Atlanta Hawks: And so it begins . . .
Well, what seemed inevitable is now official. The NBA season is going to be less than 82 games for its teams this season because owners continue to lock out players without a new CBA.
The league announced tonight that all games through Nov. 14 are canceled–that means wiped away, not postponed as earlier reports speculated might happen before today’s seven-hour negotiation session. For the Hawks, the decision tosses aside games at Minnesota, vs. Boston, at Chicago, vs. New York, vs. Utah and at Orlando.
The new tentative season-opener is now Nov. 16 vs. Indiana at Philips. Season-ticket owners will get refunds with interest for the canceled games, including exhibitions. Alex Meruelo still is awaiting league approval of his purchase of the team from ASG, though he’s already made several trips to Atlanta and is up to speed on team matters.
Why did the league cancel two weeks instead of one? Think it has anything to do with players getting paid every other week during the season and owners wanting to make sure they missed a check? Now we’ll see if the players can maintain solidarity even as they lose money.
As for the issues in contention, including BRI and salary-cap structure, David Aldridge provided a thorough breakdown. David Stern told reporters in New York tonight that “system issues” like contract lengths and annual raises are bigger problems than the BRI split (and Aldridge reports the latter issues is now back to square one).
Looking at it from the outside, it seems to me the NBA is trying to do what every other business in America is doing nowadays: minimize its risks, subsidize its losses and privatize its profits. The players seem to accept that this CBA will not be as good as the last one but they are trying to preserve as much of that system as possible.
Sadly and frustratingly, it sounds like we could be in for a long wait for NBA basketball.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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151 comments Add your comment
Grandad
October 13th, 2011
3:32 pm
If they put in the amnesty clause;
or should I say when they do,
Marvin is the logical choice to -GO-.
However, it willl be a one time get out of jail free card,
to rid ourselves of Joe’s albatross of a contract.
This is a time for creativity and if yawl remember …
[Sund traded Childress for a TPE that was never used].
He cannot let the amnesty just roll by w/o using it wisely.
You may ask;
How are those two aforementioned scnarios the same ?
They are – only in the sense that Sund tends to sit on his assets,
therefore letting opportunities vanish.
drmaryb.(*_*).
October 13th, 2011
3:44 pm
Done Deal!
The only thing I want to hear re: The Hawks is that the ink is dried on the dotted line and Alex Meruelo’s moving van is pulling into the garage of the executive offices.
Will someone please wipe the ASKG butt prints off the windows of the high rise? It’s foggy up there and there’s no sun light coming in.
When that happens, then I wanna see a swift boat jetting down stream with Sund, Drew and the 6 un-signable bench role players heading as far away from Atlanta as they can go.
Siberia? That sounds about right. LOL!
This town, this city and these fans? We don’t need no losers, we need a winner – man!
Astro Joe
October 13th, 2011
5:15 pm
Grandad, if they offer amnesty, don’t expect the Hawks to use it as that one-time clause only favors the most wealthy owners. Even if we’re talking about Marvin, that would require paying him about $22M to leave, only to turn around and pay another SF money to comeon board. So if the new SF costs $15M over 3 years, then effectively the Hawks are paying around $12.5M for their SF over 3 years. While that doesn’t count toward the cap, it does count as real money leaving the funding pot. The cost are evn more significant if you’re talking about Joe. Again, only those owners with deep pockets and strong operating margins will likely opt for an amnesty deal (if one is available).
Astro Joe
October 13th, 2011
5:15 pm
Have you all seen this article on the imminent owner?
http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/story/_/page/jackson-111012/atlanta-hawks-alex-meruelo-first-hispanic-owner-nba-faces-great-opportunity-responsibility
drmaryb.(*_*).
October 13th, 2011
8:22 pm
Hand over Fist!
Hello AJ Baby!
Thanks for dropping that Meruelo linK. The best article re: Alex I have read so far and to date. How about that “Hand over Fist” handshake from Nique to Alex.
You can tell a lot about a man from his hand shake. Nique is saying, “Pay a Brother some Cheezits and I will deliver the goods!” Poor Nique’ he got bills to pay. Yawl know his family drained his pockets way back when he had a few nickels to rub together.
Gerald Wilkins was brilliant! He changed his phone NIMBERS every time it leaked out, especially on the 1st & 15th of each month. Word on the street was Gerald was not Bank of America to the family, unlike Nique. LOL!
