The 1998 NBA lockout seems all too familiar as the 2010-2011 season rolls around the corner. Though the NBA and its fans are in for another exciting NBA season with headlines, such as the revamped and championship-hungry Miami Heat, the "Big Shamrock" in Boston, Phil Jackson's last season as head coach, the Lakers' quest for a three-peat, Carmelo Anthony's uncertain future with Denver, the NBA still has one dark and haunting cloud that looms over itself. The NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on June 30, 2011, and if the players' union and the league do not come to a mutual agreement by then regarding many issues, among them being players' salaries and the league's use of revenue, then we may not have a 2011-2012 NBA season.
And don't think this idea is too farfetched. The 1998-1999 NBA season was reduced to 50 games because the league and the players' union could not come to an agreement, regarding the minimum salary given to a player and the newly enforced salary cap. The dispute between the two parties threatened the cancellation of that entire season, but the two parties came to a mutual agreement on January 1999, thus beginning the season just before the halfway point of the regular season. That season saw ticket sales and television ratings decline, and these declines would resume into subsequent seasons. This season also saw a rather interesting playoffs, as the 8th-seeded New York Knicks reached the NBA Finals, only to lose to the 1999 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. Nonetheless, any avid basketball fan wants to see a full 82-game regular season and wants to see a playoffs where all the teams are prepared and molded for victory, whereas in the lockout season, favored teams were not as cohesive as they should have been because of the limited number of games.
As of now, the players' union, headed by president and Lakers guard Derek Fisher, and the league have been working tirelessly to come to another agreement before June 30, 2011, the end of this upcoming season. Stern delivered his proposal early during negotiations, giving the league and its owners more shares in regards to the league's gross revenue and implementing a much stricter salary cap, whereas the salary cap now is "soft" and subject to many exceptions that allow players to exceed the limit based on situational circumstances. The players' union didn't receive this proposition well, so now it's up to the players to craft their own proposal. Their most recent one included many of the conditions in the league's proposal, but included the league's gross revenue to be shared more equally, or maybe even more aggressively by the players. The Union notes that the players deserve more of the revenues because they have kept the revenue afloat even during such tough economic times, but the league strikes back noting that net revenue needs to be taken into account. Though gross revenue is growing or staying afloat, it's taking additional costs, promotions, and marketing expenses to do so, immensely hitting the league's net revenues. 
From an NBA fan's perspective, empty negotiations and biased proposals aren't a good sign. The primary problem is regarding players' salaries and how much of the league's revenue is going to feed these salaries. If I had any say, I would propose players to take a cut in their salaries for one reason alone: the love of the game. Your mult-million dollar salary is coming between young NBA fans and their ability to watch their favorite players on television or in sports arenas. Does Joe Johnson really need $120 million to keep his family more than well off for six years? The same goes for the rest of this list:
• Joe Johnson, Hawks: 6 years, $120M
• LeBron James, Heat: 6 years, $110M
• Chris Bosh, Heat: 6 years, $110M
• Dwyane Wade, Heat: 6 yrs, $107M
• Amare Stoudemire, NY: 5 yr, $100M
• Rudy Gay, Grizzlies: 5 years, $81M
• Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs: 4 years, $80M
• David Lee, Warriors: 6 years, $80M
• Carlos Boozer, Bulls: 5 years, $75M
• Paul Pierce, Celtics: 4 years, $61M
• Ray Allen, Celtics: 2 years, $20M
source: ESPN.com
But let's not just blame these players. The teams' front offices that draw up these contracts to bring some flair to their teams are just as much at fault as the players listed above are. And just a reminder, this is a very, very condensed list. Other players are just a little more under the radar.
So if my opinion counted for anything, it would be for the players to take pay cuts. Dont' worry you guys, you'll live. I'm happy with a $12/hour job, being a full-time student, and thus having loads of students loans. I live. You will too.
- Leather Head
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