopper |
What to Watch For
- Conference Tournaments Week - The prelude to the NCAA tournament. Get your bets ready gamblers. It's go time.
- The NFL Labor Negotiation Deadline on Friday - It's now or never. Git er done.
- The Lakers' revival - To all the idiots who said the Lakers were done this year...did anyone see the beatdown they put on the Spurs? Never count out back to back champions with the best player in the game.
- The Yearly Gary Williams watch - There's a 2% portion of the Maryland fanbase that thinks Gary Williams should be fired every year for his lack of recruiting. The man won a national championship at a school, which was in the direst straits when he took over. He deserves a lifetime job. That being said, he could have recruited better. Hopefully this year's senior class teaches him that.
- The Man U Fall - I've been saying it for a while. Sir Alex Ferguson has gotten more out of this Man U team and for them to still be leading Arsenal is mind boggling, but the end is near.
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| Liverpool Hero and Fellow Dutchmen (along with me - not really) |
- The Charlie Sheen show - Mark Cuban is starting a show with Charlie Sheen or is at least attempting to. At what point do we stop this bullshit and give Sheen the help he needs?
- India marches on - In what seems to be inevitable, India marches on despite its absolutely pathetic bowling. Next up - the Netherlands on Wednesday before a pivotal matchup against South Africa.
- The next team to cry - Looks like I started a fad with my crying in sports blog post. I'm a genius.
- A plug for my man Josh Dorsey's work..check it out - www.bigdek.bigcartel.com
Good night and War Eagle