Anyway, come on Mr. Meruelo! Clean house and start fresh! Get a Real GM/Coach! LOL!
___________________
Thanks AJ! Keep the links coming, bruh. (she winks)
O'Brien
October 13th, 2011
9:24 pm
DMB,
I think ‘Nique is glad that the BASG are not majority owners anymore.
AJ,
Again, only those owners with deep pockets and strong operating margins will likely opt for an amnesty deal (if one is available)..
Agreed. however, the link to the Meruelo article also says he has An estimated net worth of around $14.5 billion, according to some reports..
Even those reports are exaggerated, and he is only worth 1/4 of that, that still puts him at 3.6 billion. He should have deep pockets.
Hoops
October 13th, 2011
9:25 pm
Ho Hum….. All of the millionaires are arguing about their greed. It’s too bad that they know nothing about how the real world lives. I hope they don’t forget who pays to watch their games.
Why not take the 6% (difference between 47% and 53%) split that seems to be holding up an agreement between the players union and the league and donate it to the school systems in each state that are represented by an NBA team? At least the kids of their state would be benefiting from their greed!
Blind faith
October 13th, 2011
9:28 pm
Meruelo please buy100% of team and put ASG out forever. No more crocodile tears from Gearon or levenson on sidelines. Free our town.
drmaryb.(*_*).
October 13th, 2011
10:22 pm
Co Sign That!
OBrien – LOL! Fo Sho Nuff …. et.al.
drmaryb.(*_*).
October 13th, 2011
10:49 pm
Wassup Fellas?
So nice to use my own user I’d for as long as it lasts anyways.
Let’s Go Hawks!
Let’s Go Falcons!
Braves Gone! (smh)
Let’s Go Alex!
Big Ump
October 13th, 2011
11:14 pm
It’s good to see some of the regulars back.in the house.
Shout out to Doc, Grandad, Astro Joe, Ant Banks Section 303, Najeh Davenpoo, Kirkinga, Mike is Back, Grandmaster Je Je, Sautee, and my main girl drmaryb.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 14th, 2011
1:03 am
Hey, you know what the Hawks should do with the amnesty? Use it on Horford, and then go out and trade for Hasheem Thabeet and Donatas Motiejunas! That will make them championship contenders for sure! If you are interested, I can offer you five pages of meaningless and irrelevant stats and pretend they back up my opinion.
Buddy Grizzard
October 14th, 2011
4:12 am
And so it ends… comments closing in 3… 2… 1…
drmaryb.(*_*).
October 14th, 2011
5:43 am
A Murder in The Garden!
Didn’t Cain murder his blood brother Able in The Garden of Eden! Now Washington is on crack! Herman Cain trying to murder “Job – Able” people all over the USA.
Don’t we need a “Job” to be “Able” to make ends meet in America? Put these NBA employees back to work in America! Are they really un-able to split a dollar amongst themselves for the love of basketball?
53% vs 47%? I mean really? In lower Manhattan today they will begin to arrest peaceful protesters who OWS. And hold themselves out to be 99% of the poorest unemployed Americans who are tired of Billionaires on Wall Street taking more and more until there is nothing left to fight over?
I mean why take our pastimes of entertainment that allow us to take a break from the reality of the new hopelessness of living an American Dream. The American Dream has become our very own nightmare! Labor and Civil unions are under attack all over the world. When the NBA players strat missing those bally-hooed paychecks, their luxury homes and cars and bling? Then they will know what we all on this blog know!
Having a real job to go to Monday through Friday is a gift and not some inherent birth right of the privileged few in society. Where will it end? Making 120M to dribble the air out of a basketball is a rare privilege people!
It is not the norm in most of our world of reality. By the time the NBA lockout is over – Will we still care?
Hmmmm …. What the hell is really going on here? Is the free world coming to an end over 53 vs 47 percent?
drmaryb.(*_*).
October 14th, 2011
5:43 am
A Murder in The Garden!
Didn’t Cain murder his blood brother Able in The Garden of Eden! Now, Washington is on crack! Herman Cain is trying to murder a “Job” & an “Able” – all over the USA todAy – people!
Don’t we need a “Job” to be “Able” to make ends meet in America? Put these NBA employees back to work in America! Are they really un-able to split a dollar amongst themselves for the love of basketball?
53% vs 47%? I mean really? In lower Manhattan today they will begin to arrest peaceful protesters who OWS. And hold themselves out to be 99% of the poorest unemployed Americans who are tired of Billionaires on Wall Street taking more and more until there is nothing left to fight over?
