Souray's column solidifed the belief I had that the players are making an error in logic in their whole position.. it was when he said the following:
"It makes sense that if we miss this year, the owners will be sitting there in September saying, "We've got to get a deal to get this season started."
What Souray's, and what seems to be 51% of the PA dont seem to understand is that the owners will not suddenly turn and say "Oh no! We've got to start playing in order to make money". Theyre not the old owners from 1994... theyre multi-billionaires... theyre major multinational corporations... in some cases theyre a conglomorate of minority owners with minor stakes in it.
The Fatal error Souray and players are making is that, instead of the incorrect prediction of the owners suddenly scrambling to start the season in '06 or '07, they will simply liquify their assets and fold their stake in the franchise. Simply put, they;ll close up shop.
The players dont seem to get that... the owners arent Millionaires... theyre BILLIONaires, as in 1000 times richer, more secure, and much more to lose in a money losing venture, and more willing to leave that venture and find another one that will make them money. Its a business to them... nothing more, nothing less. If its not profitable, theyre not gonna "fold" to lose more money. Nope. If the PA doesnt bend, the only folding that'll happen will be teams or, heaven forbid, the league itself.
Unfortunately, its going to take them 2 or 3 years to realize this.