That doesn’t sound unreasonable to me.

I’m not quite sure how you think that the Pirates farm system is below .500. The Indianapolis Indians won their division this year. Actually usually do way better than the big team.

I think the most frustrating part about this whole mess is that regardless of how we feel as fans or how we react, nothing we do will influence negotiations one way or the other. We just have to sit back, be pissed off and wait while the NHL and the NHLPA squabble over money.

If people stop being pissed off and “drop the hysteria” I don’t see Bettman and Fehr going, “well no one cares about the lock out any more so we better get a deal done ASAP.” That makes no sense.

If you can’t go to an NHL game, maybe you can go to an AHL or OHL game. If not, spend the same money on some show at the threatre or see a few more concerts. By an ATV or skidoo with the season ticket money. It really is no big deal and if more fans dropped the hysteria, the NHL would come back much, much faster.

I actually hope they cancel most of the season. I hope it kills about 4-6 teams. I miss the NHL with 21-24 teams. They just isn’t enough offensive talent to share among 30 squads. In the end I think that is what will happen. Especially in places like Phoenix, Florida, Carolina and Nashville. Places where the fans don’t really have a sentimental attachment to it.

We’ll see, but it really is not the end of the world.

“Is it just me or is the Yankees the top payroll in baseball. They are in the ALCS against the Tigers who have the 5th largest payroll. Both teams beat teams with small payrolls.”

“Giants are in the NLCS with the 8th highest payroll against the Cardinals with the 9th highest payroll. The Rangers also made the playoffs with the 6th highest payroll. 5 of the 10 teams in the post season have the top 10 payrolls.”

“Meanwhile the lowest 10 payrolls were: Indians, Rockies, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Rays, Pirates, Royals, Astros, A’s, and Padres. Only the A’s made the playoffs. 8 of the were .500 or worse, and of those 7 had 89 losses or more.”

“That is why you need a salary cap my friends and baseball is the worse example of all sports.”

Then they’ll get their 57%. Of course 57% of zero$ is, uh, zero.

Its too bad most hockey players are uneducated boobs. Surely the few that (A) went to college and (B) paid attention, can stand up and point out the idiocy of the payers current strategy.

Those teams will laugh at a luxury tax.

Furthermore revenue sharing did nothing to encourage the my own Pittsburgh Pirates to spend more on their payroll. They are still only spending around 50 million so the owners make sure they make a profit. The money they recieved from revenue sharing has simply been used to pay their bills and some has gone into their minor league system. While the money invested in the minor league is a “feel good” investment, their farm system is still second tier and it has been 20 years of below .500 baseball.

So I think Fehr’s view of the world is a crock of $%!#.

That being said. 49%, 48% an 47% is ridiculous. If the NHL is able to come close to 50/50 split and eliminate cap circumenting deals. The league is better off.

I will say this much: I do feel like both sides realize they are losing the PR battle now because the fans are really just pissed that we’re not playing hockey. Which really, instead of making money the issue it always seems to be, is what the players and owners need to focus on. At the end of the day you can preach to “we the fans” all day about how your right and it will work for as long as there’s hockey happening. Seeing as there’s no hockey we really don’t care and you should get over yourselves and get this deal done.

Afterall, I feel I should have a say (even though we clearly don’t) in your new CBA considering the money involved…IS WHAT I SPEND ON IT.