Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Via Alan Hahn, Los Angeles Times hockey writer Helene Elliott points out just how closely the rhetoric of the NBA lockout has matched that of the disastrous 2004 NHL lockout, which cost hockey an entire season. And now, with news that player agents aren't ready to step aside and let the players' union leadership work out a deal with the league, the comparison becomes even more terrifying.
Hahn also took to Twitter to expound on Elliott's points. In the face of Adrian Wojnarowski's chilling report on agents' plan to kill a deal, Hahn's refresher on the NHL lockout is worthy of vomit or worse:
If agents meddle, the NBA season is doomed. Agents meddling led to NHL season cancelled in '04. And union got same deal offered in Nov. Bob Goodenow was overthrown by band of agents and NHL knew it was dealing with a weakened, splintered union. In Fall of '04, Goodenow started negotiating a hard cap. It infuriated players, who were stoked by agents. The union blew up with the season.
Let's hope that the NBA players, if not their agents, have learned the lessons of 2004.
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the agents ultimately have to do what their clients want
But they can influence their clients that what is in the best interest for the agent is also best for the client. The NHL lockout probably is not going to deter agents from getting their voices heard.
by thewiz06 on Sep 22, 2011 12:56 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
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