CBA

Collective Bargaining Agreement.  It's omnipresence throughout the season has been palpable.  Everywhere you turn, the talking heads are discussing it, so are the players, the owners and the commissioner.  But what the fuck is it???

I've taken some time to try to figure out what it is, but it's all over my head.  All I can see is that it's a war between owners and players, each wanting more of the hard earned money that we the fans graciously shell out to enjoy our favorite pastime.  All I know is that if something doesn't happen by March 2nd, we have no 2011 season.  All I hear about are gripes from each side about silly things.

YOU are the ones that make millions and millions off people who can sometimes barely scrape enough money together to go to a game.  YOU have inflated ticket prices so high that some of us can't afford to do anything but watch games on TV.  YOU get to swim in your Scrooge McDuck money pit while the rest of us work 40-80 hour weeks to live paycheck to paycheck.

Yet, we always come back.  Why?  Because we LOVE the game.

Why don't you love the game anymore?  When was it that you stopped feeling that excitement and anticipation to get out onto the field and started focusing purely on monetary gain?

From what I've gathered, you both have some valid points to your arguments.  Players want better care for themselves after they are out of the game and owners want to add 2 regular season games.  But is arguing over trivial things like that really worth the possibility of a lockout?

Please think not only of the disheartened fans, but of all those people who will be out of jobs come football season.  Stadium workers, vendors, maintenance crews, bus drivers, hotel workers... so many people will suffer because you don't want to play a few extra games or support displaced players.  It's not all about you, Mr. Moneybags.  There are people whose very livelihood is on the line, give them a little courtesy while hashing out your agreements.

Personally, I would be devastated and jaded without a 2011 season.  It would take away the magic I feel when I see those boys on the field in the future.  The stadium lights would seem dimmer and it would force me to see behind the shiny exterior of the football mystique and I'm not ready to give that up.  I've already had enough heartbreak this year, it's not time for you to stomp the shattered pieces into dust.

xoxo,
Blanche Sanche