Speaking of Scabs

From the '87 NFL strike, I remember...

Replacement players bringing cameras onto the field so they could take pictures of each other in uniform
The 49ers running the wishbone during one of their replacement games against the NY Giants.

Quite a few of the NFL scabs had decent careers afterwards.

Then there were the replacement baseball players for 1995 who never got to take the field (they played spring training then the strike settled just before opening day). These scabs were treated more severely. A few years later the Giants called up a third baseman who had scabbed, but the (union) players got him sent down after one day and he never appeared in the majors.
 
I do not condone scabbing.....but I do think it would be awesome if they just cancelled the entire NFL season. Omgz!! Just think how many fat fantasy football chumps heads would explode!
 
Hootie said:
I do not condone scabbing.....but I do think it would be awesome if they just cancelled the entire NFL season. Omgz!! Just think how many fat fantasy football chumps heads would explode!
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Amen. Think of how much easier it'd be to drive on game days.

I find it somewhat condescending for the NFLPA to issue a statement that they stand "with their union brothers and sisters in Wisconsin." Different unions, radically different purposes.
 
I hate pro football, I do enjoy the local semi-pro team. I can always get good seats and can usually see the guys at the local steak house after the game.
 
Kingairer said:
NFL season is canceled....But not to worry the WNBA will be adding games to fill the gap!
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I may be wrong, but the NFLPA decertified... There is no strike so a player going to work now wouldn't be "technically" scabbing :)
That being said, i wouldn't want to cross.
 
Autothrust Blue said:
I find it somewhat condescending for the NFLPA to issue a statement that they stand "with their union brothers and sisters in Wisconsin." Different unions, radically different purposes.
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Organized labor is organized labor. They may do different jobs, but the purpose of the union is the same: represent the interests of the employees in the face of hostile and greedy management. As a member of organized labor, I think it's great that the NFLPA doesn't segregate themselves and think that they aren't part of the overall movement. It's great to see guys who make millions of dollars identifying with labor and supporting their fellow trade unionists who make a tiny fraction of what they do.

TUCKnTRUCK said:
I may be wrong, but the NFLPA decertified... There is no strike so a player going to work now wouldn't be "technically" scabbing :)
That being said, i wouldn't want to cross.
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The decertification of the NFLPA means that several players have gotten together to file a class action lawsuit in order to end the lockout. There was never a strike in the first place. It was always a lockout by management. The players were happy to continue playing without a collective bargaining agreement, but management wasn't willing to put up with another season with no salary cap and complete free agency, so they locked out the players. The lawsuit has plenty of precedent on its side, so I'm sure the players will be successful, and then the owners are pretty much screwed. I understand their desire to play hardball to show that they won't just roll over, but they really are in a weak position here.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Organized labor is organized labor. They may do different jobs, but the purpose of the union is the same: represent the interests of the employees in the face of hostile and greedy management. As a member of organized labor, I think it's great that the NFLPA doesn't segregate themselves and think that they aren't part of the overall movement. It's great to see guys who make millions of dollars identifying with labor and supporting their fellow trade unionists who make a tiny fraction of what they do.



The decertification of the NFLPA means that several players have gotten together to file a class action lawsuit in order to end the lockout. There was never a strike in the first place. It was always a lockout by management. The players were happy to continue playing without a collective bargaining agreement, but management wasn't willing to put up with another season with no salary cap and complete free agency, so they locked out the players. The lawsuit has plenty of precedent on its side, so I'm sure the players will be successful, and then the owners are pretty much screwed. I understand their desire to play hardball to show that they won't just roll over, but they really are in a weak position here.
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That last part was pretty much my point.. that if players were to show up, it wouldn't be a strike/scab situation.
 
Lol, multi-millionaires identifying with the common man? You gotta be off your rocker. And oh yes, the greedy owners who compensate someone many millions of dollars to play a game. The shame!!
 
ATN_Pilot said:
the interests of the employees in the face of hostile and greedy management.
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Labor can be hostile and greedy just the same way. Management may appear evil, but to keep the ship afloat, they also need to keep the bond holders and investors happy - lest they call game over. Don't get me wrong, there are some former airline managers I would love to see burn in hell ('cause they screwed me too, personally).

At the end of the day, let's all try to remember that business negotiations can be cutthroat, as they should be in a free society. But we can still all work with each other at the end of the day.

And for what it is worth, I think crossing a legal picket line is stupid - it goes against one's own self interest. I am more than happy to walk away from a job if I think it will help my bargaining power, and such action is otherwise legal and appropriate.
 
pullup said:
Lol, multi-millionaires identifying with the common man? You gotta be off your rocker.
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Have you been watching the many interviews of NFLPA members on ESPN and other networks over the past few weeks? Some of these guys make far better trade unionists that most of the people we share cockpits with in this business. They get the labor movement.

And oh yes, the greedy owners who compensate someone many millions of dollars to play a game. The shame!!
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Are you aware that the average NFL player doesn't make anything even approaching millions of dollars? Do you know that the average NFL player gets less than 5 years in his entire NFL career? Do you know that virtually every single player ends up with a serious injury at some point during his career? As is usually the case, things aren't as rosy as they appear on the outside. These guys get a few short years to make enough money to last them for a lifetime, and they risk serious injury every time they take the field. The owners want to take a share of their revenue, and then they try to polish that turd by telling them that they'll be able to make up for some of their lost revenue by working two more games each year (and increasing their chance of injury, of course, but they conveniently leave that part out). It's the equivalent of airline management telling you that they're cutting your pay by 20%, but it's ok, because they'll be "nice" enough to let you fly 20 more hours every month to make up for it! :rolleyes:
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Have you been watching the many interviews of NFLPA members on ESPN and other networks over the past few weeks? Some of these guys make far better trade unionists that most of the people we share cockpits with in this business. They get the labor movement.
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I have seen a little and have actually been impressed by the players. But, like I said, billionaires fighting with millionaires doesn't pique my interest.

ATN_Pilot said:
Are you aware that the average NFL player doesn't make anything even approaching millions of dollars? Do you know that the average NFL player gets less than 5 years in his entire NFL career? Do you know that virtually every single player ends up with a serious injury at some point during his career? As is usually the case, things aren't as rosy as they appear on the outside. These guys get a few short years to make enough money to last them for a lifetime, and they risk serious injury every time they take the field. The owners want to take a share of their revenue, and then they try to polish that turd by telling them that they'll be able to make up for some of their lost revenue by working two more games each year (and increasing their chance of injury, of course, but they conveniently leave that part out). It's the equivalent of airline management telling you that they're cutting your pay by 20%, but it's ok, because they'll be "nice" enough to let you fly 20 more hours every month to make up for it! :rolleyes:
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Median salary in 2009 was $770,000. Some make good for their five years and some make less good. Their prospects for some serious money are much better than you and I. As far as injuries i guess that's the price they pay for a shot at glory. The issues I have heard (not sure if they're accurate) that the union has sound feasible but need to be modified, as is always the case I guess, hence negotiations.
 
I think the point was that playing a crushing, bruising game of repressed homoeroticism....er I mean hardcore manliness for five years at the highest level is something that ought to be compensated highly, especially because you're likely to wind up using a walker at age 50 and have, due to your absolute dedication to the game, absolutely no salable skills when, inevitably, you get hurt bad enough or become old enough that you can no longer play at a world class level.

The reactions remind me of all those posts we love to hate by people who think pilots just cruise around earning six figures and pressing the "land" button.
 
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