Sunday, March 27, 2011

Someone (a guy with 10 PSLs) finally speaks up for the common man in NFL labor dispute: Bud Shaw's Sunday Sports Spin

Ken Lanci's suit against the Browns is a long shot, and with 10 PSLs he's not really a "man of the people'' but he is speaking up on behalf of football fans, which makes him a winner in the Sunday Sports Spin.

lanci.jpgKen Lanci is taking on the Browns and the NFL: It's about time someone spoke up for the average fan.

If you ever see him at a concession stand, buy this man an overpriced stadium beer.

Ken Lanci's lawsuit against the Browns and the NFL might give him "man of the people" status even if it's only "man of the people well-off enough to own 10 PSLs" status.

Experts have determined the former candidate for the Cuyahoga County executive post has little chance of winning.

Lanci's suit argues that by participating in the lockout, the Browns have acted to "destroy the value of the PSL agreement." That's a tough sell in March for games that may or may not be missed in September.

But anybody speaking up even remotely on behalf of NFL fans these days deserves applause. And if it's someone not actively running for political office, even better.

I mean, why should the players and owners be the only ones to go the woe-is-me route with no provable evidence of harm?

The owners say they're "taking back our league" as if they're disenfranchised Libyan rebels.

They also say they need your season-ticket money May 1 for a season that might not happen. (More on that later.)

The players chose a sham decertification of their union at a time when people around the country are facing the involuntary loss of collective bargaining power.

Twice now, players have compared their employee-boss relationship with owners to the wrong end of "modern-day slavery."

So, Ken Lanci, you have no chance of completing this Hail Mary pass. And, sir, you threw it on first down with lots of time on the clock. But, hey, we appreciate the spirit in which you intended it.

Thanks.

Even if it's for nothing.

How about a refund, Browns?

We couldn't do it without you . . . so pay up.

Every regime in Berea tells Browns fans they're passionate, loyal, salt-of-the-earth.

Since they're incapable of rewarding you with a winning team for your efforts, the least the Browns could do is take a cue from other teams when it comes to how much of your season-ticket money is due May 1.

They don't have to be the New York Giants, who announced they will not collect any season-ticket money until a labor settlement is announced.

They could be the Buffalo Bills, who are asking for 50 percent up front and the rest upon settlement, according to the Associated Press. Or the Panthers who are asking for 10 percent up front and 90 percent when the owners and players agree to a new deal.

NFL teams have agreed to refund money for lost games, but not until one is actually lost. That's September. Why should they hold your money for four months if there's no deal in place?

Nine teams are raising ticket prices, according to the AP. The Browns aren't. In fact, the AP lists the Browns, San Diego, Arizona and Tampa Bay as teams that are reducing ticket prices.

That's a good move.

They have until May 1 to make an even better one.

Spinoffs

The Smithsonian National Gallery will house a portrait of former Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez. With any luck, it shows him cowering in the dugout at Jacobs Field watching a brawl he instigated.

So the Browns were one of the NFL teams fined for meeting with players (in their case, giving Colt McCoy a playbook) against league rules? I can think of worse uses of Randy Lerner's money in past years. Unfortunately, lots of them come to mind.

Does anyone else think it's only a matter of time before Nick Fairley says he'd like to be called "Big Money?"

Tiger Woods has a new app for $9.99 called "My Swing." Doesn't specify which one of the 12 he's tried in the last year but that's $9.00 more than a couple of them are worth.

Can't tell which fate-tempting pregame headline did OSU in: "Ohio State draws rave tournament reviews" or "Hype doesn't affect Ohio State."

Cleveland is a resilient sports town, though. OSU loses on the same day the Browns get a compensatory seventh-round pick in the April draft. Can life get any better?

If you want to gloat to Steelers Fan, that seventh-rounder is No. 247 overall.

By ripping Boston GM Theo Epstein to a men's fitness magazine, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter thought no sportswriter would see it. Nice try, Showalter. We have friends who work out.

Two NFL players have now used the "slavery" reference to describe their relationship with owners. I might've missed an episode or two of "Roots" but don't remember Kunta Kinte saying he had $80 million in the bank, like Carson Palmer.

As much as baseball gets beat up for its Steroid Era, something tells me if they start testing for HGH in the NFL, Phil Dawson could double as a pulling guard.

He said it

show.jpgBuck Showalter didn't mind having George Steinbrenner's checkbook at his disposal when he was managing the Yankees. Now that he's in Baltimore managing the Orioles, Showalter is only too happy to point out the payroll discrepancies in the AL East.

"I'd like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay payroll. You got Carl Crawford 'cause you paid more than anyone else, and that's what makes you smarter? That's why I like whipping [them]: It's great, knowing those guys with the $205 million payroll are saying, 'How the hell are they beating us?' " -- Baltimore manager Buck Showalter to Men's Journal.

You'll have to take Showalter's word that he felt just as bad about baseball's lopsided playing field when he managed the New York Yankees.

He said it (better)

"I renewed, like any good sheep would, because there are, supposedly, another 50,000 or so lunatic sheep like me waiting." --New Orleans Saints season-ticket holder Hank Graham.

Lunatic Sheep is either the next great garage band name or the perfect Browns fan club name.

You said it

(The Slightly Expanded

Sunday Edition)

"Bud: I was watching the NCAA Tournament commercials when it got interrupted by a basketball game. What gives?" -- Anthony Iafornaro.

Apparently so was Marquette.

"Bud: I see that Hanford Dixon has been named head coach of the new Cleveland lingerie league football team. Can you say winning?" -- Gavin, Beachwood

I can't help thinking Benny Hill would've made the perfect coach and "Yakety Sax" the perfect song for pregame player introductions.

"Bud: Ohio sports fans didn't really think William Buford's last-second shot was going in, right?" -- Angelo, Cleveland

Actually, from past big-game letdowns involving teams around here, I expected one more brick to land on the head of Jared Sullinger, concussing him for next season.

"Bud: Have you ever demanded the PD open their books to your representatives during contract negotiations?" -- Steve V.

No, but in an attempt to lighten the mood during negotiations I have let them see my checkbook balance.

"Bud: I was so depressed when Duke and OSU lost to blow up my NCAA bracket. Then I thought: 'Hey, I still have the Heat and Yankees to cheer for. Not to mention General Electric -- $5.1 billion in U.S. profits and no taxes.' (I think the cops and teachers can cover for them.) Life on the bandwagon is good." -- Jim, Shaker Heights.

Front-running "You said it" winners receive a T-shirt from the mental_floss collection.

"Voice of Reason: Shouldn't the NCAA let Ohio State play on since history shows us that in a couple years everything a John Calipari-coached team did in the tournament will be vacated?" -- Dan Okress

Repeat winners get their previous wins stripped.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/budshaw/index.ssf/2011/03/someone_a_guy_with_10_psls_fin.html

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