I mean why take our pastimes of entertainment that allow us to take a break from the reality of the new hopelessness of living an American Dream. The American Dream has become our very own nightmare! Labor and Civil unions are under attack all over the world. When the NBA players start missing those bally-hooed paychecks, their luxury homes and cars and bling? Then they will know what we all on this blog know!
Having a real job to go to Monday through Friday is a gift and not some inherent birth right of the privileged few in society. Where will it end? Making 120M to dribble the air out of a basketball is a rare privilege people!
It is not the norm in most of our world of reality. By the time the NBA lockout is over – Will we still care?
Hmmmm …. What the hell is really going on here? Is the free world coming to an end over 53 vs 47 percent?
If you see a broke billionaire crying – do you really feel compelled to bail him out? Not!
drmaryb.(*_*).
October 14th, 2011
5:49 am
Sorry for the double post there. Having BBerry issues this morning. LOL!
drmaryb.(*_*).
October 14th, 2011
7:21 am
* 1st post has typos … LOL!
Have a nice day fellas. Falcons – Rise Up! Hawks – go to work! Let’s Go!
stendek
October 14th, 2011
8:45 am
Greetings Michael. Do not miss loser Hawks one bit. That said. Want all to share in my sheer joy.
http://stendek.tumblr.com/post/11433345890/thrasherjets-blow-two-goal-lead-to-remain-winless
Life is good!
Have a great one pal.
Mike is Back
October 14th, 2011
8:55 am
Dmb, at this point Stern is playing cat and mouse with the players and the fans…he is hoping the apathy of the fans will force the player’s hand.
Mr. Stern please spar us the dog and pony show…WITH THIS…my gut feeling crap. JUST say I’m waiting on the players to fold…jeeeeeeeeeeze.lol
Grandad
October 14th, 2011
10:19 am
For Astro Joe and others:
Point # 1 – [borrowing a concept from Bill simmons]
A forward tthinking GM can use the amnesty clause in more ways than one.
Bill simmons suggests we trade Joe to ORL for Turk & Redick;
amnesty Turk and keep Redick thus shedding Joe’s contract.
Yes we pay off Turk’s contract (1 yr) but save a beaucoup of money in the long run.
Point # 2 – Develop a Winning Culture;
Git rid of Marvin, once and for all, then sign Battier.
Mindset = Win Now Baby ! … -or- … Just win Baby ! -with respect to Al Davis-
There are other scenarios that would enhance the team + aid the $ bottom line $.
However, I thought it was about winning games ! ! ! … & …. Championships … ???
Astro Joe
October 14th, 2011
10:41 am
Grandad, you thought wrong. It is about making money first and foremost. Sorry, but if I ran a dry cleaners, I’d be far more interested in turning a profit than winning some Clean Garment Award. Of course, the award (in theory) should drive more business. But my goal when I go to work everyday would be to turn a profit.
As a fan, I’d love to see my owner spend every penny on trying to win a title… leave no inheritance to his kids, stop donating funds to charity, eat ketchup sandwiches if he has to… just spend on winning a title. That just isn’t very realistic and generally not how these guys earned their wealth in the first place.
Astro Joe
October 14th, 2011
10:52 am
Actually, Grandad, it is likely less about making money and more about not bleeding money. Still, amnesty is a short-term fix that may or may not lead to long-term success. At this point, Battier is not going to be the difference between the Hawks winning a title in the next 2 years or not. IMO, the new owner needs to gut the team and not try to employ short-term solutions. The ones suggested above feel like incremental moves that may result in a better 2nd round loss. Sorry, that doesn’t really interest me. I’m all for a winning culture, I don’t see how slight changes can drive a cultural change with this stale core of players.
Mike is Back
October 14th, 2011
10:52 am
What up Big Ump!!!
I’ll take any type amnesty to move that dreaded contract. heh heh
chuck
October 14th, 2011
3:40 pm
I have zero interest in watching any sport that doesn’t have a hard salary cap so the playing field is even. That is the reason that so many fans enjoy the NFL. A Detroit can go from terrible to undefeated in two seasons. MLB needs to fix this also.
I hope the owners hold out for a hard cap as well as whatever percentage cut is necessary in the percentage of salary to make the owners a modest (say 5-10%) profit on average. That will keep markets like Atlanta from having such ownership issues. We don’t need the Hawks going to another city like the hockey team. Why anyone would want to own a business that was certainly going to lose money is a mystery to me.
