Originally Posted by aaron:2602439
look, the owners have decided not to negotiate until the last minute. they have planned on a half season, unless the union just bends over. Fehr's job is to hold them together until he can make a deal. That's more than a month away. until then, the players are just spitting in the wind. We should all resign ourselves to a half season, starting in 2013.
The owners don't want to cancel a season because they are making money, unlike in 2004/05.
The only leverage the players could have is stating a drop dead date, and sticking to it. That would be real hardball. Deal by Dec 15, or all negotiations stop until May 1. If no deal is forthcoming then, de-certify.