The impasse has lasted more than four months, counting the break after the final game. Millions, even maybe billions, have already been lost. Disgruntled players have all but wringed their owners dry. The owners themselves, like that “spend-thrift” dude named Robert Sarver, want a bigger share of the pie brought in by the players’ sweat, tears, injuries and blood (no not LeBron’s; but dude doesn’t work hard to get his). Each of them claim that they are losing money big time. But have they gone to consider who the real losers are?
Being guaranteed a mega-million buck deal sure does make someone relax. Even the mid-tier players. Maybe for the benchwarmers like Adam Morrison, Brian Scalabrine, it will hurt in the long run. The stars? Not in a million years. See, there are two losers in this tug of war called labor lockout. There’s the NBA itself, losing millions, if not billions, already, since what revenue is there if you can’t air your games, put up appearances by players and the like? I mean, sure, they may have gained more regarding this labor hullaballoo but in the long run, it would be disastrous. As it stands right now, the MLB, the league of America’s favorite pasttime, baseball, is more popular. And with the return of the NFL, things in the popularity game have become much worse for the NBA.
But the other, and the biggest loser there is, are the fans themselves. Who doesn’t want to see his basketball idol play, seriously? Much more so in the Philippines. To be honest with you all, I do not even tune in to the PBA. The basketball I watch consists of the US NCAA, UAAP, NCAA, PCCL and the NBA. And since the collegiate season here in the country has ended, I’m facing a dillema. Where can I watch basketball that isn’t a historical rerun like what the NBA TV is putting out right now? Not all sports cable channels show my beloved North Carolina Tar Heels. ESPN airs limited US NCAA games and sometimes they aren’t as good as the ACC challenge, Big 12 challenge, and of course, titanic showdowns between the top seeds during March Madness.
In the Philippines, we have no other alternative to basketball. Boxing? It’s once in a blue moon. Football? Delayed telecasts aren’t fun, since we all know the results already. Baseball? Does anyone really pay attention to our own baseball league? Maybe volleyball, what with the Shakey’s V-League, but it is not on a consistent basis. Most just tune into it when they’ve got no choice at all, like me. UFC fights? Well, it’s a little late considering the airtime here and only the vampires stay awake to watch a fight bannered by the likes of Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, just to name a few. Our own URCC doesn’t even show on the air, imagine that. So yes, with this labor lockout, Filipino basketball fans surely are the losers. Your everyday Juan cannot fathom the difference between football and American football, baseball from softball, and so on. And especially, for those who do not like US NCAA games, they’ve really got nothing except the NBA or the PBA, which is sucking more and more with each game.
We need the lockout to end. Take me, for example, ranting incoherently going through different sports, and bashing the sorry state of the PBA while I am at it. I need the NBA. I need to see my Chicago Bulls with Formula Rose at the head. As much as I love to see Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, John Henson, Kendall Marshall and the rest of the Tar Heels hoops team beat Duke’s sorry behinds, nothing beats cheering for a team I’ve grown up with, met basketball with, and ultimately, gave me the passion for the game.
Stop bullying David Stern. Stop airing nonsense Derek Fisher. Stop acting like you care Dwyane Wade. Stop being a hardline owner Michale Jordan, you’re probably filthy rich even when you’re not holding a basketball. You’re name alone earns you roughly $1 million an hour. Stop being an a-hole Robert Sarver, be thankful Steve Nash didn’t trash you. End the lockout. The world needs the greatest basetball show to ever grace the planet.
You’re one of the real losers here, NBA.