NBA Lockout: A Fan vs. a Businessman

When analyzing the NBA Lockout, I believe almost everyone sees it from two distinct perspectives: As a fan and as a businessman. The fan represents the emotional part of us, while the businessman represents the intellectual side.

As a fan, we want to believe that the owners and players motives are pure. This side of us views the game with an impetuous passion. We want to believe that those sitting at both ends of the bargaining table are making decisions based on what is best for the game, not in an act to fatten their wallets. 

The businessman in all of us however, sees things a bit more pessimistically. Ruthlessness and greed permeate this point of view and perpetuate its very existence. This side of us realizes the NBA is a business and that the game is a product to be sold, rather than a pastime to be enjoyed.

If the players and owners are able to find a happy medium between the two extreme viewpoints, rather than leaning too far towards either side, it could be the first step towards reaching an agreement.

The Fan's Perspective

There's a Spike Lee inside all of us. A sports crazed fan who allows our emotions to supersede our intellect and often times have undying faith within a team that may not have a true chance in winning. The overwhelming romanticism of cheering for the underdog can often be too great to overcome.

Although the fan's passion can too often result in disappointment, it also in many cases contributes more to the businessman in us than one might think.

The overwhelming passion that a fan has for his or her team, leads to them being incredibly educated on the team and the overall sport itself. The fan gives a third-party perspective that is often very informed since their passion and love of the game fuels them to learn more about the sport.

The most dedicated fans (Spike Lee being the perfect example) can be emotionally explosive and unreasonable for sure, but should not be viewed as a one-dimensional ticking time bomb either.

Their fanaticism makes them wildly unpredictable during game time, but when the game is over, they are well informed individuals who can view the game they love in its entirety.

Doing so makes this perspective extremely valuable during negotiations. The monotony of the lockout has become downright frustrating for everyone involved. The players, the owners, the fans and the behind the scenes workers who keep the NBA up and running.

I'm not asking for David Stern to hold an open forum with the fans on what they think the solution is to end the lockout. I'm just asking him to try to uphold the integrity of the game and keep those in mind who don't hold a seat at the bargaining table while trying to come to an agreement.

The Businessman's Perspective

Although coming from a fan's perspective may certainly be more fun, seeing things from David Stern's position or any of those involved in the bargaining discussions is equally as necessary.

This side of us realizes the strategic side of things and knows how important it is to come out making a profit.

This article breaks down all of the business jargon of the labor discussions into layman's terms and zones in on the core issues of why the two sides are at a standstill in the first place.

The problem is that both sides seem to be working against each other at this point, rather than working together to try and forge an agreement.

Jeff Van Gundy made the statement that, "Very few people care about the NBA lockout."

That statement should resonate inside all of the players and owners who are coming to meet at the bargaining table. Not because of who made the statement, but simply because he is right. The NBA doesn't have the staying power that the NFL has.

It should be a wake up call to the owners and players that hopefully gives them more of a sense of urgency to come to an agreement.

And the Winner Is...

The fan's devoted allegiance to the game coupled with the savvy businessman are both extremely important points of view in coming to an agreement.

It is clear from the way that negotiations have developed to this point that the ruthlessness of the businessman is omnipresent in negotiations for both the owners and players.

The fact that they are not able to accept a 50/50 split, with both sides getting something out of the deal, leaves little hope for the future.

While there are certainly more things to be determined aside from the revenue split, the fact that they can't come to an agreement upon the one issue proves that the two sides are a long way off from reaching the middle ground between fan and businessman that will need to be struck to get a deal done.