From a Grumpy Celtics Fan

by Kiorrik on Oct 30, 2011 8:13 AM EDT

Smiling a bitter smile at the owner of the store, I told him that my girlfriend and I weren't in there to buy anything, but rather to assess the bias shown in the store's window. In passing I noticed some basketball caps, mainly black and red ones, boring. But what stood out was that Lakers cap, in purple and yellow. No green, at all, but several Heat caps.

The owners group and Stern are right. They will make way more money if they change the system and split the revenue differently. But it's not fair on the players. They are the product, and are being treated "unfairly". So what side should we root for? For the side that's right, or the side that's fair? It's highly doubtful any of us still care at this point. We want our game back, because life is dull without it. Visiting CelticsBlog on a daily base, we crave something other than that weekly roller-coaster ride with the "progress" highs and the "cancellation" lows.

We love our ball club, and without a steady flow of green clothed athletes prancing around on a hardwood floor, we get itchy. Itchy, and sometimes a wee bit frustrated, annoyed or even agitated.

"Insulted", the word I used to describe my feelings about not seeing our Leprechaun, or even our clover in that window. It was a wee bit strong, but I managed a smile that made it seem an innocent joke. It wasn't though, but it wasn't his fault either, or whoever managed to decorate a storefront with nothing but Miami & LA caps.

*sigh*

Free agency better start soon.

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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Where were u looking? Believe it or not Celtics caps and apparel are very popular, maybe the store was sold out. I’m not surprised though why not advise 2 teams that got beat by the Mavs.

Did u see any Mavs caps? lol

by C'sFanfrmNy on Oct 30, 2011 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Sydney, Australia :)

They had Boston gear inside the store :) Not much, but a bit. Yup, Mavs caps too :)

- Dirk van Boxtel, the wandering Celtic fan.
Twitter: @4Hoopz

by Kiorrik on Oct 30, 2011 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

You’re right man. Life just isn’t the same without the thing you love the most.

by markgent on Oct 30, 2011 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

Kiorrik......keep that Aussie smile just a wee bit longer...

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Oct 30, 2011 11:21 AM EDT reply actions

"Fair?" "Unfair?"

Of all the employees in the world who are ‘the product’ (chefs in restaurants, actors in shows, hair dressers and manicurists in salons, graphic artist and advertising men, engineers in technology firms, consultants in consulting companies, etc., etc.,) NBA basketball players are being treated “unfairly”?

Who says and by what possible standard?

by clover on Oct 30, 2011 11:23 AM EDT reply actions

The owners are right: if they change the system and revenue split, they make more money.

Players think it’s unfair they have to “give in”: the owners don’t HAVE to spend ginormous amounts of money on them, it’s an open market.

But again, the owners are right in that if they don’t, it would be bad for business too.

- Dirk van Boxtel, the wandering Celtic fan.
Twitter: @4Hoopz

by Kiorrik on Oct 30, 2011 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree with Clover

Kiorrik is way off portraying the players as victims of unfairness. Is it unfair of towns that have collapsing tax bases to cut the benefits of public employees? Well, yes, it might be, until you learn they get 100% covered health insurance and lucrative, unaffordable (for their employers) defined benefit pensions. Similar with NBA players. These guys make too much money and the owners gave up too much at the last Agreement. Employers everywhere are in the necessary position of “takebacks” and if any employee union was due it is this bunch of guys.

I really don’t believe most owners care about making annual profit on their teams. Breakeven would be good enough. Their worth goes up in the increasing value of the franchise, and their “annual profit” is their stoked vanities owning a pro team. But if they are “out of pocket” each year I can definitely see them taking this hard stand. They’ve shown their hand – 50/50 BRI. Players are going to have to take it, adjust to million dollar lifestyles instead of tens-of-millions lifestyles. It will take a few years to flush out the embittered (KG maybe) but the league will be sustainable and better off.

by Wildblu1 on Oct 30, 2011 5:00 PM EDT reply actions

The other side

I just bought Celtics napkins here in Los Angeles, no Lakers napkins were for sale.

Hope that makes you feel better : )

by Whetzell on Oct 30, 2011 8:33 PM EDT reply actions

Umm, those napkins aren't napkins, they may be for toleit paper use... that's why there aren't "Laker napkins"...

Its all about money, its all about Banner 18

by 2012Celtic on Nov 2, 2011 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

look im done watching the nba tv,s greatest nba finals films lets get a deal done cause my football team sucks and this is the last season to see the big 3 play together so lets play some hoops damm it

lohaus #54

by lohaus#54 on Oct 31, 2011 8:45 PM EDT reply actions