tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692495512717048179.post2321075070874777325..comments2011-11-14T11:46:14.478-05:00Comments on Labor-negotiation questions answered by a fan: NBA labor-negotiation questions answered by a fanUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692495512717048179.post-53738342029126172772011-11-14T11:46:14.478-05:002011-11-14T11:46:14.478-05:00Thank you for your comment, shazbot. You make some...Thank you for your comment, shazbot. You make some good points, although I don't think they show any problem with my premise.<br /><br />I am well aware of the appreciation of the value of each franchise. What I question is whether, if the current system was kept, franchises' values would keep going up. For example, Robert Sarver bought the Phoenix Suns a few years ago for $401 million. After a few successful years, with three trips to the Conference Finals, Forbes estimates that the Suns are worth $411 million. Hard to say that makes up for their losses over the last few years, and who's to say their value will go any higher than that over the next few years?<br /><br />About the fan's sense of entitlement, I disagree with your point. Of course fans are not "entitled" to basketball. But without us, there is NO basketball as a business. If they want to keep making their millions, it'd be a good idea to respect the people who "choose to consume their product" and not take it for granted.<br /><br />And that was never my main point. I think the players are making a bad decision FOR THEMSELVES if they don't take this offer.Carlos Alberto Petry Juniorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12802034286280325322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692495512717048179.post-55516195486812246272011-11-14T05:18:34.082-05:002011-11-14T05:18:34.082-05:00Your response is well intentioned, but it feels li...Your response is well intentioned, but it feels like your premise is already tainted by misinformation. As other bloggers have pointed out, 'What if the league as a whole isn't losing money?' Now noone knows for sure, but it seems like this (the starting point for the negotiation) should be up for discussion as it was 2 years ago. The NBA seems to have done a good job programming the media to assume it's losing money, which I don't believe it is.<br /><br />From recent franchise sales, it would appear that the annualized losses on the operations side of the coin are more than recouped (by the majority of franchises) in the appreciation of their investment in the franchise itself. If I lose $5 million in cash annually, but my investment appreciates by $10 million, I'll sustain that investment as long as I have the cash to maintain the operation.<br /><br />That I think could give a little more context for the ire the players are expressing (though in no way absolving them from their partial responsibility of extending the lockout beyond where it makes good business sense).<br /><br />In addition, you talk about the players' sense of entitlement, but since when are fans entitled to watch basketball?<br /><br />Basketball is a business and legitimate business negotiations are taking place. Players and owners don't own fans anything. We choose to consume their product (or not), but they have no responsibility to us to ensure that seasons occur.<br /><br />I don't blame the players or owners for negotiating, I just think the owner's position is untenable and I find Stern's public rhetoric and bluster repulsive.shazbothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00339991868171348785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692495512717048179.post-40809348777218982752011-11-13T23:47:18.197-05:002011-11-13T23:47:18.197-05:00Great responseGreat responseNBAFannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-692495512717048179.post-330954909730807052011-11-13T19:33:53.628-05:002011-11-13T19:33:53.628-05:00Como vai voce? Learning some Portuguese. Very nice...Como vai voce? Learning some Portuguese. Very nice response1 you're a great writer man!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com