The Unknown Poster

So we all know this Donald Sterling fiasco. I have to admit (as much as Im almost afraid to) that Im not sure how I feel about this whole thing. One thing I find interesting, theres a story about Mark Cuban saying he would be a hypocrit if he voted to oust Sterling because everyone is bigoted in some way and if everyone had their private conversations made public, they'd all be in trouble. The really interesting thing is Cuban gave two examples. He said if he saw a black kid in a hoodie at night, he'd walk to the other side of the street. And if he then saw a shaved head white kid covered in ink, he'd cross back. Guess what the headline of the story was? Yup: Cuban: I'd cross the street to get away from a black kid in a hoodie. I think one thing I struggle with is, Sterling is, what, 80 years old? If my grandfather was still alive and 80 years old Im not sure I'd want someone secretly recording his private words in a heated argument (and I never heard either of my grandfathers utter a racist word ever). I certainly wouldnt feel comfortable with my 80 year old grandfather doing a sit down interview with Anderson Cooper. I realise Sterling is a "high functioning" 80 year old, but he's still 80 years old. Im not sure he's a racist or just a crazy old man.

Who care if the private teams wont show their books? If they want to have them written into the CBA, great. If its not in there now, then too bad. As for this "we succeed together or fail together", puhleeze. They want an increase that is so large it's ridiculous. And dont they want a CBA length in line with the TV deal? There is no "fail together". They are asking for things under the pretty safe bet revenue will keep rising, not falling. With a new Stadium in Hamilton, new team in ottawa, new stadium imminent in Sask. And in 5 years if TSN says f this and guts their offer, will the players gladly sign a new CBA at half the value? Not a chance. The only smart thing the PA is doing is playing this "lets be partners" game at a time when the league is drastically increasing revenue and appears to be set to continue to increase revenue. But there is no "we will take a chance and share in the failures" BS.

Sometimes networks pay X amount of dollars during work stoppages. I believe NBC continued to pay the NHL during the last lockout. But I would suspect its not nearly the full amount. I agree about the players on twitter. All this stuff about their sacrifice and cant eat and want fair wage. I mean, who are they talking to? Average people making less than the players get for six months of playing a game? We all get the physical investment players have to make to play at a pro level but its out of touch for players to be pleading poverty to the general public. Would be much smarter if they were provided "talking points" by the PA leadership...things like "We love the CFL and just want to play under a deal that is fair for everyone" or "We're so happy the league is doing so well and we just want to share in that success because we work hard to entertain our great fans". Its not hard.

Someone educate me. When did the players sacrifice? Did they give back money or take pay cuts when the league was on the verge of bankruptcy? When teams couldnt pay the bills and there was a cash call and the other teams had to prop them up, did the players give some of their money? When the Bombers were almost bankrupt and the government handed over money and fans bought season tickets, did the players give back a percentage? Maybe they did take pay cuts against their contracts. I really dont know. But if they didnt, I dont want to hear about sacrifice. Owners own. Players play.

Guys make $45,000 a year & you want to break them? That's utterly ridiculous. Why not just find another league to follow? If Cohon's figures are in fact true in his release, the league average is just shy of $93,000. That's plenty. Yeah exactly. Why dont people feel sorry for the minimum wage stadium workers who wont be working? They dont make $93,000. They dont make $45,000. Players deserved a fair deal. They were offered one. What happens now is on them.

Guys make $45,000 a year & you want to break them? That's utterly ridiculous. Why not just find another league to follow? Dont be a crybaby. Where did I write exactly what you accused me of? Where did I write "That guy making $45,000, how dare he make that much, lets break him". I said if the players thumb their noses at the CFL's reasonable offer and end up striking over it, I want the league to break them. ie. break the union. ie. win the battle. ie. get us back playing without mortgaging the future of the CFL to the players. You'd rather the players win everything they've demanded? Okay sure, we could hope, after losing a month of the season, that both sides are kind and professional and reasonable. Not me. If that happens, I want the side responsible to pay for it. And that side is the PA. If my union demanded unreasonable demands after being offered a 9% raise, I'd expect my company to start pulling things off the table if we walked out and cost them money. Im on the side of reason. You can be on the side of players making an average of $80,000 for six months of work who claim they "cant eat".

