Playoff Baseball is The King
October 7, 2011What I Think I Know About the NBA Lockout
October 8, 2011While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
Happy Saturday, Cleveland fans, my name is Ben Cox and I’ll be a new weekend poster here at WFNY. If my name seems familiar, it’s possible you’ve read my work at TheClevelandFan.com, LeBrownsTown.com, RealCavsFans.com, or my own blog, BenBlog.net. I grew up in Northeast Ohio, did my undergrad at Ohio State (music history) and my masters at Kent State (library science). I’m kind of weird as a Cleveland fan, as my first and biggest love are the Cavs. Needless to say, I’m pumped to be joining the folks here at WFNY. Feel free to yell at me on the Twitter machine, @BenCox83.
Onto the links!
The Hank Williams/ESPN situation isn’t a First Amendment issue: None of which, of course, changes the fact that the Williams/ESPN dispute has absolutely nothing to do with the constitutional right to free speech. Williams is still perfectly free to go on FOX News or whatever other station that will have him to say whatever he wants about Obama and Hitler, just like ESPN is perfectly free to disassociate itself with anybody for any reason, including a sociopath (or, if you prefer, “*******“**) when that sociopath (********) goes on TV to make profoundly regressive statements. Of course, anybody who actually feels like they are less free to say something because of ESPN’s decision is either an idiot or a sociopath (********) himself, and/or whatever it is that this person is now more afraid to say as a result of ESPN’s decision is just something that is wrong or, in other words, something that only a sociopath (********) would say. Of course, instead of making the world a less safe place for “free speech,” if anything, ESPN’s decision actually made the world a less safe place for sociopaths (********),*** which is a good thing, and probably the best thing that ESPN has done in awhile.**** [The Cleveland Frowns]
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Will the NBA lockout hurt Cleveland businesses? Maybe: Harry Buffalo is one of the downtown restaurants in Cleveland that counts heavily on the beer-drinking, burger-devouring NBA crowd to keep its doors open. Operations manager John Adams has taped an internet report outside the kitchen for his waitresses, bartenders and cooks to read.
With yellow highlighter, he’s shaded the grim news of the NBA labor impasse for his employees, some of whom may soon lose their jobs if there’s no deal.
This is where the lockout hits home, and hits hardest.
“It’s rough,” Adams said, glancing toward The Q. “I’ve got three single moms on my wait staff and two single dads in the kitchen. I’ve got their 11 children to think about. It’s painful when it’s out of my control, when I have to put the business first and say I can’t have 15 servers on staff because we don’t have the business.” [Plain Dealer/Associated Press]
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But maybe not: After another fruitless round of talks between the players and owners, it looks like the start of the NBA season—if not the whole thing—will soon be wiped out. It’s not only hoops fans who are anxious at the prospect of a lost season. By all accounts, cities with NBA franchises have also been cringing in terror. With the start of the season a month away, we’ve already seen predictions of a “devastating” impact on Charlotte, N.C., businesses, a $55 million loss to the city of Indianapolis, and certain disaster for sports bars in Portland, Ore.
This kind of reporting is a staple of sports work stoppages, and it’s easy to see why. Idle turnstiles and shuttered souvenir stands are obvious indicators of lost economic activity, and an easy visual symbol of the impact of the sports world’s regular strikes and lockouts. The problem with these stories is that there’s no evidence to support any of their claims. The lost city revenues, the devastation for local businesses—none of it ever happens. [Slate/Neil deMause]
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It’s shaping up to be a short senior season for DeVier Posey: The NCAA has suspended Ohio State receiver DeVier Posey for another five games, a ruling that drew the ire of Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith and virtually wipes out Posey’s senior season.
[snip]
As it stands, Posey will be able to return for the Buckeyes’ home game against Penn State on Nov. 19 and the road trip to Michigan on Nov. 26. He was suspended for being overpaid $720 by Independence Excavating, and for accepting a free round of golf worth about $100 from another person. Previously he had been suspended five games at the start of the season for his role in the tattoo scandal that broke last December.
Ohio State running back Dan Herron and offensive lineman Marcus Hall, also suspended for today’s Nebraska game, saw their latest suspensions set at one game, allowing them to return against Illinois next week. Injured defensive lineman Melvin Fellows also had his suspension set at one game. [Plain Dealer/Doug Lesmerises]
1 Comment
Welcome, Ben. You’re off to a good start. And thank you for making this a You-Know-Who-free zone.