After a false start and allegations that owners tried to pull a fast one at the last minute, the NFL players are expected to vote as early as tomorrow on a deal that would being the 131-day lockout to an end.
The deal should have been done weeks ago, but unfortunately that's how things work in the world of millionaires and billionaires.
Both sides are at fault here. There is little to argue about in that regard. But the owners did the right thing: they negotiated, they reached a consensus among themselves, reached what they thought was an agreement with the players and, as Packers president Mark Murphy said, "put (their) pens down."
Rightfully so.
There's some belief that the owners owe the players something in this, that there should be an even split down the middle when it comes to the almighty dollar.
That's a total load.
Owners owe the players nothing. Owners pay the players hefty sums for services. Players are pampered under their contracts. The eat first-class meals. They travel on first-class charters. They are put up in first-class accommodations on the road.
If the players really think they're being treated that unfairly, perhaps they'd like to walk away and try finding a job in the real world.
It's hard to figure out just what the players were upset about. For all the accusations, none of the players came out with any specifics. And at the end of the day, they got just about everything they wanted save for unfettered access to the owners' parking spaces.
The amount of hitting in practices has been cut. Padded practices during the season will be limited to a maximum of 14 during the 17-week regular season. During the final three weeks, only three padded practices can take place. Two-a-days, one of the most unlikable portions of training camp, would disappear.
And ultimately, since no matter what anyone tries to tell you, it's all about the money, the players will receive 48 percent of gross revenues. No cap. No limit. Guaranteed over the life of the contract.
Strangely enough, the players are still trying to insert a clause in the deal that will allow them to opt-out after seven years. Considering all they've received in this deal, it's hard to fathom what more they could want that would necessitate such a clause but funny they don't seem to have any problems adding in extras after a deal is completed.
NBA is up next: If you thought the NFL negotiations were ugly just wait until NBA Commissioner David Stern and players' association president Billy Hunter sit down for the first time.
Whereas the NFL was fundamentally about the way revenue is shared, the NBA mess will only be resolved with a total and complete restructuring of the league's economic operating model.
In the NFL negotiations, both sides had incentive to get a deal done quickly. The NFL is arguably the primary spectator sport in the United States. The public outcry over cancelled games would have made the '94 baseball strike look like a family spat.
If the NBA loses games, though, there could be serious long-term problems. Yes, rating for the NBA playoffs were up this year and overall, the average per-game attendance was up slightly (very slightly) this year.
But if you watched the Bucks, for example, you know that the crowds have been sparse more often than not - in Milwaukee and in other not-quite-big-time markets. Performance has much to do with that, of course, evidenced by the Bucks' fall from grace this year.
But Milwaukee isn't the only market struggling to put butts in the seats. There is plenty of apathy towards the NBA. Sure, LeBron James and the Heat have made headlines but fans are more inclined than ever to stay home and watch those big-name players take their shots on television than in the arena.
A prolonged lockout could have a devastating effect on the NBA and especially its smaller markets. Of course, neither side is doing a lot of talking these days so there is little reason to expect a deal to be reached anytime in the near future.
Larry King Lounge: Marquette's non-conference schedule features a trip to the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands, a trip to New York to face Washington, a home game against Vanderbilt and road games at Wisconsin and LSU ... Anyone else getting the feeling that last year's Wisconsin football team was just a precursor of better things to come? ... Former Bucks player Desmond Mason is scheduled to appear in the upcoming movie "Just Crazy Enough" with former SNL cast member Chris Kattan ... The Milwaukee Mustangs wrapped up their season Saturday with a 54-41 victory at Chicago. The Mustangs finished on a three-game winning streak and with a 7-11 record.
