In today's Hook, I wrote about how the new influx of billionaires and near-billionaires in the NBA Owners Club ought to have made annual operating losses only a minor problem, and not one worth losing a season over. Obviously, that's not the case: we're embroiled in a lockout 40 days old.

But Nets minority owner Jay-Z tends to agree with me in a rather telling lyric on his new album with Kanye West.

Ball so hard, this s--t crazy, y'all know that don't s--t faze me
The Nets could go 0 for 82 and I look at you like this s--t gravy

Herb Simon's net worth is more than three times that of Jay-Z. But unlike Jay-Z, this s--t does faze Herb Simon. Ah, the perils of wealth.