I got nothing today. There’s a picture of Geezer Butler because why not? I guess I’m just going to go through whatever strands I’m trying to keep straight in Ol’ Duder’s head.
-Obviously, the frustration level right now for everyone is past boiling point. It’s probably volcanic. It hurts even more when the sides aren’t even talking. How can anyone have no urgency? The only thing left to create that urgency is losing the season, and that’s probably three to four weeks away from being a threat. And by that point, will anyone care?
Bettman and the owners’ inflexibility, lies, tactics, and smugness makes you choke on the air. I can imagine that any player would be absolutely sickened at the thought of bending on anything to them. If I were a player, I bet I’d probably be as militant as they are.
But with that kind of emotion, your logical side gets blinded. And what’s behind the curtain here is that almost half of the members of the union don’t have contracts past next season. And at some point, the union has to ask itself how much of those future contracts that haven’t even been signed do they want to limit with what they’re trying to save now.
Well, that was all a big mess, wasn’t it?
As you’ve probably followed on Twitter, the NHL and PA ended a week of negotiations by going back to posturing and attacking each other. I don’t remember if straight-out lies were a part of it, but they kind of are now. I’ll do my best to try and wade through all the shit both sides have just thrown us into and see just what the hell is going on.
It started when the NHL (I think) leaked their perplexion (is that a word? It is now) at the fact that in that NHLPA memo that leaked this morning (enough leaks here to be quite the golden shower, no?) there was no mention of their make-whole proposal. That proposal called for all the salary lost in the drop from 57% to 50% to be re-paid in payments in the second year and third year.
Ugh, a Heart reference. You can tell that I’m at the end of my rope.
With the NHL and NHLPA heading into a second consecutive day of negotiating, which breaks the record of this lockout by at least 100%, and on pretty much a media blackout (though you’ll get leaks here and there), it’s a little hard to know what to think and what is actually going on. I’ll do my best to pass along how I’m seeing things, and you can tell me I’m totally wrong in the comments.
First things first, one aspect I’ve been getting slightly wrong is how the “make-whole” provision would work, why it’s necessary, why they’re arguing about it, and how it’s different from normal escrow. Yep, I’m going to admit I’m wrong. You’d think this would happen more considering how often I am wrong. But yeah, totally admitting a degree of wrong-ness. My girlfriend will be so thrilled.
This would have been helpful in the summer of 2010: PHT
Tweeners may head to Euro leagues under new CBA: PD
Talking is better than not talking I guess: TSN
Monty isn’t optimistic it can be done: CSNChi
Cleary won’t take “isn’t optimistic it can be done” as an answer: PHT
She’s made a huge mistake: PD
With the election tomorrow, I didn’t want to get into any political debate that could enrage the whole thing, but I did want to have some fun. But I will encourage you all to vote tomorrow, it is rather important even though it’s hard to feel that way sometimes. Especially here in Chicago, where they’ve already counted your vote however they want to.
But I’ve gotten a lot of grief lately for apparently being “pro-owner” instead of “angry-at-everyone.” You’ve probably seen this internet meme “Things Republicans Believe.” So here’s what NHL owners believe:
I was going to do another “Lockout Insurance” post this afternoon about the Bulls, and I will probably get to that later in the day. However, those posts require something of a sanguine feeling. With the news that the NHL-owned Coyotes have just ordered mass layoffs of their employees, and the impending sword of doom with a looser and looser hold over the Winter Classic’s head, I’m robbed of any of that.
Ok, so it ended up being only the layoff of the PR guy in Arizona, which in some ways seems even worse.
There is not going to be an NHL this winter. There might not even be one in the next winter either. And what that means for you and me, I can’t even begin to dream to know.
Those of you who read my Liverpool blog will know I’ve been big on the Metallica titles lately. I guess it reflects the anger I’m feeling and that I’m no longer trying to pretend it isn’t there. Anyway, a few things to get out today.
-First off, I will be joining the Hockee Night boys for their podcast . Killion will also be if he’s recovered sufficiently from this birthday, which is highly unlikely (welcome to your 30’s, old man). It’s at 8:30 but you can check it out later too. So do so.
-I don’t know how to gauge this any more. Maybe you’re all sick of reading lockout stuff or what I or any of us have to say about it, and that would be totally fair. Maybe reading the ramblings of someone even angrier than you is cathartic. Feel free to let me know in the comments, and I’ll take whatever action you guys want.
But today….
Those of you who read my Liverpool blog will know I’ve been big on the Metallica titles lately. I guess it reflects the anger I’m feeling and that I’m no longer trying to pretend it isn’t there. Anyway, a few things to get out today.
-First off, I will be joining the Hockee Night boys for their podcast . Killion will also be if he’s recovered sufficiently from this birthday, which is highly unlikely (welcome to your 30’s, old man). It’s at 8:30 but you can check it out later too. So do so.
-I don’t know how to gauge this any more. Maybe you’re all sick of reading lockout stuff or what I or any of us have to say about it, and that would be totally fair. Maybe reading the ramblings of someone even angrier than you is cathartic. Feel free to let me know in the comments, and I’ll take whatever action you guys want.
But today….
I know we’ve made our viewpoint pretty clear on tonight’s charity game at Rosemont, but I wanted to flesh it out a little. It’s hard to have my blood boiling out my nose at it fully, as at the end some money will go to a very good cause. And while I don’t doubt that’s party what’s at the heart of these players, I can’t escape the feeling that’s not totally what’s at play here.
Because if it were all about the cause, either A) These players would just be donating themselves to it, and probably wouldn’t need any media attention or B) This would have been a yearly event that could be promoted a lot better and for a lot longer than this one was to raise more money than it’s probably going to. Judging by what I’ve heard about ticket sales, it would have been pretty easy for all these guys to just go out of pocket for the same amount.
