NBA Lockout: 5 Jack Nicholson Movie Quotes Appropriate to the Lockout

For this article, I decided to combine two of my lifelong passions: movies and basketball.

Jack Nicholson is one of the most talented, successful actors in cinema history, having won three Academy Awards. Given his status as the one of the most famous celebrity basketball fans, I am sure Jack is having withdrawal not getting to watch his beloved Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

What follows are five of his memorable movie quotes that are appropriate to the current NBA lockout.

5. "Wait Till They Get a Load of Me." Batman, 1989

Shortly after his transformation into the Joker in 1989’s Batman, Jack couldn’t wait to reveal himself to the citizens of Gotham City as a maniacal, killing clown.

I can’t but think Sacramento Kings rookie Jimmer Fredette, who is anxiously waiting to make his NBA debut, is thinking the same thing, with a huge, creepy grin on his face.

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4. "You Can't Handle the Truth!" A Few Good Men, 1992

Not only is this Jack Nicholson’s most famous movie quote, it’s one of the most famous and widely used in film history.

During one of the recent labor meetings, I am sure Billy Hunter demanded that David Stern tell him the truth regarding Stern’s claim that 22 out of 30 teams lost money last season.

Then, Stern quickly screamed at Hunter, “Billy, you can’t handle the truth!”

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3. "Every Conflict Has Casualties. Question Is, What's Been Lost and Gained?"

This quote came from Jack Nicholson's portrayal as Jimmy Hoffa in 1992's Hoffa.

It's probably the most relevant Jack Nicholson quote I could find relating to the lockout.

In fact, after the lockout eventually does end, I can almost guarantee David Stern, Billy Hunter, Adam Silver and/or Derek Fisher will use a quote almost exactly like this regarding the lengthy, humbling labor negotiations.

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2. "What If This Is As Good As It Gets?" As Good As It Gets, 1997

In his role as Melvin Udall in 1997’s As Good As It Gets, Jack asks a room full of psychiatric patients if getting help from a psychiatrist is as good as life will ever get.

Last week, the National Basketball Players Association rejected the owners’ latest labor offer, instead deciding to start the process of decertifying, making the possibility of losing the entire 2011-12 season a reality.

But before the players ultimately decided to reject the offer, I can’t help but think one of the more levelheaded player representatives thought to himself: Is this current deal as good as it gets?

Photo courtesy of: cinema-fanatic.com

1. "Somewhere, Some Lucky Guy Is Having a Heart Attack." The Bucket List, 2007

For all of the fans and arena workers, who are the biggest losers in all of this labor mess, this is exactly is what they are thinking right this second as they look at blank TV screens and empty arenas.

Photo courtesy of: allmoviephoto.com