Judge Susan Nelson ruled in favor of the NFL players and fans by lifting the owner-imposed lockout. Despite the ruling, the owners plan to appeal to keep the lockout in place. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk gives a comprehensive explanation of what the ruling means here.
It is quite apparent that the owners are the ones trying to keep us from watching an uninterrupted 2011 NFL season. For the over $9 billion a year fans pony up to finance the NFL machine, the least the owners can do is guarantee that the games are played and discontinue scheming ways to make more money at the fans’ expense.
Don’t let the news fool you. Football fans aren’t quite out of the woods yet. Although Judge Susan Richards ruled in favor of the NFL players yesterday, the owners will not delay in filing an appeal. If a stay is granted from the court of appeals, the NFL will remain idled for the next month or so. If by some stroke of good fortune a stay is not sustained, the league would be open for business immediately.
While the appeal process remains hazy, we expect that it will take the three judges in the appeal panel at least a month to ponder the case. As mentioned in yesterday’s Morning Medley, training camps could start later than expected and regular season bye weeks might disappear in order to preserve a delayed yet full 16 week season.
This is definitely a step in the right direction, but the lockout situation is still very much a “jump ball” for both sides. We urge you to keep the pressure on by signing the petition at savenextseason.com.
You can read the latest developments on Judge Susan Richard’s ruling here.
Lakers Begin to Prepare for Possible Lockout
The two-time defending NBA champion L.A. Lakers are battling it out with the Hornets in the first round of the playoffs. With the series tied at two games a piece, the Lakers have plenty to worry about on the hardwood, but off the court the Lakers are just as indebted. With an NBA lockout hanging over the league like a dark cloud, the team elected not to offer contracts to four of the five training staff members for next season.
The NBA labor negotiations have been dormant since the all-star break and there’s no sign of progress. As the Lakers have opted to wait for a new CBA to offer contracts to staff members, don’t be surprised if other teams begin to follow suit.
Read about the Lakers’ initial steps in preparing for a lockout here.
Minnesota Governor Says Vikings Should Pay More in New Stadium Plan
One of the most important figures in the talks for a new stadium for the Vikings is Minnesota state governor Mark Dayton. The Vikings have indicated in the new stadium proposal that they would pay a third of the stadium’s cost, but governor Dayton has exclaimed the team needs to pay more.
The new stadium is estimated to cost $700 million and Dayton has suggested the team pay at least 40% for the stadium, rather than taking the majority of state funds. Only recently did Dayton provide an exact mark that he believes the team should be paying for a stadium. The governor has reiterated the importance to get as many people of the Minnesota community involved with any new project in order for it to become a “people’s stadium” and to create as many new jobs as possible.
Read more on the unsettled stadium business in Minnesota here.
In one of the craziest playoff times of the year, relieve some stress and read up on what your college football team is up to during the spring. There is no off-season for the sport after all.
This Day in Sports History: On April 26, 1995 the Colorado Rockies defeated the New York Mets 11-9 in the inaugural game at Coors Field.
John Morse is serving as an SFC Sportswriter Fellow based in New Hampshire. He is finshing up a degree in Print Journalism at Hofstra University. John is a very passionate sports fan and the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins are his favorite teams.
The lockout is lifted for now. Judge Nelsen has shown the courage to temporarily end a lockout that still may cost NFL fans games. Fans need to continue to show courage and make sure the owners and players know where we stand on the issue. Both sides must come to an agreement that will end the lawsuits and labor impasse for good.
Vince Wilfork is the staple of the New England Patriots defense. With his 6’2″, 325 lb stature, this defensive tackle is typically drawing double teams from offensive lineman and thwarting running backs from finding holes. The 8-year veteran is keeping in shape by conducting workouts such as rope exercises, but the lockout has granted him the opportunity to allot more time to one of his own personal hobbies, gardening.
After completing his daily workouts, the gentle giant tends to his gardening in his Florida home. Wilfork is no amateur on the field or in the garden for that matter. While inspecting his various plants, Wilfork’s daily tasks include inspecting his plants to make sure they are healthy and warding off any potential threats jeopardizing his crops.
“Right now, I have collard greens, corn and green beans,” Wilfork wrote. “I usually do tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, lettuce and whatever else I want to try,” Wilfork wrote to the Boston Herald in an email.
