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NBA Cancels More Games, Forces Spike Lee To Go To Rangers Games
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 29, 2011
Modified Oct 29, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 29, 2011
Modified Oct 29, 2011
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You know things are bad with the fate of the NBA when Spike Lee is at a Rangers game—as one person observed on Thursday night while the #1 Knicks fan posed for a photo with beloved former Rangers captain Mark Messier, "he must be bored without the Knicks." And now it get worse: The NBA just announced games through November 30 would be cancelled.
Previously, NBA commissioner David Stern just cancelled the first two weeks of the season—now an entire month of games is gone. Stern said, "We held out that joint hope together, but in light of the breakdown of talks, there will not be a full NBA season under any circumstances. It's not practical, possible or prudent to have a full season now."
The NBA team owners and players have been arguing over money, in the form of contracts and revenue sharing. For instance, team owners want a 50-50 split, while players want 52.5%. That 2.5% represents $100 million. At this point, the league has lost about $200 million from not having a pre-season and stands to lose hundreds of millions more with the cancelled November games.
As for Lee, at the Rangers game, he was reportedly overheard saying he was there because he needed "a sports fix." A witness told Page Six, “He had 10 guys in the MSG store helping him buy a hat." And apparently a jersey too—he's wearing a Lundqvist shirt!
But when will both sides just agree that they're the epitome of self-involvement? Take it away, Onion News Network:
Tagged
basketball
madison square garden
money
nba
rangers
spike lee
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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