This week brought disappointing news for hockey fans when Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the NHL Players' Association and the NHL had failed to reach a collective bargaining agreement, sending the league into a lockout.
With that news came bitter feelings, and for longtime fans, it's d?(c)j? vu.
The 2004-05 lockout changed the way the game is played and the way the game is looked at. After seven years of rebuilding and recovering, the current lockout is the worst thing that could happen.
This year, the issue for the owners is money. The issue is always money.
According to owners, salaries have risen dramatically over the last couple years, and the players' current 57 percent of hockey-related revenue is just far too high (they're currently trying to roll it back to 43 percent). But this time it's personal. The 2004-05 lockout hit players hard with a 26 percent pay decrease, and they're making sure they don't get the same poor treatment.
What's becoming evident is that the two sides are not negotiating, not working together to reach an agreement. The players' wishes are obvious: cutting draft rounds, revenue sharing, rules for compensation and no salary cuts. For what they go through physically and mentally, none of these are absurd requests, especially when revenue is at an all-time high and the highest paid player makes $12 million (compare to the highest payed in baseball at $29 million, the highest in basketball at nearly $28 million,= and the highest in football at $23 million).
But most importantly, they don't want to feel like a commodity. The NHLPA is trying to negotiate, but owners are playing this game of chicken and will continue to as long as they think their players are dispensable.
The two sides have agreed not to meet until either the NHLPA or NHL has a new proposal to present. It could be a long wait, and if you're expecting the lockout to be over by the Winter Classic on Jan. 1, don't hold your breath.
Everyone is losing on this one. Referees and arena staff won't get paid, local businesses won't thrive as much as they normally do (think Pearl Street) and fans will have a void to fill during the cold winter months.
Hockey is at a point where it's back in the national consciousness, and that's what hurts the most. Your fans care enough to come out and watch, but egos on both sides of the deal are getting in the way - again. If this is a lockout that cancels the season, don't expect everyone to jump back onboard when the tickets go on sale in 2013.
Email: editorial@ubspectrum.com
