Hockey Blogging! Moral Clarity Edition
By Hey, at least it will be the last time in a while…
Michael Berube is, of course, the first place to look. I am somewhat disappointed, however, that he seems to be going for the (admittedly understandable) “pox on all their houses” route. (Of course, this is not nearly so disappointing as his decision to root against the noblest franchise in professional sports in the Stanley Cup finals, and in favor of some team with ugly uniforms that comes from a hot-weather state where the election statutes are written in crayon by the Attorney General’s four-year-old son yet.) Brian Linse offers similar frustrations. He also provides a couple of great links that get it right.
Look, let’s be clear here. The union probably made strategic errors, and they will probably get a significantly worse deal for the players now that the season has been cancelled. But on the merits the union is clearly, unequivocally right, and as in all sports-related labor disputes the tendency to blame the players isn’t justifiable on any grounds but irrational ressentiment. The position of the owner’s defenders–who claim that a $42.5M cap was tolerable but a $49 (or the $45 or $46M they could have gotten) was intolerable–must premise their arguments on the assumption that the owners are utter fucking morons.Despite the fact that they are allegedly teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, we are asked to believe that they will spend as much as they can. I fail to see how this is the players’ problem. Moreover, one might have some sympathy if the rich teams are getting all the good players, and small markets can’t compete. In fact, the Rangers haven’t made the playoffs in seven years. The Maple Leafs haven’t played in the Stanley Cup finals since 1967. Last year’s champion, Tampa Bay, comes from a medium-small market, and their finals opponents come from one of the smallest markets in professional sports (who, amazingly, got better without a major payroll increase when they stopped hiring idiots who would trade Doug Gilmour and Martin St. Louis for 2-for-1 Whopper coupons and hired Daryl Sutter instead.) Nor are either of these teams flukes. The Lightning are loaded and 2 of their 3 star forwards weren’t yet 25. The Flames have the best player in the league with some other young talent up front. an exceptional (and young) defense corps, and (like Tampa) one of the best goaltenders in the league. There is more competitive balance in the NHL than in the NFL right now.
The players offered a large rollback and a salary cap set well below current salary levels. The owners locked them out. Either it’s mendacity or flat-out union-busting. And nor do the owners even have market principles on their side. Supporting the owners–as most of the media and fans surely will–has no defense unless you’re just a a management lackey, period.