James Neal is a young player. And he'd be the most gifted scorer on our team today if he was here. Maybe Wheeler out scores him next season. Maybe Kane does. Maybe not having Malkin and Crosby around drops his production, but Neal is a very talented player. I agree though, that the Jets are very unlikely to move Wheeler. Not only does he have talent and the size and speed the Jets love, he has the right attitude and effort. He's a lifer. But if Kane wants out, I'd have a conversation with the Pens. While they *are* very unlikely to move Maata, Kane is the type of prospective talent that doesnt come around often. He's the type of guy people say "if he played with Sid or Geno he'd score 50 every year". Neal wouldnt be enough and the Pens wont want to give up much else in the forward ranks. But their D is in need of rebuilding too. Kane for Neal & Bennett Kane for Neal & Orpik Add a pick somewhere. Take your pick.

Yeah but every sport rigs their draft lottery. look at the NHL. Clearly rigged it to "save" the Pens. Also, that's sarcasm. No league would ever risk rigging a lottery.

I would assume they'd build it in such a way that its not open to the prevailing winds but that could be a concern. I believe the other end zone has open throughways on either side of the "roof" also so that might be the outlet for any winds. I would assume that open side is also used for temp seating for Grey Cup's etc.

Yikes, I dont know about that. We'd need something else in the top six. There's a concern that Neal's stats drop without Malkin as his centre (which is understandable to a degree). I think Neal would be good with Scheif or Little actually. But he's not a gritty guy. Kane plays tougher. Fleury is an upgrade on Pavs. Maata is potentially an all star D man. But losing arguably our best player and arguably our best goal scorer for one top six guy is too much. Not sure if the Pens would want to part with any other roster players though. Pascal Dupuis is good but they like his speed and ability to play with Crosby. Kunitz is likely not going anywhere. Now if they added Beau Bennett and a draft pick I might be interested. Kane & Wheeler & Pavs for Neal & Maata & Fleury & Bennett Thing is, Pens wont want Pavs if they're moving on from Fleury (I dont think anyway). But if they sign someone like Miller, they might take Pavs who is cheaper than Fleury as a "veteran" back up, knowing as they do the benefit to having two decent goalies in the playoffs. I'd much rather see something like: Kane & Postma for Neal & Matta & Bennett Picks to make it happen or whatever but those are the key pieces. That gives us a staggeringly talented D for the next ten years.

The benefit to Regina doing this after we did, is they will learn from whatever issues we encountered. I heard (but am too lazy to look) that they hired a design firm with a history of designing stadiums. So thats a step in the right direction.

http://www.riderville.com/video/index/id/96339 http://newmosaicstadium.com/ Its a beautiful design. Reminds me of IGF a bit with the roof though Regina's covers one of the end zones as well and is "open" on the other end. Flashy and fancy. Hopefully the end result is very similar.

I was a basketball fan when a) I played it in school and we got the Destroit TV channels and the Pistons were awesome (Bad Boys). Since then, I hate Basketball. Basically, turn the game on with 5 minutes to go...thats the "game" to me.

Rumour has it a "significant" player with the Pens has asked for a trade and some speculate that it could be James Neal. Mario has stated he wants more character and grit which leads people to believe Neal is replaceable (lacking both character and grit). We know the Pens covet Wheeler (or they did when Shero was there) and we know (or speculate) that they (ie. Sid) wants to improve the talent on the wings. Let's assume the Pens call the Jets and say they want Wheeler and are prepared to offer Neal as the main piece coming back. What do you do to make that a reality? Here are the stats: James Neal Age: 26 Left Wing 6'2" 208 lbs Drafted: 33rd Overall 413 GP 161 G 154 A 315 Pts Best Season: 40goals, 81 points in 80 games (11/12) Blake Wheeler Age: 27 Right Wing 6'5" 205lbs Drafted: 5th overall 454 GP 121 G 180 A 301 Pts Best Season: 28goals, 69 points in 82 games (13/14) Part Two of my proposal is, lets say the Jets say Wheeler is untouchable. But Kane has quietly asked for a trade. Pens are intrigued. What has to happen to make that deal with Kane & Neal as the key pieces? Keep in mind, Neal for Wheeler creates a logjam at LW (Kane, Ladd, Buff, Neal) and weakens the RW considerably where as Kane for Neal likely means a top line of Neal-Scheif-Wheeler. Thoughts?

