Delay of Game: Lockout Looms for NFL

[Omaha Steve]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/delay-game-nfl-players-team-owners-square-off/story?id=12654964

With Labor Contract Running Out, Players Head to Capitol Hill to Lobby Lawmakers

By KAREN TRAVERS and JESSICA SMALL
Jan. 20, 2011

Fall Sundays and the NFL -- it's a combination as American as apple pie. But for players, teams and millions of football fans, there may be no kickoffs next September.

The current labor contract between the NFL and the players' union, NFL Players Association (NFLPA), expires on March 4, one month after the Super Bowl. Unless a new agreement is reached, it looks like the league will head straight for a work stoppage.

That means no spring practice, no free agency deals and, potentially, no 2011 season.

"At the end of the day, fans want to know, 'Am I going to see football next year?' and unfortunately we can't guarantee that," said George Atallah, the NFLPA's assistant executive director for external affairs.

FULL story and video at link.

[tularetom]

1. Even those of us who always take the side of labor have a problem

taking sides in a fight between millionaire athletes and billionaire team owners.

And if a NFL work stoppage led to the closure of "sports bars" and the demise of sports talk radio then it couldn't happen too soon as far as I'm concerned.

Anything that shuts up Jim Rome is fine with me.

[snappyturtle]

2. VERY interesting. Are the owners getting more greedy or is there

really good reason for their stance?

I think professional athletes are outragously paid but that's just me. The fact that they are keeps the sports industry feeding hope to young athletes so the modern day gladiator games can continue and keep the masses distracted. imho