NBA deal is done

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

From TSN.ca

 

NEW YORK (AP) - NBA owners and players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement Tuesday, averting the possibility of a lockout.

 

The league called a news conference in San Antonio prior to Game 6 of the NBA Finals, with commissioner David Stern and union director Billy Hunter announcing their agreement.

 

The deal came on the fourth consecutive day of talks between the sides. The league's old seven-year agreement is due to expire on June 30.

 

Details of the new six-year agreement were not immediately disclosed, but the sides had been trying to reach compromises on several key issues. Among them were the owners' desire to raise the minimum age for draft eligibility to 19, reduce the maximum length of long-term contracts from seven years to six, and reduce the size of annual salary increases in those long-term contracts.

 

Among the main items the players were seeking was a reduction in the so-called escrow tax under which 10 per cent of their salaries are withheld if the amount of revenues devoted to players salaries exceeds a specified percentage.

 

Owners had already offered to raise the salary cap from slightly more than 48 percent of revenues to 51 percent, thereby increasing the amount of money each team can spend on player salaries.

 

The NBA has a system known as a "soft" salary cap, allowing teams to exceed the cap threshold to retain their own free agents, and to sign free agents under the so-called midlevel exception that was added to the labor agreement in 1999 after the sides went through a 7 1/2-month lockout.

 

Another lockout could have begun July 1.

 

The agreement will still need to be ratified by the league's board of governors and by the members of the players' union at their annual meeting in Las Vegas next week.

 

Ok, so in the last few years, the MLB, NBA, WNBA and NLL have avoided games lost. If there's no hockey by one week from Canada Day, I'll fucking lose it.

[Dangerous A 0]

While this subject is being covered in the NBA Offseason thread, I think it's a decent enough topic that it deserves it's own thread. Depends on what EvilAlKeiper thinks I guess

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

This is acceptable as its own topic.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Hey look! The NBA did something right that the NHL did wrong! Stop the f'n presses@

[Dangerous A 0]

Hey look! The NBA did something right that the NHL did wrong! Stop the f'n presses@

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Don't forget to include the following in things the NBA did right that NHL did wrong...

 

1) Make more money

 

2) Market their stars better

 

 

Not to say Hockey sucks because it doesn't, just felt like piling on the NHL some more

[The Czech Republic 0]

The NBA markets the Whatever The Hell That Goofy-Ass Trophy Is Called better then the NHL markets the Stanley Cup. I still can't comprehend that.

[The Czech Republic 0]

No wait, it's the O'Brien trophy. See! I shouldn't have to know that!

[Dogbert 0]

Well, the NBA had basically no major changes to make.

 

The NHL had to completely demolish their entire economic system and start from scratch, not to mention the many changes they have to make on the ice.

 

They're two completely different scenarios.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Not a lot of NHL guys are marketable though. Hockey comes with the perception that they are all gap-toothed goons.

[AboveAverage484 0]

Not a lot of NHL guys are marketable though. Hockey comes with the perception that they are all gap-toothed goons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Even though you hated on my NBA list, that was still pretty funny.

[Guest *KNK*]

Doesn't change the fact that NHL is run by a bunch of incompetent idiots who clearly have no idea or care they have essentially pissed away the sport of Hockey in america for good.

 

All the other sports are willing to compromise and avoid hurting their image.

 

The more stuff like this happens, with the NBA having a quick damage free resolution, the more salt it rubs on the wounds of the NHL fans.

[Jericholic82 0]

somehow basketball is more popular than hockey (and even probably baseball but im not sure), even though its the most boring sport not named golf or tennis IMO. sure its fast-paced, but often too fast paced. if it isnt a blowout you shouldnt bother watching till the last 5 mins of the 4th. Hockey is far more nerve wracking, especially when a lot of the games are so close.

 

Maybe too many foreigners in the NHL offput us americans? I dont know. We're a weird bunch here in the USA I guess.

 

that age limit is a dagger to a lot of guys Id suppose. Lebron must be happy he got in 2 years ago.

[MrRant 0]

Not a lot of NHL guys are marketable though. Hockey comes with the perception that they are all gap-toothed goons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

And the fact they are foreigners.

[Guest *KNK*]

Basketball is "somehow" more popular because it's a logical sport that you can easily play at the turn of a hat and a large majority of the country indentifies with the game

 

Hockey? People won't bother to watch it because they cant play hockey because in America we dont have a frozen in every backyard.

 

The lack of american appeal to the game of hockey is based on two things

 

1). Connection to the Common Man

-Any body can grab a ball and gather up a group and get a game going. Alot of people across this country played basketball growing up and still play recreationally. While Hockey, it's very limited.

 

2). Marketability from the sport

-NBA players and teams are sold and marketed to a young fanbase that indentifies the sport with those players. Hockey hasn't sold a image or name since Gretzky's walk with fame in the early 90's and hasn't even bothered to try.

[Guest *KNK*]

Not a lot of NHL guys are marketable though. Hockey comes with the perception that they are all gap-toothed goons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

And the fact they are foreigners.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Explain why foreigners hasn't damaged NBA or MLB, despite those sports getting a huge influx of foreign players.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Not a lot of NHL guys are marketable though. Hockey comes with the perception that they are all gap-toothed goons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Even though you hated on my NBA list, that was still pretty funny.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'm sorry I was quick to judge your list. It was honestly really not that bad, despite some question marks.

 

 

I think the only appeal hockey has are with the fans that actually know the game or that have played it to an extent. Either that or they just dig people dropping gloves and fighting it out.