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
October 14th, 2011
5:02 pm
“Back in the 97′ draft many of us where dissapointed that we picked Al Horford instead of Mike Conley. 4 years later, 2 Rookie-softmore trips, 2-ASG elections, a 3rd All NBA team mention, and being elected the 25th best NBA player (according to ESPN) gladly made us eat our words. “
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
October 14th, 2011
5:08 pm
“Back in the 97′ draft many of us where dissapointed that we picked Al Horford instead of Mike Conley. 4 years later, 2 Rookie-softmore trips, 2-ASG elections, a 3rd All NBA team mention, and being elected the 25th best NBA player (according to ESPN) gladly made us eat our words. “
Well, I agree that Al is playing soft more but he didn’t in his second season.
doc
October 14th, 2011
7:00 pm
big ump it looks like we are all here except the nba. still not sure i will get excited about a watered down schedule and pretend it is real.
A concerned fan..
October 14th, 2011
7:49 pm
It’s been some time.
gail
October 14th, 2011
8:39 pm
Maybe it is time these NBA players learn to live like the people who are making it possible for them to get them these huge multi million dollar contracts. I’m talking about just hard working people like myself, who really enjoy just going to NBA games and watching the players play. I don’t live in a mansion, and I only have one car in my gargage, and I try to live on a budget.
Big Ump
October 14th, 2011
8:51 pm
Doc
I feel the same as you do.
doc
October 14th, 2011
9:06 pm
big ump, of course you do as you are a pretty smart guy …. heh heh.
doc
October 14th, 2011
9:27 pm
gail, if we could only know that the owners would feel the same way as you seem to want of the players and if they get what they want then they stop increasing costs to the common guy that supports their product. please, i dont think it is about them losing money. sterling is a billionaire and he has never put a competitive product on the floor and if he wasnt required to spend a certain amount of money that is required in the cba then he would spend less.he is a poster chile for the egregious mnature of owners that also were here that you seem to poverlook in putting players in your crosshairs. without players their is no product.
there are 14 billionaires as owners in the nba and maybe 15 when and if the new owner is accepted by the league. these guys are as greedy as wall street and are protected by the guys in washington that make laws. just like the idea of too big too fail but without consequences legally to those that bypassed good common business practice and pushed laws to the limit and get away with it, these nba owners are asking to be protected from poor business practices while charging us for “entertainment” dollars, not competitive quality. again this is not a business and they are protected and essentially have a monopoly rather than a competitive business; this is not business but it is about making money.
gail, it is not about the players making too much money nor assuring competitive balance, i assure you. it is about how to share the profits of the business among themselves, minimize it to the players and not give one concern to lowering how much fans have to pay to watch the game at the grass roots. i also assure that owners will act in collusion instead of against each other to increase their bottom line. they are their own each others enemy because of their poor decision making and that is what they are asking to be protected against.
Grandad
October 15th, 2011
6:29 am
Astro Joe:
You make good points;
however, fans do not -pay- to see the owner count his money.
Plus, when folks go to [ahem] -your- “dry cleaners” they -pay-
tto get their clothes clean……Real Clean…..not just a little bit clean,
not half clean, but all the way clean.
If I’m runnin’ your dry cleaning bus., then I’m gonna run the best …
dang dry cleaning store in town.
People will call me:
“Pierre the Dry Cleaner”
and it will be a champion dry cleaning business. *(Pride)
The two scenarios above were only two out of many possibilities.
My point is … if you sit on Marv’s contract … then … you become:
rick sund, l a clips, atl hawks, the kc royals, vanderbilt fb, or
Matthew 25:18.
But an organization with a Winning Culture becomes:
The LA lakers, Boston Celtics, SA Spurs, NY Yankees, GB Packers,
NE Patriots, Alabama fb, NC basketball, KY basketball, Coca Cola.
Of the above Organizations; which would you choose to buy stock ?
Grandad
October 15th, 2011
6:44 am
Grandad’s wisdom of the day:
John Pemberton inexplicably sold his recipe for Coca Cola
after years of research and perfection, dying soon after.
Later, his wife died a pauper.
jhan
October 15th, 2011
11:23 am
I heard Sekou say every % = $40M on the radio the other day. Looks like they are about $240M away from each other. This will take awhile!
