Finally an NBA season

I thought it was 49-51.

At least the season will start during Christmas but there are still a few issues left to negotiate (drug testing, drafts). If someone could post a specification list then that would be great. I'm not finding one on ESPN yet.

It's fairly reasonable, though I think the details of the deal will be more important in determining who got the better end of the deal (probably owners). But prepare to see the middle-class players get shafted.

I'm just happy we'll have basketball games to watch when the NFL and March Madness end.

10 Bucks says that as soon as the agents were taken out of the picture, a deal was made.

Eddie,

Great scene from OPM. If any of you monkeys have not seen this film, I highly recommend you do. Anyways, all I'm saying is that the agents (hey, look at the NFL and how a deal happened without the agents) are worse than the lawyers in this case.

Frieds,

I was actually making the point that most agents are lawyers. Agents are always the problem.

Eddie, yeah... I guess you're right on that one. Chalk one up for evil!

I think the players still have to give their approval but apparently its just a formality.

I'm stoked, I thought the season was a goner after the dissolving of the NBPA, but cooler heads prevailed. I dont think the blame lies solely with the agents, the owners were digging in their heels quite a bit. The players gave a fair offer, considering they used to get 57%, and dropped it down to 53%.

Agents are ridiculous in the NBA especially. Guys Leon Rose and that Worldwide Wes character have too much power. I wonder how much issues they created in the delay.

Alls well that ends well though. Shorter season makes for a more competitive playoffs.

Will they extend the season and playoffs beyond June since they aren't starting till 'round Christmas?

Just glad it's back... sucks when you don't follow most other sports to have something to follow.

About time the Mavericks got started on that repeat.

Just give me a two year rule on player eligibility so Cal and the CATS can keep running the D-League in Kentucky.

Who are your favorites to win this year?

I like Orlando at 25:1 and Atlanta at 40:1. Maybe even Bulls at 7:1

http://sports.bodog.eu/sports-betting/basketball-futures.jsp

Apparently, the latest is that the BRI is in favour of the players at 51.2%. The owners still made off exceptionally well.

Capitalism let me down on this one. There should have been some upstart league to take their place for much less dough and put all these greedy schmucks out of business. Sports are some of the most ludicrous...I mean lucrative businesses out there.

The details:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/33507/billy-hunters-memo-to-…

Have the Dec 25 games been finalized yet?

3 I think.

Bos@ Knicks Heat @ Mavs Bulls @ Lakers

I had dealings with a mid-level NBA agent about five years ago. This guy was probably in his late 60's at the time, but had the shit eating grin and tanned skin of 19 year old prostitute in her prime and was just as happy to fuck the shit out of you. Let me just say that in all of my years dealing with nefarious characters, not a single scumbag that I ran across could hold a candle to this piece-of-shit with a pulse. May they all burn...

Midas, those guys are just evil.

Still... this season reminds me of 98 Lockout. A 66 game season with 48 conference games this year reminds me a lot of the 50 game season in 98 that will produce a team that hasn't won a championship before winning it for the first time against a Cinderella story.