All Patriots fans hope to see Wilfork back on the playing field as soon as possible, but hearing about the various tasks that NFL players are doing with their unusual free time is humanizing. The general consensus is that players are doing their best to keep in shape and prepare for the moment that we’re all waiting for; the moment the lockout is put to a halt. At the same time, players are trying to go on with their everyday lives to the best of their ability.
Read all about Wilfork’s life as a locked out player and gardener here.
Kings Staying Put in Sacramento? Let’s Hope So.
The deadline for the Maloof brothers to file for relocation is steadily approaching. If the two Kings’ owners don’t put in a relocation request by May 2nd, the Kings will be staying in Sacramento. They have continuously stressed that they still remain undecided on whether or not that request will be made by the deadline. At the moment, the Maloofs are the only ones with any idea of the team’s future in Sacramento. However, the relocation committee and the majority of owners throughout the league are believed to lobby for the Kings to stay put.
Sacramento mayor and former Phoenix Suns all-star point guard, Kevin Johnson, has gone on the record for saying the situation is “salvageable” in Sacramento. Since last week’s board of governors meetings in New York, Johnson has re-iterated he will work on a situation to prevent the Kings from leaving Sacramento.
The fans’ dramatic reaction to the Kings’ potential move has exposed the fact that the owners are confused about what to do, and have failed to communicate their intentions with the rest of the league. Given the uncertainty of a possible lockout, it is unlikely that the Maloofs will pull the trigger on a move by the May 2nd deadline.
Read the latest surrounding the city of Sacramento and the Kings in this SI.com article.
NFL Has Plan in Case of Lockout
With the continuing talks (or lack there of) revolving around the NFL lockout situation, the league has not issued any anticipated dates for training camp to begin. The NFL has announced a plan that would allow the full season to be completed, regardless of setbacks. With no official date for the lockout tag to be lifted, it has been determined that there is a 3 week cushion that would cut into team’s bye weeks and push the Super Bowl back a week in order for the season to be played in full.
If the lockout isn’t resolved soon, the NFL will most likely push back training camps. As a result, the regular season would start later than expected. It will be interesting to see if the league announces a new time-table for further delays including training camps start dates, etc. For now, there is no word, but read the league’s current plan for delays within the 3-week range here.
Looking forward to round two of Capitals post-season hockey? Check out one of the most passionate Caps blogs, a review of the series with the Rangers and a look into the next round.
This Day in Sports History: On April 25th, 1995 Major League Baseball returned after a 257 game player’s strike, the longest strike in MLB history.
John Morse is serving as an SFC Sportswriter Fellow based in New Hampshire. He is finshing up a degree in Print Journalism at Hofstra University. John is a very passionate sports fan and the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins are his favorite teams.
There is actually one group of people that are thrilled that the NFL is in the midst of a lockout; those people are a part of the United Football League (UFL). “An ongoing NFL lockout could be quite the boost for the UFL’s ability to attract better talent. And better talent plus no NFL games could result in a national TV contract and UFL games being played on Sundays.” Wouldn’t it be ironic if the NFL monopoly lost some of its mojo and billions to the UFL?
I hate to be cruel, but it would be exactly what the NFL deserves. I would much rather the NFL come to a new agreement immediately and play games in September, but maybe I could learn to enjoy UFL games starting in August.
Once again, Roger Goodell is making this an us-against-them battle. In a USA Today interview, Goodell slammed the NFLPA’s legal strategy, and tried his best to buddy up to the fans.
News flash from this NFL fan: don’t bother Roger!
Clearly what this battle needs is an impartial commissioner with the smarts to bring the two sides together and hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement. Roger Goodell is proving to be a mere puppet for the billionaire NFL owners.
We can only hope that the NFL lockout represents a turning point in the business as usual approach of the big four American professional sports leagues. An important lesson to be learned here is that all of the leagues need a strong commissioner that represents the best interests of the game and not just the best interests of the owners.
If the latest round of mediation raised your hopes for a settlement in the NFL labor wars, then you are in for some serious disappointment. After day 4 of court ordered mediation with Federal Judge Arthur Boylan, it was announced that talks between the two sides would be adjourned until May 16th. It seems like the two sides are more interested in Judge Susan Nelson’s decision on whether or not to lift the lockout than any real negotiating.
