The current NBA season getting dimmer

During his pro-basketball heydays, whenever Michael Jordan made an entry at crucial times of the game, almost always the legendary Michael made the great difference with his “impossible” moves and “impossible” shots.

 At this most crucial turn in the National Basketball Association (NBA) history when NBA owners and NBA players are unlikely to break the great impasse, will Michael Jordan as owner of the Charlotte Bobcats for $275 M – and one of the 22 NBA-money losing clubs – be able to make a dent in solving the problem?

 This time around Michael’s role is not to win games as a player, but has switched side to franchise owner. Until this late, when the November games are cancelled, it’s also doubtful if he can save the entire 82-game season. It appears that he is an emerging leader of some NBA owners vis-à-vis the players’ union represented by Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers.

 To repeat, the NBA stalemate is all about money since the union insists on 52.5% sharing of the $3.8 B basketball-related income; whereas, the owners are also fixated on a 50-50 sharing. With Michael Jordan’s Bobcats on a money-losing operation, he could influence the other money-losers to 53-47 formula in their favor. These franchises are getting to have an active role, plus a hard salary cap.

 On the locked-out players’ side, there is a growing clamor for “decertification of the union,” obviously considering the union is too uncompromising affecting most NBA franchisees. After all, the NBA as a great sports institution would not amount to anything eventually when only 8 clubs are financially stable in the return of investment.

 Commissioner Stern has already cancelled 221 games in the starting month of November, and the December games have also become at risk to get cancelled.

 Jordan is heading a group of 12 pro clubs hoping for any big concession in the stalled talks. This group of 10-14 owners wants to recoup previous years’ losses and ensure long-term profitability for the entire NBA.

 Meantime, some 50 union players, including superstars Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard and others are pushing for decertification of the union, if only to save the NBA 2011-2012 season. Commissioner Stern said there’s no way to stage the 82-game season, resulting in $2B losses on each side the owners and players.

 What appears as the final meeting last Saturday turned out a failure again; with both sides recalcitrant in their stands. Even with Federal Mediator George Cohen trying to resolve the two basic money issues, it seems that the two protagonists have both conspired in obvious cabal to derail any possible solution.

  For instance, there had been a last minute change of mind of club owners in surprisingly proffering a 51-49 solution to the $3.8B NBA related revenues in favor of the union. However, the last word from Derek Fisher appeared thumbing it down.

 The most likely scenario hereon is for 30% of the actual 439 playing members to petition the U.S. Courts for “decertification of the union,” and for the courts to assume jurisdiction over the conflict. Under such change of jurisdiction from the mediation process that failed to the court process, may entail more time to resolve the conflict.

With the NBA players’ union turning down the last offer of the club owners for 51-49 formula favorable to the union, it seems the last straw to save the 2011-2012 season. Even the “magic” of Michael Jordan could not turn the “losing table” around.