How the NBA is playing the media (and some fans)

[edpowed]

We’re fans of the facts here. And here are some facts we have laid forth recently:

In the NBA, players salaries — as a percentage of revenue — is fixed
In the NBA, cities pay most of the cost for stadiums.
NBA teams appreciate in sales value.
Owners, therefore, are in a great position to make money off their teams.
During the lockout, though, the owners have adamantly argued that they’ve been losing money. And although this argument is old (as The Wages of Wins notes, sports owners have claimed they are losing money since the 19th century), people in the media (and some fans) are still buying the NBA’s story. Here is how it seems to work:
NBA: We’re losing money!!
Reporter: Some crazy economist in Utah says your costs are way low. How are you losing money?
NBA: How do you think we’re losing money?
Reporter: I don’t know. Maybe, gas prices or insurance premiums on players’ health?
NBA: Feel like writing an article up on that?
During the lockout there has been a lot of speculation as how the NBA could be losing money. Some is flat out wrong, such as blaming player salaries. Other theories might be reasonable. The point is that we don’t know. The NBA has kept its mouth shut and letting others do the talking. After all, if the players eventually buy the NBA’s story, profits will only go up.

The sad part is that this strategy appears to be working. The players have conceded something by agreeing to give up some of their salaries to help the owners out. We’ll have to see how this plays out, as the season is still in jeopardy.

Unfortunately, though, if there is a season and this strategy works, we’re almost assured to see the same story again in a few years. After all, we have been seeing this story for more than a century!

[ILikeToParty]

The thing Id really like to know FOR FACT (and how i/we would ever know as fact idk) if 15 or 20 of the NBA teams are losing money or not like the nba says

If in fact over half the teams are losing money then the players are being absolutely ridiculous in not going to 50/50. What do they expect? For teams to go under just so they can make millions with zero risk at all, its idiocy

However, IF the nba is lying to the players then I can see the players side not wanting to go to 50/50, kinda. I still in a way dont understand how they feel they should get more than 50/50 when they take no risks whatsoever in this business but whatever.

The bottom line here is its hard to get on the players side when the country is in a serious depression. Its hard to feel for a 20-30 yr old guy whose pay is getting cut from 5.5 million/yr to 5.1 million/yr. These players have such huge egos and their sense of entitlement is so crazy now that no average joe can relate or care for their wanna be problems. A problem is not being able to pay your water bill, not getting your pay cut from 5.5 million to 5.1 yet these players (like Fisher) stand up there and act like theyre getting food ripped off their tables, its so lame

[ILikeToParty]

Have lost most, if not all, respect for Derek Fisher the way he stands up there and acts like were taking food off his table.

22 teams losing a combined 450 million but hey, lets make sure the players have even more spectacular lives, heaven forbid they only abg 5.1 million/yr with ZERO risk.

Entitlement, the #1 problem with America today

[ILikeToParty]

Players cave to 50/50 within 21 days from now is my prediction

Theyre just now starting to miss checks and they will finally realize that they have zero other options, unless making $30,000/yr compared to their now avg 5.5 million is an option lol

21 days or less they will cave, and thank god. I love the NBA, but I hate these clowns acting like theyre getting screwed

[manly]

there's a reason potential owners are lining up, they have the players over their knee ready to spank as they choose.

[ILikeToParty]

"The cockroaches are starting to commit suicide"

Players doubting fishers allegiance lolololol. Amazing what happens when checks are finally starting to be missed. This is awesome lololololololol