Wow. What a week it has been! First, we have to say thanks to everything that we have in our life. With all the men and women, who are fighting for the freedom that we often take for granted, it was great to spend time with family and friends and get to eat a great meal. On top of that, there were some excellent football games that made it exciting to be surrounded by loud uncles and crazy cousins and scream at the television. Best news of all? Looks like the basketball lockout is finally coming to a close. Has it been an easy road? Absolutely not. Ask me a week ago if I thought the lockout would threatened to cancel the season, I would have said yes. Though I’ve been writing that I have had a great feeling that the lockout would end earlier, in reality, all the media reports and the comments from analysts and players, really gave a grave outlook. But those who had prayed (to all and any gods!) and have been good little boys and girls, Santa has granted an early wish! Basketball will be back this year and we’ll have games starting on Christmas!
Though the final agreement has not been reached, there was enough of a tentative deal for David Stern to announce a 66-game schedule, with 48 games in conference and 18 games outside of conference. Right now, free agency begins December 9 while training camps open the same day. Like posted earlier, Christmas day will mark the beginning of the new season. Most players like to play on Christmas because usually those are the marquee match-ups. It’s not like they are going to put the Sacramento Kings vs. Indiana Pacers for entertainment (sorry Kings and Pacers fans, but if you really think your teams are the teams to beat, you need a reality check!). But this year, with the season starting late, looks like almost every baller will get his wish and play on Christmas (near or around that time).
As for the details, its a little complicated because everything gets lost in the money factor. Simple fact is that the players are going to receive 51.2% of all basketball related income (BRI). The new CBA (when ratified) will last for 10 years, with the ability for both parties to opt out of after six seasons. One interesting fact from the new CBA will be, in the first two years, they will allow tax-paying teams (those over the salary cap) to make the famous sign and trade deals (like the Carmelo to NY one.) Ric Bucher writes that this will be intriguing for impending big name free agents like Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard. However, in the last eight years of the CBA, teams can still do the sign and trade only if it doesn’t put them more than $4 million over the salary cap. That is an interesting change. It’s as if the owners saw what happened in Miami and doesn’t want another Heat team built, after the first two years.
But while the deal is not exactly what both sides can really say that it was what they wanted, at the end of the day a deal is done and games are slated in for the next month. Superstars are always going to be paid far less than what they are worth, but who determines their worth? As an average blogger, who has a regular 9-5 job with no luxuries along the way, I say that those who are in upper echelon have tons of money. Do I not think that I am worth that much either? Of course not, but the market for viable and promotable players give out far more money than my job. While I will never be satisfied of how much money I make (you always want more and I think that’s a great goal), I am happy to have a job, able to pay bills, put food on the table have a roof over my head. NBA players? Be grateful that god blessed you with the talent to excel in something you love doing and when “work” no longer becomes work. Don’t get me wrong, they worked hard for what they earn, but doesn’t downplay how hard I work either. Stepping off my soap box, I say that the deal is far more worth it for the NBA and its players. Basketball is back!
GO WARRIORS!!!!!!!
Song for the day: While this is a rather *brand new* section, I thought that the fact that the word “Warriors” was in the title and it spoke of hard work, was a good way to get ready to enjoy some Bball!
“Warriors” – Lyfe Jennings