Another lockout

The NBA owners joined the NFL owners by locking out their players on Thursday.

The owners in both leagues want to retain more of the money their respective leagues are earning. And — this should come as no surprise — the players don't want to take any less than they've been receiving.

Fans should take note of the timing of the lockout in both leagues. On each occasion it was done after the completion of the season, with plenty of offseason ahead. No games have been missed and that is what the fans really care about.

The bottom line is the leagues can split their revenue pie between owners and players any way they want. To the average fan it doesn't really matter. What matters is will the cost of going to a game became too high.

And are those games going to be played. Miss some regular-season games and the fans will become worried. A lockout in the offseason? That's for the the owners and players to worry about, not the fans.

— Guy N. Limbeck