"Bust the Ball" campaign.

**dguy4evr** · August-12-16, 07:41 AM

In todays Detroit News there is an article written by Mark Hicks about the Detroit Association of Black Organizations calling for fans to "Not spend money on tickets and merchandise". Their CEO, Horace Sheffield III is suggesting that African American players are being exploited by the NBA.
First, let me say this, while there is a large majority of players of African American descent, there are other ethnic groups that derive their livelihood from the NBA. They are not even mentioned, why??? Why is this all of a sudden a black issue?
Secondly, I am sure the vast majority of income derived from the selling of tickets and merchandise is spent on players salaries. Why cut off your nose to spite your face? So if Sheffield is correct, we can stop buying tickets and merchandise to rectify this travesty of justice. Wonder how the NBA players would respond to this?
I just don't understand the thinking here. To me it's counterproductive.

**Wheels** · August-12-16, 08:50 AM

Detroit Association of Black Organinations? Really? Why do we continue to promote Racism with groups like this? How can we ever obtain unity when Blacks are huddled off in the corner doing their own thing?

**Bobl** · August-12-16, 09:05 AM

Mr. Sheffield's father was a good man, who experienced, then bravely fought, discrimination and hatred in this city and in the auto plants. Now his son, who can afford season tickets for the Pistons games [[while his church is subsidized by the rest of the taxpayers) is fighting for the millionare players' rights. I guess this could be called measured progress.

**Honky Tonk** · August-12-16, 09:38 AM

Sounds to me like Mr. Sheffield is seeking gainful employment.

**Zacha341** · August-12-16, 10:23 AM

Here's the article. For one it's not going to work. Only a small percentage will adhere. Most will spend their money as they choose.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/new...tons/88553482/

**drjeff** · August-12-16, 10:34 AM

Sorry, but you can't convince me that grown men who get paid millions of dollars per year to play a sport are being exploited in any way, shape, or form.

**Wesley Mouch** · August-12-16, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by drjeff

Sorry, but you can't convince me that grown men who get paid millions of dollars per year to play a sport are being exploited in any way, shape, or form.

When you seek exploitation, everything looks like exploitation.

If you make your living from the racism industry, everything looks like racism.

Yes, even being paid millions is nothing but a form of servitude to The Man. There is an income inequality between Players and Owners in the NBA. That is of no doubt. It is every bit as real as the income inequality between Joe the Plumber and Donald Trump. Why should we discriminate against people just because they make $1m plus when their overlords make 100m+?

**401don** · August-12-16, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

When you seek exploitation, everything looks like exploitation.

If you make your living from the racism industry, everything looks like racism.

Yes, even being paid millions is nothing but a form of servitude to The Man. There is an income inequality between Players and Owners in the NBA. That is of no doubt. It is every bit as real as the income inequality between Joe the Plumber and Donald Trump. Why should we discriminate against people just because they make $1m plus when their overlords make 100m+?

Owners make more money outside of basketball, which obviously allowed them to become owners in the first place. There is nothing to stop players from earning money outside the game and the smart ones do so. NBA revenues however are split 50/50 between owners and players. The continued growth in worldwide revenues and tv is allowing both groups to become richer than ever. There is zero exploitation of players from basketball revenues.

**ndavies** · August-12-16, 01:08 PM

NBA revenues however are split 50/50 between owners and players.

What does that statement really mean? It's a really misleading statement.

If the players get 50% of revenues and the owner gets 50% who pays for the coaches, office staff, marketing..... It's not a factual statement.

At best the players get 50% of the revenue and the team has to split the rest of the revenue amongst all the other workers and costs of running a team. The owner gets whatever is left over. There is no way an owner gets 50% of the revenue.

**Wesley Mouch** · August-12-16, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

Owners make more money outside of basketball, which obviously allowed them to become owners in the first place. There is nothing to stop players from earning money outside the game and the smart ones do so. NBA revenues however are split 50/50 between owners and players. The continued growth in worldwide revenues and tv is allowing both groups to become richer than ever. There is zero exploitation of players from basketball revenues.

There is no game without the players. Black players often come from disadvantaged backgrounds, with disproportionate poverty compared with owners. Owners are making money off the players, and are not addressing social justice concerns at all. Is that not exploitation?

Players 2.3b
Revenues 5.0b

Under 50% is evidence of exploitation.

Look at this stat: "It’s the same with the NBA. Top earners like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James pull down $23 million to $25 million per year. Bottom guys like Marcelo Huertas and Christian Wood bring in $525,093. The typical NBA player is a lot closer to the bottom than the top." [[Moneynation)

**ndavies** · August-12-16, 02:23 PM

Sorry but there is also no NBA game and million$ salaries without the Stadiums, coaches, medical staff, ushers, Ticket sales, TV people, TV networks, Food service, security, Lawyers, agents, management to keep all this stuff in line, and fans willing to watch your product.

Without all these things, Your sport would look like would get the coverage of Olympic shooting.

**dguy4evr** · August-12-16, 02:33 PM

Maybe Mr. Sheffield is right after all. Boycott all ticket sales and sporting memorabilia from the NBA and why not throw in the NFL too? That will bring the super rich owners to their knees! More power to the people. We'll show them. And while we're at it, lets boycott the casinos, that will really put a crimp in their bottom line. Let's git er done!!!!!!

**belleislerunner** · August-12-16, 02:37 PM

"In a letter to Arn Tellem, Palace Sports & Entertainment vice chairman, Sheffield wrote that it’s “reprehensible that a team, and indeed a league, whose bottom line is based on Black players refuses to share any green with the same people of color beyond its players. For over 15 years I was a season ticket holder with the Pistons, purchasing suites, and supporting over activities and concerts there but I decided to discontinue the same inasmuch as I began to feel as is a new system of economic exploitation existed in the NBA and with the Pistons.”

I find it reprehensible that this alleged Christian would use the money he takes from his congregants as pastor and frivolously waste it on season tickets for a professional sports team. I would expect such antics from business people or city leaders. Not a pastor. He clearly doesn't follow the Jesus of the Bible.

**Bobl** · August-12-16, 04:01 PM

Bellislerunner, I agree with your post, but don't get me started on separation of church and state [[subsidies)! Peace.

**EGrant** · August-12-16, 04:17 PM

The NBA players association agreed to the current collective bargaining agreement with the owners. This relates directly to revenue sharing and salaries.

**BankruptcyGuy** · August-12-16, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by ndavies

What does that statement really mean? It's a really misleading statement.

If the players get 50% of revenues and the owner gets 50% who pays for the coaches, office staff, marketing..... It's not a factual statement.

At best the players get 50% of the revenue and the team has to split the rest of the revenue amongst all the other workers and costs of running a team. The owner gets whatever is left over. There is no way an owner gets 50% of the revenue.

Actually, that's exactly what it means. NBA clubs are trophy purchases, and very few generate positive cash flow. When Steve Ballmer paid $2B for the Clippers, most commentators thought he would have been better off buying something else.

I can't see any way in heck that players are "exploited" by the NBA. That's simply preposterous.

**EGrant** · August-12-16, 05:37 PM

The market determines pay for these guys. Thanks to the new TV deal, average players are making outrageous money. The fact that Harrison Barnes is making nearly $25 million a year flies right in the face of this wild assertion. The market determines salaries, and if it wasn't for the max salary cap, these owners would be paying players even more.