2008 NLL Season Cancelled

[dinoiii]

There may not be many lacrosse fans on the board, however...when a complete season gets cancelled, interest at such a time grows. The following is an article discussing the gripes of the owners vs. the player's association. Some may find it interesting. Lacrosse is a growing sport and with it comes significant growing pains...this is the unthinkable though and likely the worst thing for the league. Some markets just weren't bringing in the expected funds, so meeting player's association demands (though many players likely wouldn't have been on course had they known the season would be readily cancelled) for things like no salary cap would have been a huge mistake. League salaries must grow with the players.

Finally the NLL gets significant ESPN coverage and it is all negative. Tis a shame...many don't even realize.

D_

[article to follow]


NLL season up in smoke
Players misjudged owners, says Banister

George Johnson
Calgary Herald

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Amidst suddenly pointless preparations for a season run aground on the rocks, Brad Banister numbly picked his way through the wreckage.

"You can sit there,'' he said, motioning to a chair in his cubicle of the Calgary Roughnecks office space on 11th Ave. S.E.

He leaned on it to test.

"But, maybe not. It's a little unsteady.''

Just like his league.

The National Lacrosse League shut its doors for a year Monday, as threatened. The 10 p.m. MDT deadline imposed by owners to have a new collective bargaining agreement passed quietly. With neither side willing to budge.

The league officially announced cancellation early Tuesday morning.

Players continue to hold fast to the belief that with 2 1/2 months between now and the scheduled opening night there remains the chance to negotiate; that the deadline was just a power ploy by ownership to force the PA's hand.

That they'll be playing lacrosse come January.

Brad Banister says: Don't delude yourselves.

"Already, a couple of players phoned today, saying, 'Hey, we can still negotiate.' And I told them: 'Don't you get it?! It's over.'

"Maybe the PA thought we were bluffing.

"If they did, they were wrong.''

If the league stands by its shut-down mandate, the players fatally, and arrogantly, misread the warning signs.

If the players are right, and the deadline was just politicking; if there are further talks towards an agreement between now and January, ownership credibility will be non-existent.

What's left for the moment is a periphery league backed by a comparatively small, but rabid fan base thrown into chaos. It's difficult enough for proven leagues of long-standing and far more considerable financial wherewithal to entice back angry or disillusioned patrons, not to mention corporate sponsors and television providers.

Much less the NLL.

"We're seven years into this, and we were finally seeing some light,'' grumbled Banister. "Nearing a break-even point, or maybe even a little ahead of the game. The Canadian dollar has strengthened, improving our position. And now, this.

"It hurts, all the way around. Fans. Players. Sponsors. You name it.

"You don't think we want to be playing this year? Why would any of us be in this business if we didn't want the business to be running? That doesn't make sense. But the business has to make sense, too.''

A few arenas around the loop are going to be minus some dates, but most of those will be quickly filled. More significantly, players who count on the added, if not wildly substantial, income derived from their part-time NLL careers are going to miss the cash.

And one rather outspoken, maverick owner is beginning to be worn down by the grind.

"Of course, I take it personally,'' said Banister. "It bothers me that some of these guys think I'm a cheap (let your imagination run riot; fill in the blank). All we've had over the seven years of this league's existence is labour unrest.

"Three years ago, the negotiations were hostile. This time, they didn't even bother coming to the table until it was too late.

"Frankly, you wonder sometimes: Why bother? Negotiations went on far too late three years ago. We got it done hours before we were supposed to play. That's why we set the deadline this time.''

Banister says after the initial jolt of bitterness subsides, he'll be back. And so will the Roughnecks. But not in 2008. And not until a long-term collective bargaining agreement has been hammered out with the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association.

At issue is the players' desire for a no-cap salary system. The league offered a three per cent increase per year over five seasons.

"We want them to grow with us,'' said Banister. "I'd bet you 95 per cent of the players want to play. But the (PA) executive didn't ask for a vote. Why didn't they ask the players to vote if they were so certain of the outcome? And if they were so keen to get a deal done, why didn't they come to the table before two days prior to a deadline we set a long time ago?

"It's a shame when a few egos have to get in the way.''

He paused.

"This isn't the NHL or the NFL. Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered.''

Banister says the union membership should look to its executive committee for answers, not the franchise owners.

"I've had e-mails already from players saying things like: 'The owners don't care about us.' I mean, come on.

