Killing the Golden Goose

23 thoughts on “Killing the Golden Goose”

1. Drew, I think there should be a Fan’s Association- when these two jokers (Owners/Players Associations in all sports) start thinking they are in charge, then the Fan’s Association issues a boycott order- No Fans, No revenue!

   You know, all of a sudden Carmello is just another hood rat, without the fans. Brett Favre is just another dirty old man without…. nevermind, bad example.

   You get the point though I’m sure. Without the fans, the collective bargaining agreement means nothing! I have made up my mind- Until March 1, 2012- I will not watch another pro sport other than Golf. No NFL, no NBA, no Nascar- even my beloved IRL is history for 1 year. College and HS- if 3 out of every 5 fans would join me, and send a message to Roger Goodell and the knot heads in the NFLPA, and to David Stern and the NBAPA- Im betting it would be a loooooong time before there would be another strike or lockout.

   Ok, but it was fun to think we had the power for a few moments wasnt it?

2. I just watched “the Replacements” again the other day. It said little about the issues of the retired players, but it spoke volumes about the attitudes of people toward the game.

   I still have the column written in the Rocky Mountain News where a “Radek John” getting his first look at American football in Denver said,

   “What I don’t understand is this; Why let the powerful people in this society take fun from others by making everyone wait for play to continue because the TV commercials haven’t ended.”

   And this classic…….”I am a little afraid for a country that would pay its gladiators and entertainers more than its philosophers and writers.”

3. I don’t side with either party, but I can understand their reasons for standing to lose millions now. Just see what happened to the NHL. They lost millions, yet some time after it returned the business model was more lucrative for both sides. I a couple years, probably, they made up what they lost and now the curve is heading north, and has been even since the economic downturn began.

4. Dear Drew,

   For me thus far the thought of a lockout doesn’t concern me. After all no games have been lost (yet). Not even the (yawn) exhibitions. I once refered to the lockout as two guy’s playing “chicken” in cars. Well in this case the danger of losing the season is about the equvalent of two cars having an accident on I-25 when one car is at the WY border and the other on the NM border.

   Still this does look bad from a P.R. standpoint and that is never good.

   Now I don’t know how practical an idea this is. You want to see movement from the owners. Find a way to tell the (legally) that they can’t hold the NFL draft until they have this labor agreement settled. Now what it would take for the players to show movement I don’t have a clue.

   (being silly in this next statement) Maybe the fans can take a page out of what is happening in WI and march into each teams head office or even stadiums and not move out until this deal is done.

   Well those are my thoughts.

   All the best

   Louis

5. Good Morning from Omaha,

   Hey its good to see the new names and thoughts this morning. I haven’t watched the paint dry, combine, this year. I still know that while its not perfect high school football is the real game. No money, self motivated players and coaches that try to drive the best into the boys. Yes you’ll get the over enthusiastic parent, now and then, but in general is football at its most pure form.

   In the meantime what with all the crying about america being obese etc why don’t we all make an effort to get off the couch, or in my case the recliner, and go outside and get some fresh air.

   its good for the mind and the attitude and you may even get the chance to walk over and meet the neighbor. even a slow and leisurely walk up the block and back is a good start to getting away from all the bad news and charlie sheen interviews. I have come to believe that fresh air and sunshine will cure whatever it is that is ailing you. No marathons, no 500 mile bike rides…just a walk down the block and back…it helps me sleep better and improves my attitude.

   OK put the soap box back under the table and move along, nothing to see here.

   Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

   Gene

6. This is very similar to the situation in WI. The owners are not as interested in getting more money as they are in breaking the union. Once the union is gone, forcing the players to make concessions will be much easier. The players know that the only chance they have at being treated fairly is through collective bargaining.

   We, of course, get to pay the bill either way. Except I got better things to do with my money than spend it on anything with a team logo and thankfully do not live in anyone’s “stadium district”.

7. Do they both deserve that much money? Sure: Like I’ve said before, it’s an entertaining product, so much so that many are willing to sit and watch a scouting combine of that league. They just need to divvy up the loot, like the bosses did with Cuba at the start of The Godfather Part II…except we know how that turned out.

   If there’s a lockout? College Football is lots of fun too. Not a big baseball fan, but maybe my Orioles won’t get eliminated by Memorial Day this year. MLS is all summer, and Euro soccer leagues end in May and start up again in August. MMA is both awesome and year-round, the Thunder are making the NBA watchable again, and the NHL is pulling me back in.

   We have a full sports buffet in America, friends. So what if the steak is gone? Lots of other yummy stuff to eat, as it were.

8. Drew–

   Thank heavens the Rockies will soon be playing ball!

   As for the potential lack of this year’s NFL season, I have college football and sumo to fall back on. Still, it’s a bit of a shame, since Tim Tebow was starting to show some promise as a QB.

9. GMFO-

   Hey Drew that ballgame thing sounds great…you heard me say this before but Coors Field has the best view of any ballpark in America… and after the game walking down to the 16th st mall and then going over to the cheesecake factory for some 7 layer chocolate cake…. yes thats why I walk and ride so much…I love cake and food in general way too much.

   one of the guys on American Idol was a former student and choreographer for my wife’s singing group of 6th graders- Tim Halperin- they say he is from Fort Worth but he graduated from Westside High School in Omaha two years after our son graduated. He is a good guy who really picked the wrong song last night and will probably not make it past Thursday night. You probably don’t watch american idol but my wife is so proud of him making it this far and there are a lot of people in Omaha cheering him on.

   See you in the funny papers in the morning!

   Gene

10. I’m in the can’t worry about it now group. Baseball is coming, softball will start in April, Stanley Cup playoffs will happen, and the basketball season will end none too soon. They will figure it out, they will play and we will watch. In the mean time, Gene is right, get outside and discuss it.

11. I honestly don’t care any longer. Let them lock it out, shut it down, destroy it etc. I pine for the old days when we knew next to nothing about pro athlete’s personal lives, they played for the love of the game and we had to either go to the game, listen on the radio or wait for the box score in the paper the next day.

12. James,

    I had an idea of starting a website and trying to get a movement started. But I’ve got too much on my plate at the moment. that’s really what we need. I mean if Egypt can overthrow a government sports fans should be able to get through the yo-yos in the NFL

13. Dave,

    I don’t remember “Radek John” but he has a very good point.

14. Alexandre,

    I can give the NFL their just due to try and reinvent the business structure. I just don’t want them doing it at the expense of the product and the fans by tanking the next season.

15. Louis.

    I say we all show up at the NFL commissioners office and start the chant “We’re mad as hell and we aren’t going to take it anymore!

16. Louis,

    Either that or toilet paper his office

17. I’ll go out walking, after midnight, out in the moonlight….

    I think we should all walk away from the NFL for awhile.

18. Gene, that last note was for you.

    Walk like an Egyptian.

19. Sherri,

    You and Gene are absolutely right. Step away from the TV set. And walk briskly around the block. Unless, of course, you are buried in snow. In that case just walk around the living room

20. SJR,

    Now that’s my idea of Paradise!

21. Scavok,

    I just wish is was like it used to be. why does it always have to be about the money? Oh, that’s right. Because it’s always about the money.

22. Badger,

    You’re an Orioles fan? I have a couple of Orioles t-shirts.

    I know we have quite the buffet, but I really like steak! But you are so right. We need to mix it up and follow some other stuff for awhile.

23. Felicia,

    I have to admit, I don’t follow sumo. Sounds like a good alternative though. And, yes, I too am looking forward to the Rockies season. Just don’t ask me to start watching golf. Please.