KPLC Sports

Lockouts Mirror Economy

In years past, it was easy for us to simply write off strikes and lockouts in professional sports as simply "millionaires vs, billionaires". However, if the latest economic downturn has taught us anything, it's that no one is immune from hard times.

What's the first thing that gets cut out of the budget when a family holds a belt-tightening summit? Entertainment! And in an economic downturn as disasterous as the one we just went through, and the one we appear to be heading into, it's inevitable that sports is going to take a hit. In years past, professional sports owners could survive these bumps in the road because they were simply their overhead wasn't as high. There was no free agency and collusion between the owners kept salaries low. That is not the case today. Owners have been forced by the unions to share revenue with those that are directly responsible for their on-field product, which is how it should have been all along.

However, with owners pushing their margins to the wall to make their teams as competitive as possible, there is no such thing as a bump in the road. They've maxxed out on what they can charge for a dixie cup of beer and no one's paying more than 10 bucks for a 10 cent hot dog. Jerseys and hat sales also go down in a "down economy". The internet, while a useful tool, has yet to yield true, sustainable income for sports franchises. Satellite TV packages have supplied a revenue stream, but once again, in a down economy, that's one of the first things to go. I know, I had to cancell my NFL Sunday Ticket last year. Where is the money going to come from to sustain these bloated salaries?

The owners didn't get into this line of work to lose money. While I believe most NFL teams still make money, the NBA, which just announced it's lockout today, has announed that more than 2/3rds of their franchises lost money last season. That includes the league-owned New Orleans Hornets.

To be clear, I don't think this is a one-sided argument. The players have valid points. Who could blame them for wanting to keep the system the way it is? Their careers are relatively short and can end on any given play. However, I believe that owners have drawn a line in the sand, and while I hate seeing the game I love and cover halted, I see the owners point. The sustainability of the sports needs to be paramount.

Fans need to become the first consideration again. Ticket prices are prohibitive in all major sports. A family of four would have to blow the better part of an average paycheck to go to a single game and make the obligatory trip to the concession stand. 

There are no simple answers to this situation. The players don't trust the owners, they've lied to them in the past. However, I believe this time is different. The revenue streams are maxxed out and receding, while salaries continue to sky-rocket. And just like in our economy, the leagues now the haves and have nots. The superstars are sucking the majority of the money out of the game, and everyone else is getting the leftovers. And in the process, it's the veteran free agents that are getting frozen out. Servicable journeymen, who were the lifeblood of the game, are being forced to the sidelines.    

Re-Aligning Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is beginning to recognize that one wild card per league is not enough to keep fans of also-rans buying tickets and riveted to their television sets in the dog days of summer.

The league's latest proposal is an interesting one that will make baseball purists run screaming for the doors like never before! The plan being discussed will eliminate divisions, add another playoff team per league, along with moving one team from the National League to the American League, making the leagues even with 15 teams apiece.

The rumor is the Houston Astros will be the team to make the move from the Senior to the Junior Circuit. It's an idea that certainly has merit. Since arriving in the expansion year of 1962, along with the Mets, the Astros (or then Colt .45's) have never had a true rivalry. This move would give Houston a natural rivalry with the Rangers, up the road in Arlington.

As far as adding playoff teams goes, Major League baseball needs to be cautious that it doen't end up like the NBA and the NHL, where regular seasons mean little and the opening rounds lack drama. Adding a single playoff team from each league still keeps 22 teams out of the post-season, however it's the trend of increasing the size of the postseason pool that is a concern.

Baseball, with it's 162 game regular season schedule, is far more vunerable to making it's playoff system more important than it's regular season than the other 3 major sports, meaning they need to keep the postseason an exclusive party.    

One For the Ages

It doesn't have the legend of a Lakers/Celtics series, but this year's NBA Finals is turning out to be an instant classic. The reason is simple.

This is a war of wills, of philosophies, of ways of putting together a team. On one side, you have the Miami Heat. They have arguably the best three players in the league with the South Beach 3, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. High-end free agents who took less money to either come or stay in Miami, for the expressed purpose of winning a championship.

On the other side of the court, you have the Dallas Mavericks. A team made up of players that are either nearing the end of their prime, or have not quite gotten their yet. Led by Dirk Nowitzki, this a team that is all guts and very little glitz.

By all rights, the Heat should have already won this series, however they're lacking something. Something that puts a championship team over the top. Mettle. The iron will to finish off an opponent when you have them down. They also lack a cohesive team formula, as these three superstars have yet to gel with Miami's role players or each other.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, the only thing that is keeping the Mavs in this series is mettle and team chemistry. While they're certainly a talented squad, they lack the speed and skill to keep up with the Heat. But when they appear to be down for the count, like so many times in these playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki and company find a way to rally. Like staging a 20-2 run to end game 2, to take a 95-93 decision, evening the series at a game apiece.

Ultimately, I believe the Heat will win this series, inspite of themselves. I think youth, talent and speed win out, usually, especially in a seven game series, which is where this one appears to be headed. However, this older Mavericks squad is giving these young whippersnappers from Miami a lesson, and it's one they'll never forget.

To quote Rudyard Kipling,"If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew to serve your turn long after they are gone ... Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it. And which is more you'll be a Man, my son!"     

Spurrier's Proposal Good and Bad

This week at the annual SEC athletics meetings in Florida, South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier offered up a proposal that has been floated for years. Paying players for services rendered. To be precise, a three hundred dollar per game stipend for each player, up to 70 players per team. Several SEC head coaches, including LSU's Les Miles, signed on in approval.

First, I want to start by saying that I'm not one of those people who trot out the tired argument that these kids are getting a scholarship and that paying them would destroy amatuer athletics. Those kind of arguments were buried with Knute Rockne 80 years ago. The game's changed and I understand that. How can you say that to a kid who sees his jersey hanging in the school bookstore with a one hundred dollar price tag hanging on it? What about tv contracts and bowl game pay-offs that line the schools pockets by the millions?

My problem with Spurrier's proposal is in the execution of it. Where do you draw the line, do you pay only the sports that make money for the school. Those are mostly men's sports (football, basketball, baseball), meaning you will be running up against Title IX advocates. Do you stop paying the players once the season is over, leaving them scrounging for money the rest of the year? Sports is a year-round obligation (spring practice, off-season workouts, weightifting).

Spurrier's proposal has merit and it's time has come. However, it's practical application is going to be a tricky prospect, to say the least.

Astros Begin Turnaround

This past weekend's sweep at the hands of the surging Diamondbacks aside, things are looking up for the Astros. Houston's late inning heroics at the plate are becoming commonplace. Just look at their recent 3 game sweep of the NL Central Cubs. In the final 3 innings of each game, the Astros tallied a combined 13 runs, highlighted by Tuesday night's six run ninth inning explosion, securing Houston's 7-3 victory.

The Houston pitching staff is improving as well. Jordan Lyles, in his Major League debut, looked like a crafty veteran, instead of the 20 year-old rookie. While he did not get the win, he shut out the Cubs line-up at bay, until finally getting tagged for a couple of runs in the 8th. Wednesday afternoon, ace Brett Myers lived up to that title, holding Chicago to just a single run, as Houston won 3-1.

The big challenge lies ahead for the Astros. A west coast swing, which begins in San Diego tomorrow night, will prove the true worth of this improving squad. But for now, sit back and enjoy this team of over-achievers that may very well get back into the NL Central race by the All-Star Break.