Long but informative read on ESPN about a courts case the NFL is taking to supreme court trying to get them to rule it's a single entity not 32 seperate teams but 1 business...


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn...on_lester&id=4336261

The 2 guys Bush sent to the Supreme court have NEVER ruled on the side of anyone but big business so that's pretty much 2 votes in favor of NFL..

If they get 3 more this could pretty much ruin sports as we know it.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Streich:
The 2 guys Bush sent to the Supreme court have NEVER ruled on the side of anyone but big business so that's pretty much 2 votes in favor of NFL..

If they get 3 more this could pretty much ruin sports as we know it.

Hate to say it, but sports as we know it got ruined a long time ago. The average fan can no longer afford a seat at any of the new ballparks or football stadiums, forget about bringing the whole family.

There is no point in team loyality because the players keep changing and the richest teams can buy anyone. Baseball has become so tainted nearly every record breaker in the last 10 years is suspect. Meanwhile Scott Boras is greater and more powerful than any athlete.

What could the Supreme Court do to make it any worse for the fans than what the owners and players have done so far?

Hear hear, Raven!

The article was very interesting; although I have long been in support of salary schedules I don't think athletes should make the kinds of salaries they do now so that part is appealing.

As for family outings - let me suggest minor league teams. The kids are just as thrilled to go to the ballpark and watch a minor league team - moreso often because they get treated special and the players are more likely to interact with the kids there.

quote:

Originally posted by Over_Worked_Mom:
The article was very interesting; although I have long been in support of salary schedules I don't think athletes should make the kinds of salaries they do now so that part is appealing.

As for family outings - let me suggest minor league teams. The kids are just as thrilled to go to the ballpark and watch a minor league team - moreso often because they get treated special and the players are more likely to interact with the kids there.

I think they should make what they do in the NFL, it's the only sport without guaranteed contracts so if they get hurt that's it.. I don't see a difference between an NFL Qb making 15 million a year and Jim Carrey making 20 Million a movie..

I don't think the NBA should be paying guys 20-25 million a year since it's not a real sport

Last minor team I saw play was the Pirates a few years ago (when they first opened their stadium) being a Pirates fan baseball died to me about 5 years ago.. And while I agree with no team loyalty the owners have none either since I have seen every decent player the Pirates have had being traded away after a couple years to save money and make a profit..

How about when the commissioners of the NBA,MBL & NFL stepped in & took the stand in the NHL's case of the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy case?
Pro sports in the USA is ULTRA -big business. Its 1 of the only exports this country has left. There are multinational companies & owners who are some of the richest people on the planet. Its all about the $$ that they make. Not the players, not the sport, & surely not the fans.
Big $ sways the outcome of games & seasons. Theres nothing honest about it. Big-time college sports are little better.

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:
There is no point in team loyality because the players keep changing and the richest teams can buy anyone.

Thats why my favorite players have now become only alumni of my college.
therefore, no matter what team they get traded to, I'll still like the player.

I do have a favorite team (Dolphins for NFL), and most of my favorite players in the 2000s (WVU Alumni) have not played for the team...

in the past, I liked Dan Marino and OJ McDuffie, who were with the team their entire career...
my others were Randy McMichael who is now with the Rams, Sam Madison who got traded to Giants, Jason Taylor who went to Redskins (now back with Dolphins ), Zach Thomas who went to Cowboys and now Chiefs, etc etc etc.
I still follow those guys, but it's almost hard to.
In the late 90s, never did I think Jason Taylor or Zach Thomas would be on a different team. well, I was wrong.


hope that made sense

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Streich:]Last minor team I saw play was the Pirates a few years ago (when they first opened their stadium) being a Pirates fan baseball died to me about 5 years ago.. And while I agree with no team loyalty the owners have none either since I have seen every decent player the Pirates have had being traded away after a couple years to save money and make a profit..

there was some crazy stats in a SI recently about the Pirates (I hope I remember them correctly)...

Pirates have 0 players that make the league average (i think the closest one was about $1 million less than the $3.6??? average)

from their opening day lineup (just the starters) from 2008, they only have 1 remaining player (Ryan Doumit, I believe)
[so, Zach Duke was on the roster, but he didn't pitch opening day...so he is not one of the 9 that count]