No way the players go that low…. Well, actually. Depending on how long this goes who knows how low the Owners can make the players go on the BRI split. Aren’t they already past the point of being able to make money at this point, regardless of the BRI split (the players)?>?

I have already given up on the season so at least this is getting more entertaining

It’s not like this stance is new for him. I always figured that he’d pretty much lost hope about being competitive unless there were some big changes in the CBA.

These franchises are businesses. They exist for the sole purpose to make money. If this were not the case, then they’d be non-profits or charitable foundations. Owners have a right to expect their businesses to make profits. With that said – shouldn’t they also get to decide where to cut costs in trying economic times?

The owners understand that they messed up a long time ago by standardizing outrageous contracts and player salaries. Shouldn’t they be allowed to fix that? If you mistakenly swerve into a lane of oncoming traffic there’s no such law that says you must now stay there and pay the ultimate price for your action! You are allowed to fix the situation by returning to the correct lane.

I understand the importance of unions, their reps, and lawyers. I’m all for workers rights and fair wages. But I also know that their top two priorities in labor contract negs are these two things: Never giving up ground and advancement. And these apply regardless of what financial turmoil an economy or business may be going through. Can’t say i blame them in that that’s what they’re paid to do – represent their members in that way. But i do find it to be a rather idealistic rather than pragmatic way of looking at things.

 But, as speculation goes, it sounds plausible.

Sigh.

with the following:

“Meh.”

He does have a nearly impeccable 2 decade history of foregoing financial gains in order to make the team great. I don’t think anyone should listen to Sarver or Sterling, but if Allen takes a stand then the players union ought to hear him out. He’s been one of the good ones, historically. Who knows what his motives are going forward, but it is unfair of the union to insinuated that he has no interest in the league and only cares about the bottom line. What owner has been willing to pay players more out of his own pocket for such a long time?

If Allen always checks out and goes home, and if he is so rich, and doesn’t care about money, then why even bother going to meetings to manipulate the CBA into making Blazers more valuable. Seems like a stretch.

@#!D

"The worst thing for the Blazers are not the injuries, but Paul losing interest," said a league official connected to the organization. "And once he loses interest in anything, he doesn’t want to deal with it anymore. He can’t win anymore, so he’s going to literally take his ball and go home."

crappy judgements by him and management drove him to dole out hundreds of millions of dollars to the likes of miles, kemp, ratliff, francis, etc, just in the past decade alone.

micro, mike rowe, my crow

By my estimate, Allen has willingly wasted at least a half a billion, all out of his own pocket, in insane player contracts in the past 15 years. If there is one human on the face of the earth who has earned the right to walk in to the negotiating room and say “enough”, it’s him.

Look, it’s no secret that Awoj hates Allen, and much of his vitriol is fair game in my book. But you can just feel his glee oozing out of his article because he extracted the “Grim Reaper” quote from a jaded union official.

Do you think this incident with Paul Allen could affect The Blazers ability to attract and/or keep free agents in the future? Could the mere portrayal of Allen as Anti-Player and a Hardline Owner make some players think twice about signing with The Blazers?

Paul Allen has nothing else better to do than own a sports franchises. When you have everything then I imagine a new Ferrari on Christmas just doesn’t do it anymore. This man owns a team of world class athletes, some of which are celebrities. I doubt Paul Allen has lost interest in that.

1) the owners (i.e. Paul Allen’s position) get most of what they want

2) the season begins after Christmas

3) Allen sells the team in the next year or so

4) someone (Phil Knight-I don’t care that he says he doesn’t want to be an owner) buys the team and wants to keep it in Pdx

5) the team’s buyer also brings another pro team to Pdx-the NHL at a minimum

This dream makes me very, very, very happy!!

5)

The union has failed. Simple truth. They have failed to understand the financial situation. They have failed to prepare their players for very large cuts. They have failed to convince the owners of their sincerity. They have failed to gain empathy from fans who include 20 million unemployed while winning about not getting offered $7M average per year. If we listen to the garbage coming from the failed negotiations we deserve to be deceived.

The owners have offered 50%. They lose money above 49%. But the players want more and Dwyane Wade says the owners are greedy. Paul’s presence at the negotiations contradict this story. He does not need the money. He does value his time and could only show up to help strengthen the league. Chances are high that the owners asked him to come and be the heavy (if he even was.) Wojnarowski’s reputed long time source (league official) was not there according to news stories. These stories come from player agents and players who slip info to Wojnarowski through the season and now expect him to print their garbage during the lockout, It is a pretty safe bet that Paul Allen has never been a source for him.

Frankly the issues are really clear and fall mostly against the players’ positions. We will apparently have to endure their slow-learner process until they ‘get it’.

is like the Sta-Puft marshmallow man as the demon monster in Ghost Busters…

want to watch some freaking basketball!