Every person is entitled to their own opinions about the NBA and the lockout that we just endured as fans. I have an opinion as well. And it probably differs from yours. You don’t have to agree with me, but I still have a message for some of you anyway…
To the fans (both die-hard and causal) and the media guys who both follow and comment on the NBA: You should be happy the lockout is over.
To the writers and show hosts on this very site that draw viewers and listeners by talking about the NBA: you should be happy this lockout is over.
I mean seriously, let’s be fair here; we represent a blog/streaming internet radio site built from a foundation of interest for the Boston Celtics and NBA Basketball. We’re either lying to ourselves if we’re not happy about this finally being over or we’re just unwilling to get off our high horse.
It’s easy to sit from afar and point fingers at the players and owners for entering a labor war when so many other less fortunate people are so financially reliant on their product. Don’t get me wrong, I was just as mad about the lockout as anybody, but this notion that a multi-billion dollar industry shouldn’t be about making money and spreading that money in a fair manner is a little bit naive. NBA basketball is a novelty consumer product just like booze or expensive shoes. It is not a living necessity like food or water, but we enjoy it and because of that, people are going to profit off of it. It’s as simple as that.
I’m not being insensitive. I’m just being real. I get that some people who had no control over the negotiations suffered financially, and that is really unfortunate. But in all seriousness, there are certain risks involved with taking every job. Millions of Americans struggle with job security. I wasn’t pitying myself when I was broke and living paycheck to paycheck. I didn’t look for handouts from those who had the means. I did something about it myself. It’s not NBA Player X’s responsibility to make sure somebody who lives in the same city can put food on his/her table. And even with that being said, MANY NBA players still donate time and money to good causes anyway. They did it before the lockout, they did it during the lockout, and guess what…it’ll continue to happen after the lockout. So those of us in the media and on the blogs that are on the “think of the poor people” high horse, lets get over ourselves.
If you really feel like helping the “little people” and being ideological, stop shopping at Wal-Mart.
And more specifically for those of us who regularly contribute to this site and countless others like it, NBA basketball being back is good for us too. Now we have something else to talk about on our wonderful streaming programs. We have something to write about on our outstanding blogs. And we have something to get passionate about that most of us missed for the last few months. How hypocritical is it for us to bitch and moan all Fall about not having NBA basketball, and now that we’re about to get it back, sit here and play the “oh now that you’re back I don’t want you” card.
Stop being ridiculous.
Go Celtics.
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I have 2 words for you…
Well Said.
woah…I was half with you until you said don’t be ridiculous, stop shopping at Walmart. While I think it is fine to support and join a union, if that is what you want, Walmart does many things that other companies won’t do…they hire Senior Citicizens, and those who might be mentally challenged, who could never find another job. Unions often have age limits to their workforce…well let me tell you there are a lot of seniors who have to work to survive, and who couldn’t manage a full time job. Walmart has been a lifesaver to them. There are always two sides to every story whether it is lockout/strike or closed union/open shop situation.
I hear you ThirstyBoots. Valid argument. And I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. But my feelings about Wal-Mart are kind of irrelevant to the overall point of the column. And that specific comment about Wal-Mart that you are referring to is actually less a dig at Wal-Mart and more a dig at the American Consumer that believes in the ideology of supporting local business but then hypocritically turns around and shops at the large stores that eliminate local “mom and pop” shops. It’s a sarcastic dig at the larger point that I was trying to make that the thought process of some people is a little hypocritical. As for unions; I’m not in one. If somebody wants to join one, that’s their prerogative.
Getting back to the issue though, I just feel like many of us pick and choose what what we want to blast and commend whenever it suits us. We’ve heard all lockout about how selfish these owners and players are for putting workers out of jobs but nobody ever says anything when we see and hear about the player and team-funded charity events that happen all the time.
I’ll also add, that if we’re going to be upset when these people who rely heavily on the NBA for income couldn’t work; we should be happy that the lockout ending means they get to go back to work.
I am thrilled that there will be a season…but the players and owners have cost themselves a lot as far as credibility and public relations are concerned…and they will have a hard time earning my respect as individuals. As players and owners, they have every right to try to negotiate the best deal for themselves, but as human beings, they should have paid attention to the hurt they caused others by their actions…and I do not mean the fans, I mean the financial hardship caused by their procrastination in the off season.
It has really kinda shocked me how many people are offended by a timely Christmas Day opener. Idk about you but, I’m psyched to have the C’s show the world that they are still the cream of the crop in the Atlantic, on the Holiest Day of the year.
I can’t feel sorry for people who make tons of money off of a kids’ game and cry that they still aren’t making enough. it’s one thing to lose your job because industry is going down the tubes, but it’s quite another to lose you’re job because of bickering millionaires.
It all feels very calculated at this point. And it’s great that the lockout is over but for a lot of people it’s too little, too late.
And I don’t shop at Walmart.