National Basketball Association

Hard to feel sympathy for owners

Published Jun. 30, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

When it comes to the NBA’s lockout, I have a hard time agreeing with the owners.

Let me start by saying I am not in favor of anyone losing their jobs. Let me add that I have a lot of friends employed by NBA teams -- and I respect the work they do.

But if NBA owners really lost in excess of $300 million last season, as they claim, then they need to look at all possible ways to save. They need to look at more than just player salaries. They need to factor in every aspect of their payroll.

Then they need to trim some fat.

In order for this to happen, owners will need to ask themselves some serious questions about how they run their business.

To whit:

Do they really need to pay team mascots six-figure salaries? If so, do they really need a full-time mascot?

Does every team really need two dance squads, two in-arena hosts and overpriced Jumbotrons that tell us when to clap? And do teams really need to hand out matching t-shirts to fans for playoff games and other special occasions?

And if owners are really so desperate, can’t they limit promotional nights, cut back on the number of ball boys and girls, eliminate team publications that require printing and distribution?

Then there’s the basketball side of things.

Is it really necessary for teams to possess a general manager, assistant general manager, player personnel director, director of scouting and a multitude of scouts -- all on the same staff?

Or what about the assistant coaches? Do you really need four men on the bench and a few more sitting behind it? Do you really need a strength and conditioning coach, a trainer and an assistant trainer? Can you maybe choose just one and take your chances?

I know, I sound like Dr. Evil here. I know, owners will tell you that the game itself doesn’t sell. They will tell you that the game needs to be “an experience,” a rock concert with bouncing balls.

They might even be right. My own sister has told me that without all the sideshow stuff, she would never give pro basketball a chance.

But I contend that if your team is competitive, people will come. If the team isn’t competitive, well, it won‘t really matter. Nobody is going to show up just to watch a guy dressed in a coyote costume dunk off a trampoline. You can see that at minor league arenas for minor league prices.

While I applaud the owners for wanting to fix their game, I cannot offer them unwavering support. Not when they spend so much money on junk, then ask their biggest meal ticket (the players) to take less.

Lose the person who shoots hot dogs out of a cannon into the stands, and maybe I’ll feel sorry for you.