Quick Thing on the Lockout

This past weekend, TrueHoop editor and chief Henry Abbot wrote a great piece detailing the huge falling out that occurred in the labor talks late last week. He discussed how there was a deal in sight. Some of the big time owners were called and asked to board flights. Derek Fisher, and the rest of the player reps had worked their butts off and a deal that they thought was going to be good enough for the players was starting to take shape.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Paul Pierce, Kobe and KG came in and fucked the whole thing up. They strongarmed the whole operation and told Stern, Hunter, Fisher, Adam Silver etc. to go pound salt. The 50-50 split wasn't good enough. They were holding out for better.

WOW. Those three guys. Kobe and KG: 2 guys who from the age of 19 each had a bank account that would never ever run out. Guys who for the last 12 years have had a constant account balance of 9 figures. There hasn't been a day in their lives over the last decade where they didn't have 60 million dollars to loan to a friend and never miss the money. Those guys came in a messed the whole thing up. BECAUSE THOSE GUYS ARE IN TOUCH WITH REALITY. THOSE GUYS UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY. THEY UNDERSTAND MAIN STREET. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO GUYS WHO STUDIED HARD AT COLLEGE. 2 GUYS WHO ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT BUSINESS. AND WILL GO RIGHT INTO RETIREMENT AND GETS JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? On top of that, throw in PP, who for some reason thinks his ability to hit big shots over the last few years makes him an authority on labor law. That just is incredible to me. Especially the Kevin Garnett thing, who apparently was the most adamant.

Obviously, there is a lot that has happened since. And a lot that will continue to happen. But I was floored when I heard about that threesome. Maybe 50-50 isn't fair. In fact it probably isn't. But Derek Fisher, guy whose made a lot of money and done things the right way thought it was shaping up to be a fair deal.

Let's hope 3 of the most out of touch people on the planet didn't ruin everything for everyone. Players, coaches, arena workers, trainers and fans alike.