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Tag: Lockouts

  • NBA, NFL Lockouts Force Stars To Seek Other Employment

    What in the world are star athletes going to do if the NBA and NFL player’s unions and owners can’t reach an agreement? Well, of course it will mean that they won’t be playing basketball and football, respectively. But it also means that they will be forced to seek other employment.

    Recently, we saw that some NFL players like Ray Lewis and Desean Jackson have decided to take their football talents to Iowa to play in Taylor Lautner’s cornfield football league.

    And other NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning have been forced to take their quarterback talents to the mean streets as they fight crime as Football Cops in a blockbuster event brought to you by DirecTV.

    What this next batch of stars are being forced to do is a little less exciting than those career options.

    Posted on The Blake Griffin YouTube Channel, this video takes the form of an infomercial with stars of both locked-out leagues selling themselves for menial work like swatting flies on the ceiling, filing documents and reaching high-up items for old people.

    The video stars Adrian Peterson, Ron Artest (or should we say Metta World Peace), Kevin Love and of course Blake Griffin. We have already seen what Blake Griffin has been doing since the NBA lockout was announced. Shortly after it became official, Blake tweeted a short video of him planking on a flat cart as it moved across the Clipper’s gym floor.

    The video, entitled “Lockout Profession” is quite awesome. It’s nice to see that some of the professional athletes involved in these labor disputes have enough of a sense of humor to step back and laugh at themselves. Check it out below –

  • NBA Lockout Happens Tonight, Twitter Gives Its Take

    The countdown is now upon us, as the NBA owners plan to lock out the players tonight at midnight EDT.

    Collective bargaining negotiations have been going on for over two years, but after a three hour meeting this afternoon, owners are now informing players that they have approved a work stoppage.

    During the lockout, league business including summer league play and free agent signings will be put on hold. The current labor agreement will expire in about 8 hours.

    The big meeting today involved NBA commish David Stern, deputy commish Adam Silver, NPBA executive director Billy Hunter and NBPA president Derek Fisher. After hours of negotiations, they emerged unable to reach any new agreement.

    Why the inability to reach a new CBA? The owners are pushing for shortened contracts and a harder salary cap, which obviously isn’t sitting well with the players. Brian Smith at the Salt Lake Tribune describes it like this –

    The NBA and NFL lockouts are also separated by hard economic numbers. The NFL is the undisputed king of the sports world and rakes in money. The NBA’s 2010-11 season was one of the league’s best since Michael Jordan left the game for good, and television ratings peaked during a highly entertaining Finals matchup between Dallas and Miami. But at the same time that the league was reveling in its post-Decision glow, it was also bleeding money – the NBA claims that 22 of 30 teams operated in the red last season.

    As a result, owners are pushing for a radically restructured 10-year CBA that is highlighted by a harder salary cap, a more even split of basketball-related income (BRI) and shortened guaranteed contracts.

    Of course, this new lockout will kick off while another high-profile sport battles with its players. The NFL negotiations have been going on for months now, but many are seeing some light at the end of that tunnel.

    As for the NBA, some feel that it could end up like the 2004 NHL lockout. That squabble resulted in an entire lost season. Some on Twitter are already making this connection –

    Don’t worry, NBA fans: It only takes 3-5 years, a Crosby, an Ovechkin, a resurrection in Chicago & outdoor games to get over canceled season 17 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    Dear NBA and NFL fans: Welcome to hockey. The initiation will be a little rough, but once you fall in love with the game you’ll never leave. 8 minutes ago via Echofon · powered by @socialditto

    And when you’re feeling blue, the best way to deal with that is with a little bit of good humor –

    NBA announces it will lockout. It’s the first work stoppage the NBA has seen since LeBron James took the floor in the 4th quarter. 35 minutes ago via Echofon · powered by @socialditto

    Hearing the @NBA has locked out the players. Hope u tivo’d last season! 33 minutes ago via UberSocial · powered by @socialditto

    The NBA and NFL are now both locked out. I think I speak for America when I say, ‘Whatever. Pass the beer and potato salad.’ 3 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    “NBA & NFL” is already trending on Twitter. It looks like some fans are making the connection between the two and what they see as the uniting factor: Greed.

    It is amazes me that millionaires and billionaires aren’t smart enough to recognize the importance of working together. #NBA #NFL 11 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    #nothingsmoreirritating than the NBA & NFL bickering over money 95% of people won’t see in their lifetime #serioustweet 16 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    The NBA & NFL lockouts prove that you can never have enough money. You always want more. Greed rules the world. 27 minutes ago via Echofon · powered by @socialditto

    It also looks like we know what Clippers star Blake Griffin has decided to do during the lockout, as he tweeted this short video just moments ago –