It looks like the NFL and NFLPA are determined to destroy the $9 billion gravy train that has been so generously financed by loyal football fans. As the days, weeks and months of the lockout go by, it appears more and more likely that the 2011 NFL season is in serious jeopardy. Don’t let the NFL’s release of the regular season schedule fool you; this work stoppage is far from being resolved.
Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt to Hand Over Reigns to MLB
The Dodgers organization hasn’t recovered from a 2009 divorce between Jamie and Frank McCourt. Jamie was fired from her position as the team’s chief executive and filed for divorce a week later. Commissioner Bud Selig appointed a trustee to relieve Frank McCourt from his ownership duties. The trustee will also adhere to the team’s financial operations.
“I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the club,” said Selig.
An unidentified source told the associated press that the decision to remove McCourt occurred in part because McCourt planned to sue Major League Baseball. This is one of the more bizarre occurrences in baseball as there have not been any reported incidents of the kind prior to McCourt’s termination as Dodgers owner. Before the Rangers were sold last season, Selig hired an MLB executive to keep an eye on the team’s situation, but there were no rights taken away from the Rangers’ ownership during that time.
Much like the marriage between the McCourts, the end to McCourt’s reign has arrived abruptly. The history runs deep with Frank McCourt and the Dodgers.
Harvey Updyke Jr. is the Alabama fan that was arrested in connection with poisoning some of the landmarked trees on Auburn’s campus shortly after the Tigers won the NCAA national title. After the 62 year-old left the court yesterday he was attacked at a nearby gas station by what it is believed to be multiple assailants. Updyke was punched in the head and was treated for small bruises and scratches at the hospital.
Updyke is being charged with first-degree criminal mischief. The 130 year-old oak trees that Updyke poisoned are the home to celebrations for fans after Auburn victories. If Updyke is convicted of his charges he faces one to ten years in jail.
This case highlights the rivalry between Alabama and Auburn, but with all of the wrong tools. Updyke’s insensitive decision to poison Auburn’s historic oaks was matched by a retaliation from Auburn fans that never should have happened. As sports fans we have to be more vigilant in our actions because abusive behavior towards one another will ultimately lead us down the wrong road.
Get the full scoop on the situation with Auburn’s beloved trees here.
NFL Labor Talks Stall Out
We fans have anxiously and eagerly awaited news about the lockout and whether the future of this NFL season remains in jeopardy. However, we will have to wait a little bit longer and continue to hope for the best. U.S. judge magistrate Arthur Boylan told the two sides that negotiations would not likely resume until around the middle of May.
U.S. district judge Susan Richards will continue to mull over the player’s request for the lockout to be lifted immediately.
“I think fans want solutions. I want solutions. I think the players want solutions and I think the teams want solutions. That’s why we have to be working at it in negotiations and figuring out how to get to that point.” said commissioner Roger Goodell while addressing the future of labor negotiations.
Commissioner Goodell issued a statement confirming that he will continue planning next season regardless of the lockout.
The dynamics of the NFL lockout are constantly changing and the issues at hand could shape up differently given the month delay.
Read about the decision to put the talks on hold here.
This NBA blog is extensively covering the NBA playoffs and has some of the best videos from the games that have been played during this post-season.
This Day in Sports History: April 21st, 2001 the Atlanta Falcons used their #1 overall selection in the NFL draft to take Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick. The San Diego Chargers grabbed Texas Christian running back Ladainian Tomlinson, with the 5th overall pick.
John Morse is serving as an SFC Sportswriter Fellow based in New Hampshire. He is finshing up a degree in Print Journalism at Hofstra University. John is a very passionate sports fan and the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins are his favorite teams.
The NFL schedule was released yesterday evening and I was jacked up to see when and where all the marquee games would be taking place.
Then I remembered there is not an agreement to actually play these games because of the current NFL Lockout.
The release of the schedule is a slap in the face for NFL fans. Why would you tease all the fans with a schedule release?
It seems to me that the people in the league office should be paying more attention to getting a new CBA done than scheduling games that may or may not take place.
