The slow simmering NFL owner-player dispute has finally boiled over, resulting in a lock-out that threatens the 2011 NFL season. Although this story has really only garnered widespread coverage in recent times, the story has been devloping for at least 3 years. The owners were ready for this - I hope the players were too. Lester Munson's ESPN column provides some background on how the lock-out has developed as well as little encouragement that this impasse will be resolved without the loss of some or all of the 2011 season.
Given the stakes here, it's clear that there needs to be a speedy resolution to this situation, driven by a third party who can see that there's enough pie to keep everyone happy here. As Munson says:
"With revenues approaching $10 billion per year and record-breaking television audiences, it seems likely that a compromise could be reached. If a new agreement extends over four or five years, for example, it could provide for a gradual increase of the owners' share and a gradual decrease of the players' share. With more money coming into the league each year, the actual dollars for each side would increase each season. No one would suffer a loss of real money. Is that so difficult to understand?"
There will be plenty of marginal fans who are alienated by this millionaire vs billionaire stoush, especially in such a difficult economy, and the longer this drags out, the smaller that pie becomes. Other sports will be looking on with interest, not only for the legal decisions that may stray into realms, but with an eager eye for loose change spilling off that unwanted $9bn cash pile.
You might get a job as a sports columnist out of this ... might need a bit more in-depth analysis. After the housework that is ;-)
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