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Professional hockey

NHL Lockout Ends, Baseball Strike Entrenched

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The NHL lockout is nearing its end, but the baseball strike, which began Aug. 12, is becoming more deeply entrenched. The NHL players' association, headed by Bob Goodenow, has achieved a result that salvaged the season and the game, and did it with dignity. Meanwhile, the baseball players and owners have taken their dispute to different levels, involving the U.S. National Labour Relations Board and Congress, and have imposed a salary cap on players.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NHL players' association, headed by Bob Goodenow, has achieved a result that salvaged the season and the game, and did it with dignity, despite facing a seemingly insurmountable situation.
  • The baseball strike, on the other hand, is becoming more deeply entrenched, with the players and owners at an impasse, and the owners imposing a salary cap on players.
  • The baseball players have taken their dispute to different levels, involving the U.S. National Labour Relations Board and Congress, in an attempt to resolve the issue.
  • Player agent Tom Reich believes that the owners are likely to lose their antitrust exemption, which they received in 1922, and that this could be a key factor in brokering a deal between the two sides.
  • The executive board of the players association has formally adopted a regulation that prevents agents from representing replacement players, and the agents have voted to continue the signing ban indefinitely.

Statistics:

  • The NHL lockout is nearing its end, with a resolution expected soon.
  • The baseball strike, on the other hand, is entering its third month, with no end in sight.
  • Since the owners declared an impasse and imposed their own conditions, including the salary cap, on Dec. 23, no player has signed a major-league contract.
  • The players' association has certified agent Craig Fenech, but he is prevented from representing replacement players due to a regulation adopted by the executive board.

Sources:

  • "NHL lockout nearing its end, baseball strike deepens" by Larry Millson, published in the Toronto Star.
  • Quoted agent Tom Reich and Craig Fenech in the article.

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