Also as a diehard Cowboys fan, I must ask why the Cowboys must play at the NY Jets at night on the 10 year anniversary of September 11th? We might as well forfeit. There is no way the Jets lose that game, again, assuming it actually gets played. That assumption is not one I’m willing to make.
I can go back to being a fan of the most overrated team in pro sports if a deal is actually reached between the players and the league. I just don’t understand why the league put out a schedule and why ESPN ran an hour long special on it.
It just seems that the NFL Lockout is being overlooked by the media, the league and honestly a good portion of the fans. Fans need to step up and sign the petition at SaveNextSeason.com to make their voice heard.
The more people that sign this petition the better chance we as fans have at seeing the games that have been scheduled, even if we think our team is going to lose them.
Michael Bradley Sullivan serves as an SFC Sportswriter Fellow. He is a senior broadcast journalism major at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. He was born and Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is a fan of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, the Dallas Cowboys, and the San Antonio Spurs. Follow him on twitter here.
The NHL agreed to a deal that will continue to give NBC and Versus the sole national television rights for the next ten years. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called the deal “the most significant in league history.” NBC is the major network of the NHL and Versus is the major cable network for NHL games. The deal was signed yesterday between the NHL and NBC sports group and is worth $2 billion.
The NHL has split up games between NBC and Versus since a lockout occurred six years ago. The deal comes despite ESPN and other networks expressing interest for broadcast rights, but the NHL decided to stick with what has been working.
“This is right across all factors, not the least of which is the tremendous relationship we have with NBC and Versus,” said commissioner Bettman. “When we looked at the entire package and the relationship, it was clear we were going to stay with the incumbent.
Versus has the rights to games three and four of this year’s Stanley Cup Finals, as NBC will have as many as five games on display. The deal includes NBC sports group to broadcast 100 regular season games and Versus will increase their regular season game load from 50 to 90. The deal that runs through the 2020-2021 season is much higher than the $120 million contract between the NHL and ESPN from 1999-2004.
Read more on the NHL’s new television contract here.
Jerry Jones Headlines Resumed Mediation Talks
Per the request to end the NFL lockout, the decision by a Federal judge is expected to come soon. After a three-day break from mediation talks, players and owners gathered in Minneapolis to continue negotiation concerning a new collective bargaining agreement. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was one of the owners on site, arriving with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
“This is no charade. This is no illusion. This is going to come to a resolution either by the parties compromising or agreeing or by a judgment,” said Michael Hasufeld, an attorney represented retired players.
Hausfeld noted that no one should place too much stock in U.S. district judge Susan Richard Nelson’s ruling because an appeal is expected to be made to the federal appellate court in St. Louis.
If the NBA locks out the players during the ff-season this summer, the New Jersey Nets will surely continue business as usual. Nets CEO Brett Yormark informed team officials that their jobs and salaries would be safe despite a threatening lockout. Furthermore, the team will remain as busy as any in the off-season getting ready for a change in location for the Nets beginning in the 2012-2013 season.
The 2011-2012 season is slated to be the last in New Jersey at their current home at the Prudential Center. The Nets will be playing home games in 2012-2013 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
As the Las Vegas summer league and internship programs have already been cancelled, many teams will be at a crossroads if a lockout ensues. Commisioner David Stern has indicated that teams are projected to lose a combined $300 million from this season.
Check out a complete sports rundown from those recovering from injuries in MLB to an outlook on various teams in the NFL.
This Day in Sports History: On April 20th, 1986 the 23 year-old Michael Jordan dropped 63 points on the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics in game 2 of a playoffs series.
John Morse is serving as an SFC Sportswriter Fellow based in New Hampshire. He is finshing up a degree in Print Journalism at Hofstra University. John is a very passionate sports fan and the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins are his favorite teams.
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John Morse is serving as an SFC Sportswriter Fellow based in New Hampshire. He is finshing up a degree in Print Journalism at Hofstra University. John is a very passionate sports fan and the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins are his favorite teams.
Michael Bradley Sullivan serves as an SFC Sportswriter Fellow. He is a senior broadcast journalism major at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. He was born and Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is a fan of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, the Dallas Cowboys, and the San Antonio Spurs. Follow him on twitter here.
