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Originally Posted by tomegun
It is about Stern being in control and money. David Stern would be about anything that would make the league more money.
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And your point? Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't that what profit-making organizations try to do in a capitalistic society?
The NBA is a professional entertainment organization consisting of a partnership of individual teams (companies). The players are their employees. Those employees have value to their employers only if those employers make a profit due to the performance of those players. When fans pay to see those players, revenue comes in through ticket sales, etc. Broadcasting networks can only sell commercials if fans watch the games. Sponsors will pay only if there is an audience to see and hear their message. As a potential fan - I have the right to choose whether or not to watch based on any criteria I see fit - including the off-court behavior of the players. It's to that point that my local team - the Trailblazers - are now commonly called the Jailblazers and their support is in the toilet compared to what it used to be.
We need to get out of the mindset that professional sports is anything but a business.