I MUS WRITE
October 15th, 2011
12:50 pm
Whats up everybody! Good to see sum familliar names. Am I the only one who doesnt really care if there is an NBA season- Thought I would miss it but nope -Im all about my football, I hope they get a deal done i need something to do in February.
NaNaNaNa, NaNaNaNa,Hey, Heeey Goodbye
October 15th, 2011
12:53 pm
Stoners can have more pot with NBA gone…tattoo shops might go out of business. I got an old branding iron
they can use….basically same thing ain’t it.
I MUS WRITE
October 15th, 2011
12:55 pm
Sec303….I saw this the other day lol. Worst attempted fight Ive ever seen. My girl could take both of them – she got hands for real. Dam shame
zzzzzzzz
October 15th, 2011
1:22 pm
I’m glad b-ball is here….I can catch up on my sleep….what? they’re not playing! happy, happy, joy, joy….the women and children don’t have to hide!
New rules
October 15th, 2011
1:30 pm
All players are required to become eunichs before high school to have any opportunity of entering league…how bad do you want to play ball? Still want the fortune and fame?….league will still let you smoke away to your hearts content…they don’t care about ILLEGAL activity.
doc
October 15th, 2011
1:34 pm
jhan split the difference for the compromise and it is more 120 to 160 mil difference one way or the other. i know it isnt my money but ultimately if you split it between the owners then it is “only” 3.5 mil a year. that is a pittance for these guys to play hard ball for. again these guys are filthy wealthy to where as when they snore three mil probably shows up on the balance sheet without trying. they will show us how greedy they are.
A league of their own....stoners
October 15th, 2011
1:35 pm
Just say no to tats….one of the most asinine things an idiot does to his (or more disgustingly..her) body. But that’s one reason they’re idiots.
A league of their own....stoners
October 15th, 2011
1:41 pm
Darn, if DEA wants to crush the drugs…..follow the players and their sources. shouldn’t be too hard.
put away the players, rappers, and all the pseudo-celebrities…knock out hollyweird at same time.
A concerned fan..
October 15th, 2011
1:47 pm
The NBAPA can’t even agree on deal. Here we come 12-13 season.
doc
October 15th, 2011
9:56 pm
d wade:
“To me, it’s not about who has the most chips,” Wade added. “I think it’s about who manages their chips the right way. That’s why I think we have a management problem. Small markets have won championships. San Antonio is a very small market and they have four championships in the last 10 years or whatever the case may be. So I don’t know how you ever fix it unless you have realistic goals. It has to get a little more realistic and right now, it’s not.”
we know mismanaged chips, now dont we, in the big a?
doc
October 15th, 2011
10:05 pm
d wade also says:
“Not at one point have we asked for more money,” Wade said. “I’ve heard people say ‘The players are being greedy.’ How are we being greedy? … People need to get in a room and understand what really needs to be done so everyone— not just the owners, not just the players—can continue to grow with the game. That’s where we’ve got to come to an agreement.”
you know they arent asking for more from their previous cut, only to try and hold some of their previous gains. owners havent opened their books to scrutiny as fans would howl at the excess and accounting games that are played.
just the same i would rather see contracts limited as a way to increase competitiveness or become not guaranteed past a certain point. i am not anymore interested in harnessing what they should get as this is america and one that fosters that spirit. dont pay rooks crazy and dont pay for long term contracts if their skills and desire wanes, then let the cards fall where they may based on how the chips are managed. let the owners be as accountable as the working guy that has to stay in top 25% in his company to keep his job in the real world. owners should have to try as well which some like sterling and our own divorce queen basg are notorious for not doing.
Worldwide Clyde
October 15th, 2011
10:42 pm
*yawn*
Big Ray
October 16th, 2011
4:30 am
I really liked the article about the Hawks (and other NBA players) playing in old church gyms.
Classic scene – Joe Johnson backing Josh Smith down in the lane, Jeff Teague calling for the ball (and getting ignored), Joe shooting the fadeaway jumper.
1) Josh still can’t guard a jumpshot.
2) Joe will still ignore others in favor of the fadeaway jumper.
3) Teague probably still can’t shoot reliably from the outside.
and last but not least….
4) all of the above being totally irrelevant due to the NBA trying to do what the NFL successfully did……
This NBA season is screwed.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2011
4:34 am
Heh…I can’t believe I even got that comment in…
Changes r a cumin
October 16th, 2011
10:36 am
Think St Louis wants their NBA team back at all?