"We take these guys out of fringe lacrosse leagues, pay them $2,000 American, or more, a night, fly them in and out, put them up. That's a little better than the summer leagues they're used to playing in for $100 a game. In this league, they play where the Iginlas do, where the Michael Jordans used to. They practice once a week. This league put them on TV. Made them local celebrities. On weekends, they come in from their real jobs and they're treated like rock stars. Kids ask for their autographs. Girls chase them around bars.

"And they're willing to jeopardize that?

"I know many of our players understand how much people have sacrificed around here for us to get to this point. But they're getting poor advice. These guys come in here for a couple days a week for four months and then they're gone. We're here every day, trying to make this franchise better.

"I don't get it.

"It's just . . . sad."

The column appears on the Calgary Herald at the following link:
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...b9b837cd42&p=2

[g_lee]

Originally Posted by dinoiii

There may not be many lacrosse fans on the board, however...when a complete season gets cancelled, interest at such a time grows. The following is an article discussing the gripes of the owners vs. the player's association. Some may find it interesting. Lacrosse is a growing sport and with it comes significant growing pains...this is the unthinkable though and likely the worst thing for the league. Some markets just weren't bringing in the expected funds, so meeting player's association demands (though many players likely wouldn't have been on course had they known the season would be readily cancelled) for things like no salary cap would have been a huge mistake. League salaries must grow with the players.

Finally the NLL gets significant ESPN coverage and it is all negative. Tis a shame...many don't even realize.

D_

[article to follow]


NLL season up in smoke
Players misjudged owners, says Banister

George Johnson
Calgary Herald

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Amidst suddenly pointless preparations for a season run aground on the rocks, Brad Banister numbly picked his way through the wreckage.

"You can sit there,'' he said, motioning to a chair in his cubicle of the Calgary Roughnecks office space on 11th Ave. S.E.

He leaned on it to test.

"But, maybe not. It's a little unsteady.''

Just like his league.

The National Lacrosse League shut its doors for a year Monday, as threatened. The 10 p.m. MDT deadline imposed by owners to have a new collective bargaining agreement passed quietly. With neither side willing to budge.

The league officially announced cancellation early Tuesday morning.

Players continue to hold fast to the belief that with 2 1/2 months between now and the scheduled opening night there remains the chance to negotiate; that the deadline was just a power ploy by ownership to force the PA's hand.

That they'll be playing lacrosse come January.

Brad Banister says: Don't delude yourselves.

"Already, a couple of players phoned today, saying, 'Hey, we can still negotiate.' And I told them: 'Don't you get it?! It's over.'

"Maybe the PA thought we were bluffing.

"If they did, they were wrong.''

If the league stands by its shut-down mandate, the players fatally, and arrogantly, misread the warning signs.

If the players are right, and the deadline was just politicking; if there are further talks towards an agreement between now and January, ownership credibility will be non-existent.

What's left for the moment is a periphery league backed by a comparatively small, but rabid fan base thrown into chaos. It's difficult enough for proven leagues of long-standing and far more considerable financial wherewithal to entice back angry or disillusioned patrons, not to mention corporate sponsors and television providers.

Much less the NLL.

"We're seven years into this, and we were finally seeing some light,'' grumbled Banister. "Nearing a break-even point, or maybe even a little ahead of the game. The Canadian dollar has strengthened, improving our position. And now, this.

"It hurts, all the way around. Fans. Players. Sponsors. You name it.

"You don't think we want to be playing this year? Why would any of us be in this business if we didn't want the business to be running? That doesn't make sense. But the business has to make sense, too.''

A few arenas around the loop are going to be minus some dates, but most of those will be quickly filled. More significantly, players who count on the added, if not wildly substantial, income derived from their part-time NLL careers are going to miss the cash.

And one rather outspoken, maverick owner is beginning to be worn down by the grind.

"Of course, I take it personally,'' said Banister. "It bothers me that some of these guys think I'm a cheap (let your imagination run riot; fill in the blank). All we've had over the seven years of this league's existence is labour unrest.

"Three years ago, the negotiations were hostile. This time, they didn't even bother coming to the table until it was too late.

"Frankly, you wonder sometimes: Why bother? Negotiations went on far too late three years ago. We got it done hours before we were supposed to play. That's why we set the deadline this time.''

Banister says after the initial jolt of bitterness subsides, he'll be back. And so will the Roughnecks. But not in 2008. And not until a long-term collective bargaining agreement has been hammered out with the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association.

At issue is the players' desire for a no-cap salary system. The league offered a three per cent increase per year over five seasons.

