Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Privately, the agents will keep pushing for union decertification. They’ll push for the courts, for chaos, and pray the threat will get the owners to back away from their nuclear demands. The union still hopes those less adamant over the hard cap – the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, for example – will wrest control from the hardliners, including the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
…
The owners believe they have more tolerance than the players, believe that pain comes with missed checks in November and December and perhaps, finally, a complete cave with time to rush a shortened 50-game regular season and playoffs. Back in the labor talks of 2005, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck would say over and over in the negotiating sessions: The lockout is an investment.
Grousbeck smartened up, kept that thought to himself, but rest assured the mindset hasn’t changed. He’s one of the owners believed to be willing to lose the next season, along with Phoenix’s Robert Sarver. The list goes on and on. The NBA goes away for the summer now, and nothing will get serious again until September when Stern will have to start cancelling games in the 2011-12 season.
Yahoo! – NBA lockout threatens entire season
It hurts to know that Wyc is (reportedly) willing to sacrifice the season in order to win this labor dispute.
While It's hard to fault an ownership group that has spent millions above the salary cap year-after-year to make the Celtics championship contenders, I will hold an eternal grudge if Wyc and co. are one of the driving forces behind a lost season.
No, I'm not siding with the players. But the owners need to realize they created this problem by tossing around dozens of horrible contracts every off-season.
Don't make us suffer for your f-ups.
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Worst cap situations | Cs extend offer to Green | CBA expire, NBA locks out players | CSNNE – Celtics voices loom large in lockout | Lockout rules, Rondo's kicks | Herald – Sides shoot air ball | NBA throws book at players | Globe – Lockout begins, season in peril |
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