I hate to say this, but if the players strike, I hope the League breaks them. We're finally turning the corner with the CFL, with multiple massive community investments across the league, mostly financially healthy teams, an expansion franchise and now this TV deal which finally allows the league itself to be profitable but also solidifies the stability of the teams. And the players think they should get a massive increase? I think the players deserve to share in the success. But the CFL's offer does that. And knowing that no one makes an offer without the expectation of a counter, it means the CFL is willing to pay even more. If the players thumb their noses at the CFL's reasonable offer, then they can all borrow money from their agents and come back by week 3 for less pay.

I thought most of these deals were really struck standing at the urinals during breaks? My experience with unions and grievences etc is that its like children fighting over toys in a sandbox.

yes they are really using that hashtag. And you don't like that? I sure feel don't feel alienated. More like who cares? I feel like the players dont get it. Which means their leadership doesnt get it if they havent prepared the players better than that. You cant say 'who cares' if you're on here discussing it. You care. You may not care what the players say online but you care about the process. And to me the "public" show of solidarity just gets the public rolling their eyes. The public reads about a bunch of guys who are spending all day hanging out with family, playing sports, working out, whining on twitter about how poorly they are being treated when they are expected to come play football for six months for $92,000 and then go back down south and chill out for the winter. Hard to sway public opinion. The PA should have a complete cone of silence on the players and only let the leadership release statements. Yeah, I can discuss the labour situation because I'm not just talking about stupid hashtags. I fail to see how a twitter hashtag is going to upset fans other than you & a few others. CFL players aren't millionaires & the majority never will be. The public sentiment is still with the players, I believe. Are fans happy? No. But both sides are being dickheads here equally. I didnt say it upset me. I said it was stupid. From a strategic standpoint it is. The effort should not be to gain public support among the very patient, understanding, labour lawyer fans out there. Its the average common fan who almost always turns against the players. I dont think the PA has the support of the fans.

Could it really be that worse than what we're used to in Winnipeg?

I would be okay with it under the following conditions: - The CFL made a reasonable offer and reasonable effort to negotiate - The PA is being unreasonable - Replacement players are a means to an end (ie. forcing the PA to capitulate) - Anyone crossing the picket line is not subject to harrassment by PA members afterwards The League could get really dirty if they wanted to. How about a $50,000 signing bonus? How would that impact "solidarity"?

The media handwringing yesterday was because the PA's offer was so ludicrous. But thats the problem with Collective Bargaining in the modern world. Most unions think its 1912 still. And yet, neither side can make their "best" offer first because the other side takes that and counters it. They have to inch closer and closer, blow up a few times, come down to the wire, risk real money and then finally get locked in a room where they can speak honestly and "off the record" before finally putting their real ducks on the table. Its unfortunate we have to go through the song and dance routine.

yes they are really using that hashtag. And you don't like that? I sure feel don't feel alienated. More like who cares? I feel like the players dont get it. Which means their leadership doesnt get it if they havent prepared the players better than that. You cant say 'who cares' if you're on here discussing it. You care. You may not care what the players say online but you care about the process. And to me the "public" show of solidarity just gets the public rolling their eyes. The public reads about a bunch of guys who are spending all day hanging out with family, playing sports, working out, whining on twitter about how poorly they are being treated when they are expected to come play football for six months for $92,000 and then go back down south and chill out for the winter. Hard to sway public opinion. The PA should have a complete cone of silence on the players and only let the leadership release statements.

I have known some excellent drunk drivers. Does that mean driving drunk is okay too? I can see this going off the rails pretty quick. Driving under any influence whether than booze, pot, drugs, exhaustion...whatever impacts your ability to be of peak alertness and reflex is stupid. Not even a point in arguing this one. I also dont think Sheets was cheap-shotting the CFL. And either way, the CFL is minor league compared to the NFL so who cares?

Also props to the admins for expanding into NHL sub forums and off-topic forums. This is my go-to forum for Bombers, Jets, NHL and just general banter. Great job.

They dont get to vote until they pay dues so I suspect not,. But ofcourse, a player isnt going to "cross the picket line" especially a rookie until such time as it gets ridiculous. However, thats the sort of thing that causes dissention in the ranks. If the players are already publicly coming off their requirement for revenue sharing, then the cracks are forming. I actually think the CFL has played this pretty smart. They made a bad offer when no one really cared, got the players all hot and bothered. The players come back with a BS offer that doesnt play well to the fans at a time when the media is paying more attention, the players start spouting off on twitter and Cohon looks professional in his delivery of a new, reasonable offer. League is in the driver's seat right now.

It would certainly suck to go that route but if this turns into a war of attrition, the CFL will break the PA long before the PA breaks the CFL.