"We want them to grow with us,'' said Banister. "I'd bet you 95 per cent of the players want to play. But the (PA) executive didn't ask for a vote. Why didn't they ask the players to vote if they were so certain of the outcome? And if they were so keen to get a deal done, why didn't they come to the table before two days prior to a deadline we set a long time ago?

"It's a shame when a few egos have to get in the way.''

He paused.

"This isn't the NHL or the NFL. Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered.''

Banister says the union membership should look to its executive committee for answers, not the franchise owners.

"I've had e-mails already from players saying things like: 'The owners don't care about us.' I mean, come on.

"We take these guys out of fringe lacrosse leagues, pay them $2,000 American, or more, a night, fly them in and out, put them up. That's a little better than the summer leagues they're used to playing in for $100 a game. In this league, they play where the Iginlas do, where the Michael Jordans used to. They practice once a week. This league put them on TV. Made them local celebrities. On weekends, they come in from their real jobs and they're treated like rock stars. Kids ask for their autographs. Girls chase them around bars.

"And they're willing to jeopardize that?

"I know many of our players understand how much people have sacrificed around here for us to get to this point. But they're getting poor advice. These guys come in here for a couple days a week for four months and then they're gone. We're here every day, trying to make this franchise better.

"I don't get it.

"It's just . . . sad."

The column appears on the Calgary Herald at the following link:
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...b9b837cd42&p=2

Is lacrosse a sport?

[dinoiii]

Originally Posted by g_lee

Is lacrosse a sport?

Yes...to many (namely outside of the northeast), it may go unnoticed. I am greatly disheartened at what this means for a wake-up call to the nation about the possibility that something else DOES in fact exist outside the four major professional sports.




D_

[RisingAgainst]

Originally Posted by dinoiii

Yes...to many (namely outside of the northeast), it may go unnoticed. I am greatly disheartened at what this means for a wake-up call to the nation about the possibility that something else DOES in fact exist outside the four major professional sports.




D_

Four?? LOL!!!

[dinoiii]

Originally Posted by RisingAgainst

Four?? LOL!!!

Football, Baseball, Basketball, and Hockey remain the ONLY team sports this country has that are significantly profitable on MOST (if not all) markets.


Soccer could have been...BUT it grew to far too many cities far too fast. The league cannot support half of the clubs and they don't come remotely close to selling enough tickets. Trying to put a foreign sport on alternative turf never works. In a little over a week, American football invades the UK (Giants/Dolphins)...what they don't realize is that this is a single game and curiosity would be its only rationale to support a remote attempt at a sell out. If there ever was an expansion of this sport overseas...it would wind up the World League (oh, that's right...we already have that flop!).



D_

[RisingAgainst]

Originally Posted by dinoiii

Football, Baseball, Basketball, and Hockey remain the ONLY team sports this country has that are significantly profitable on MOST (if not all) markets.


Soccer could have been...BUT it grew to far too many cities far too fast. The league cannot support half of the clubs and they don't come remotely close to selling enough tickets. Trying to put a foreign sport on alternative turf never works. In a little over a week, American football invades the UK (Giants/Dolphins)...what they don't realize is that this is a single game and curiosity would be its only rationale to support a remote attempt at a sell out. If there ever was an expansion of this sport overseas...it would wind up the World League (oh, that's right...we already have that flop!).



D_

You meant three.. basketball is not a sport.. its for the sissies who can't play football. LOL Hockey is alright, although I've never played it, I do like watching it. And Baseball was kewl as hell to play. Basketball is cardio and queers! LOL!!!!

[stope]

I love it when people like to rag on a sport when they are not good at it. I mean basketball is probably the second most popular sport in the world behind of course futbol. Yes the sport we Americans call soccer. I would have to believe that the NCCA tournament is the most widely bet on sporting event in the United States and its a sport of pussies. You might be the only one that thinks that. Maybe because it doesn't require brawn but more finesse. But as much as I love football. I have to say basketball requires more skill than it and i have tremendous respect for hockey because damn I can't stop so to me that is amazing. But for you I will say basketball is more of a sport than football because not only do you have to play offense but you have to play defense. It requires a more complete athlete. I will say that basketball is more of a sport than baseball because, well, quite frankly why the hell does the defense get the ball??? Oh and if you are looking for a cardio sport then go with tennis.

[dinoiii]

For anybody who follows, they have re-instated the season and signed on to a seven-year deal. They needed to completely revamp the schedule due to giving up specific arena dates, but the grand scheme end result will be that the season will go on!!!


D_