Nov
25
Finally, It's tentatively Over
By Kassandra Posted in: Blazers
I've always hated the word "tentative."
It's meant to be a positive term in a contract negotiations of any time. A tentative agreement is supposed to provide a sense of optimism. Often it does. In the case of Saturday morning's tentative agreement between the NBA owners and players, we certainly hope so.
The agreement gives the league the confidence to go forward on plans for a 66-game season to begin with a triple-header on Christmas Day. There were originally scheduled three games to be played that day. It's not been revealed if it will be the same three match-ups or if the schedule will be reworked in some way.
A lot of details will be revealed in the coming days.
That's all dependent upon each side ratifying the tentative agreement amongst their prospective organizations. Both commissioner David Stern and players association president Billy Hunter are each optimistic that those ratifications will happen.
Training camps would open on December 9, with Stern indicating that a free agency period would begin at about the same time.
There has been much debate over who should give in when if comes to negotiations. The players certainly have made the major concessions. The owners have apparently agreed to enough system issues that the tentative agreement became possible.
But this agreement comes not only as welcome news to players, owners -- and even fans. We will soon be able to hear one more thing.
Our friends with the Blazers -- Adam Bjaranson, Casey Holdahl, Mike Barrett, Mike Rice, Brian Wheeler, Antonio Harvey, and Sportlandia's Greg Nibler and Sarah X. Dylan will finally once again to be able to talk about the current players on their shows without the threat of the gag order preventing them from doing so for the past 149 days. That may not be able to happen for a few more days, but it will happen. Blazer employees will also will be able to do the same on this site.
It's been great to reflect on teams of the past but -- and that's a great off-season filler -- but getting to business as usual is what fans really want.
It's going to be a crammed 29 days with getting the ready for the season. The bottom line is that the league is moving forward.
And isn't that why we all come here?
~ KMM
In Kassandra's Words features regular blogs throughout the year. Comments and questions are welcome and encouraged. Seasons begin and end, but our Blazers are forever. Please follow on twitter: @Kassandra227