OIers, what do you think of lockouts/strikes in professional athletics?

[MarxSchmarx]

American professional football was saved by a thread this year, but every day it looks like the NBA may not go ahead for the year to come due to a labor dispute. What do OIers generally think of these? Do you side with "the players" or "the owners"? Do you think both are to blame? What do you make of these impasses for some of the best compensated workers outside of Hollywood?

[Robert]

The players, the owners, and the fans have a kind of mutu --

On second thought, since Marxists see the world through one lens, and we through another, discussion of what each sees is pointless.

And suddenly I understand why we're not allowed on the main forums.
I'll be damned.

Cheers.

[MarxSchmarx]

The players, the owners, and the fans have a kind of mutu --

On second thought, since Marxists see the world through one lens, and we through another, discussion of what each sees is pointless.

And suddenly I understand why we're not allowed on the main forums.
I'll be damned.

Cheers.

Well I wasn't asking what each party in these negotions though, I was asking about what folks here thought.

[ComradeMan]

American professional football was saved by a thread this year, but every day it looks like the NBA may not go ahead for the year to come due to a labor dispute. What do OIers generally think of these? Do you side with "the players" or "the owners"? Do you think both are to blame? What do you make of these impasses for some of the best compensated workers outside of Hollywood?

Serie A (Italy) was also held up by strike action and there were problems in Spain too. I don't know to be honest. On the one hand a player is a worker and despite how much they get paid still has worker's rights but on the other hand when you think of all the others struggling to make ends meet it kind of sticks in the throat when people who are on hundreds of thousands a week for kicking a ball go on strike and complain.

[Revolution starts with U]

I'm kind of on the same side as Comrademan. Of course the workers (players, etc) deserve a better share, if there is more money coming in. Of course....
But jeesus guys, you'r already making millions of dollars while people are out there struggling. Maybe if the player's union showed any inkling of solidarity with other worker's unions... but I don't think they do.
It's all just a bunch of bs.

[Tablo]

It is kind of ridiculous they want more, but I would do the same in their position. I need some new gold rims.

[RGacky3]

Maybe if the player's union showed any inkling of solidarity with other worker's unions... but I don't think they do.

Many of them do.

Games make tons and tons of money and the owners are some of the richest people in the world, of coarse I support them, money from games comes mostly from advertising, making it an interesting subject for Marxists.

But would'nt side with the players? And instead the owners?

[Bud Struggle]

Many of them do.

Have the players unions ever gone on sympathy strikes with ticket takers and janitors at stadiums? Have players unions ever joined larger congrences of unions, like the AFL?

The players are in it for themselves.

[Revolution starts with U]

No. What I am saying is that I support the players and other workers. But it's just tough for me to really care about the individuals involved. It seems arbitrary. Why not just strike because you want more money to go back to the city, or something that doesn't seem like a bunch of spoiled rich kids fighting spoiled rich old guys over too much money...

Every time it came up amongst friends and family I stopped the whole "the players should just shut up" and showed people the players had a legitimate reason to strike............ but I just can't get enthusiastic about it... it's like "ugh."

[RGacky3]

Have the players unions ever gone on sympathy strikes with ticket takers and janitors at stadiums? Have players unions ever joined larger congrences of unions, like the AFL?

The players are in it for themselves.

Actually they have, not strikes, but they've supported other strikes financially, some of them have been on picket lines, they've made sure that money made from the teams come from union work, and so on.

Of coarse they are in it for themselves, but they have and do many times stand in solidarity.

[Bud Struggle]

Of coarse they are in it for themselves, but they have and do many times stand in solidarity.

All for show as long as it doesn't cost them any dough.

[RGacky3]

All right debbie downer.