Well it's official. As of 12:01 AM ET, the NBA is locked out. We knew it was coming so there was no shocking revelation, but it's still a pretty empty feeling for fans when they realize that their favorite athletes aren't going to be suiting up anytime soon. Especially NBA players since this lockout just looks so damn bad. Take the above image, for example. That was NBA.com at 12:02 last night, a clear sign to fans and players that the league means only business. Of course the site is almost back to a normal template, as opposed to "Baby's First Blog", but at the very least it was a brief message to everybody to get comfortable, because this thing isn't going anywhere.
I woke up to an email from the Orlando Magic this morning, thanking me for being a season ticket holder and assuring me that they're doing everything within their power to end this lockout soon. As I read it, all I could picture was Gilbert Arenas planking on a gigantic pile of money and Dwight Howard doing backflips off of jet skis. And, of course, the Magic charged me for my tickets today, so that was a good feeling. But as a fan of the game, this just sucks. For some reason I'm bothered by this lockout considerably more than the NFL lockout, and I think that it's because I know that the NFL will get its sh*t together very soon and start operating business as usual. The NBA, though, is in some deep, deep crap. Like I wrote yesterday, the players and owners are $7 billion apart on a new CBA. Does anyone really think that Players Association President Derek Fisher and the NBAPA are going to roll over and give up the anchor-esque mid-level and max contracts that got us to where we are today? Hell no. So buckle up, friends. This thing is gonna get nasty.
In the meantime, as I love to do, I perused the Twitterverse to check up on some of the NBA's bigger names and... well, there wasn't as much chatter as I expected. But I pulled some of the better responses to the lockout from last night and this morning in case you missed it.
(Banner image via The Basketball Jones.)
Fun fact: I had to Google "Smh" the other day to figure out what it means. That's how I know I'm getting old, when I'm not up to date on my Internet shorthand.
This doesn't seem to be lockout-related, but with Metta World Peace, you never know.
Yeah, I'm sure they won't talk at all.
Picture Billy Zane saying that for full appreciation.
The biggest pro of this lockout right now is that Gilbert Arenas gets more free time. I can't love this enough.
Great, glad to see you're handling the news so well, Lamar. $20 says he doesn't know.
OK, here comes a theme - the "I need a job" jokes. Look, players, I'm on your side. Any person on this planet, if put in your shoes, would accept those terribly large deals that the dipshit owners and GMs gave you. But we have very little sympathy for millionaire NBA players when they have the option to sign a short-term contract with a European team for a quick 6 figures. Let's just ease up with the jokes and keep the fan allegiance in tact.
OK, starting now...
Fine, you guys have 24 hours to get all the jokes out of your systems.
I wish someone would write new jokes for Kevin Hart.
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I wish the “Lockout…” comment had been written by Goldie Hawn.
Oh NBA players, you’re insanely funny in your twat rants, or twitter, or whatever.
‘N.E.1 gots a job for me? Im locked out. for realz lolololz’
Hahahahahaha it’s funny because they’re complaining about being unemployed. HAHAHAHilarious. I’m sure the average unemployed Joe across America will ‘lol’ as well. ‘Look, those poor NBA players are out of work too. Times are tough. Sorry you’re eating spaghetti for dinner again kids, dad can’t find work, just like Dwayne Wade’
I love the NBA, but fuck these overpaid cunts. Derick Fisher is going to do what’s ‘fair’? Fair would be taking away a completely guaranteed contracts so that when Rashard Lewis shits the bed immediately after becoming the highest paid player in the game, the team won’t be killed on cap room desperately needed to sign someone who can score more than 12 points a game.
Fuck, Oden is getting 8 mil a year to play PS3 all season long. How do the players think they have any argument in this?
Maybe they’ll skip the whole season and the Cavs can get the #1 pick next too. At least I hope.
My question is if the NBA can fine guys or suspend them while locking them out. If not, weed demand is going up 10,000% and we’re about to see the real crazy coming out of Gilbert’s twitter
The problem is that “fair” is already off the table, despite never actually being on the table. Every offer that comes from the owners now will be worse than the last.
“#LOL, let’s all joke about having to get real jobs. It’s funny ’cause we don’t really have to #LOL working is funny #LOL”