[MrRant 0]

You can say their names.

 

 

PS. It was joke retard.

[Jericholic82 0]

Basketball is "somehow" more popular because it's a logical sport that you can easily play at the turn of a hat and a large majority of the country indentifies with the game

 

Hockey? People won't bother to watch it because they cant play hockey because in America we dont have a frozen in every backyard.

 

The lack of american appeal to the game of hockey is based on two things

 

1). Connection to the Common Man

  -Any body can grab a ball and gather up a group and get a game going. Alot of people across this country played basketball growing up and still play recreationally.  While Hockey, it's very limited.

 

2). Marketability from the sport

  -NBA players and teams are sold and marketed to a young fanbase that indentifies the sport with those players. Hockey hasn't sold a image or name since Gretzky's walk with fame in the early 90's and hasn't even bothered to try.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You got it exact right there. People identify with basketball more becuase its a game everyone plays and you dont need a special surface for it. sure you can play roller hockey but its not the same thing. I was just saying how ironic it was that a game that is more boring to watch to me that is, is more popular than a sport I find more fun to watch. But truth be told I'd also rather play a game of b-ball with my friends then a hockey one.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Not a lot of NHL guys are marketable though. Hockey comes with the perception that they are all gap-toothed goons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

And the fact they are foreigners.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Explain why foreigners hasn't damaged NBA or MLB, despite those sports getting a huge influx of foreign players.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Foreigners don't dominate MLB and NBA. They do hockey.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I think, even with the rapid expansion, you still have more North Americans than Europeans. But I'll agree that Generic Finnish Man and Some Branch Of Slavic Dude don't really help the marketability cause. For every Teemu Selanne and Jaromir Jagr there are about twenty wholly interchangeable Eastern Europeans that are just there. There's no reason why they can't be marketed to some extent, though. Esa Tikkannen was pretty good at being a wiseass, IIRC.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Not a lot of NHL guys are marketable though. Hockey comes with the perception that they are all gap-toothed goons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

And the fact they are foreigners.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Explain why foreigners hasn't damaged NBA or MLB, despite those sports getting a huge influx of foreign players.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Foreigners don't dominate MLB and NBA. They do hockey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Being Californian, no wonder you think foreigners dominate hockey.

 

Pardon the Cherry complex, but Canada owns currently:

-WJHC title.

-World Cup title.

-Olympic gold.

-Art Ross Trophy

-Smythe Trophy.

-Vezina Trophy.

-Hart Trophy.

-Pearson Trophy.

-66.6 percent of the Richard Trophy.

 

Saying Canadian hockey is in a decline is as asnine as these "Tiger Woods is slumping" idiocy. Where are 65% of NHL players from?

 

Not to dispute the talent of Europe and the United States, but please remove your head from your anus.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

As for the marketability of MLB players, Ichiro and Hideki are marketable.

 

Iginla, Sakic, Naslund, Bertuzzi, St. Louis, Forsberg and Jagr. They could all be sold.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Not a lot of NHL guys are marketable though. Hockey comes with the perception that they are all gap-toothed goons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

And the fact they are foreigners.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Explain why foreigners hasn't damaged NBA or MLB, despite those sports getting a huge influx of foreign players.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Foreigners don't dominate MLB and NBA. They do hockey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Being Californian, no wonder you think foreigners dominate hockey.

 

Pardon the Cherry complex, but Canada owns currently:

-WJHC title.

-World Cup title.

-Olympic gold.

-Art Ross Trophy

-Smythe Trophy.

-Vezina Trophy.

-Hart Trophy.

-Pearson Trophy.

-66.6 percent of the Richard Trophy.

 

Saying Canadian hockey is in a decline is as asnine as these "Tiger Woods is slumping" idiocy. Where are 65% of NHL players from?

 

Not to dispute the talent of Europe and the United States, but please remove your head from your anus.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Canadians= foreigners. Thanks for playing though.

[The Czech Republic 0]

How can they be foreign to their own damn sport?!?

 

Maybe it's just me, but I don't look at Ed Belfour, Steve Yzerman, and Joe Sakic as some of the great foreign NHL players. Jaromir Jagr is a foreign player. Mario Lemieux is not. On some old Leafs-Hawks game from '94, I heard local boy Chris Chelios speak with a thicker Canadian accent than some Canadian players. Must've picked it up playing with the Habs, because he didn't have it when he dropped by the Cubs announce booth.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

NHL is played for the most part in America. How many Canadian teams are there compared to American-based teams? NHL has obviously tried to shift the focus from it being a Canadian-based game to American-based one that uses a lot of Canadians/Europeans. That's the sense I meant when I said Canadians=foreigners.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

BTW, we've gone terribly off topic. Good job by NBA getting the deal done. A lockout would have hurt their momentum.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Therein lies the problem. It's played in America, but that's not where it's viewed. I read some article after the Devils beat the Senators and Canadians were interviewed about whether they were pulling for the team from suburban New York, or the team from suburban L.A. Oh Bettman. You genius.

 

Anyway, I don't think Canadians are treated as foreigners even with the NHL's Americanization. Remember the old North America vs. The World format for the ASG?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I suppose you're right.

[MrRant 0]

They just need to move some of the teams to other markets. Seattle would have an instant rivalry with Vancouver just based on geographics.

 

How the fuck can Atlanta have a rivalry with anyone?

[The Czech Republic 0]

Calgary stole Atlanta's first hockey team, so I guess that's one. I hope somebody steals their second.