On the drive home:
In Congress, they can't agree on how to divvy-up money that isn't there and with the NFL, millionaires and billionaires can't agree on how to divvy-up money that is there.
Armageddon averted... for now:
America's favorite sport is still in business -- for another day.
The NFL and the players' union agreed Thursday to a 24-hour extension of the current collective bargaining agreement so that negotiations can continue.
Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, a member of the NFL Players Association's executive committee, told The Associated Press about the extension after the sides met for about eight hours before federal mediator George Cohen. The CBA was set to expire at midnight, which would likely have prompted the first work stoppage since 1987 for a league that rakes in $9 billion a year.
"We just know right now that we granted a 24-hour extension," Saturday said as he and Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch left the session.
For those of you wondering what the heck the feds are doing getting involved in a sports squabble between millionaires and billionaires, it is duly noted, but a $9 billion industry no matter what you think of the merits or justifications of federal involvement is none the less, a $9 billion industry.
Related: At a press conference today with Mexican President Felipe' Calderon, President Obama was asked to weigh in on the labor dispute.
“You’ve got owners, most of whom are worth close to a billion dollars; you’ve got players who are making millions of dollars,” said the president, who is a big fan of the Chicago Bears. “My working assumption, at a time when people are having to cut back, compromise and worry about making the mortgage and, you know, paying for their kid’s college education, is, is that the two parties should be able to work it out without the president of the United States intervening… My expectation and hope is that they will resolve it without me intervening, because it turns out I’ve got a lot of other stuff to do.”(italics, ours)
Well said, because he ain't lyin'.
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2 comments:
he's a bear's fan? huh. i remember him at the nats opening day stating that he was a chisox fan. and couldn't name one former player. or throw like a man for that matter.
As a general rule, pols should stay away from sports.
I remember with great fondness, John Kerry saying his favorite Red Sox player was "Manny Ortiz".
And, yes, that first pitch by Obama at the '09 All-Star game was cringe-inducing.
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