Lesky’s Notes: Opening Day is in peril

You have to hand it to the owners. They sure do know how to make themselves even more of the villain. We’re two days past it now, so you’ve all assuredly seen that they say a deadline is a deadline and the games that are missed will be canceled. I personally think that’s silly and an obvious negotiation ploy, but also now if the deal isn’t done by Monday, they sort of have to stick with that or else they look weak. I suppose they could say that they negotiated an extra two days or something, but even so, it’s just another feather in their caps. Personally, I’m sick of writing about the lockout and even with four days full of meetings to discuss the new CBA, neither side has broached the one issue that is the most important, the competitive balance tax, aka the luxury tax, aka the de facto salary cap. The players rightfully don’t want to negotiate against themselves and the owners want to make negligible financial changes while increasing the penalties that are already in place. Whether it should be their turn or not, until the owners make a move on the CBT, nothing is going to happen. And quite frankly that sucks.

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