Mark Purdy: NBA's problem? Most don't miss it

Courtesy: San Jose Mercury News
By Mark Purdy
Mercury News Columnist

The video of a train wreck is not always a video of a train wreck. Sometimes, it is a video clip of David Stern as the NBA commissioner talks about "nuclear winter," followed immediately by a video clip of an NBA player alongside a lawyer speaking about a "disclaimer of interest."

Yeah, whatever.

As they threaten to pull the plug on the entire 2011-12 season, the owners and players of the National Basketball Association are making such a big mistake, they don't even realize how big the mistake is.
Their biggest mistake: They actually seem to think that most people care whether the season happens. Most people don't.

Oh, some do. But most? More than 50 percent of the American public? Please. The only two professional sports that come close to interweaving with everyday American culture on a mass basis are baseball and football. You could probably conduct a scientific research study to determine that. For me, it's not necessary. I just know what I see and hear.

For instance, last summer when it appeared that the National Football League might not start the 2011 schedule on time -- might even miss some exhibition games! -- I could not spend 30 minutes in a Bay Area public place without having somebody bring up the topic.

These were people at the grocery store, or at dog park, or in one case, on a Yosemite hiking path. They would ask my opinion on whether they might have to spend September without the 49ers or Raiders.

"The two sides will settle," was always my answer. "There's too much money to be made by settling."
And there was. And they did. The NFL players took a minor hit in the new deal. But they ultimately figured out that fewer millions were still better than zero millions. I didn't care. That was their business. But it made sense to me.

It's a little different with the NBA. We are already two weeks into what would have been the regular season schedule. But I can only recall two people during those two weeks who have wondered if we will have Christmas without Kobe.

The reaction I hear most often is . . . well, it is the same reaction I received Tuesday afternoon from the sample group I questioned on whether they follow the NBA and will notice its absence.

"I watch in the playoffs if I get the chance," said Patrick Marleau, the Sharks' assistant captain.
"I follow it once they get to the playoffs," said his teammate, Joe Thornton.

Granted, the National Hockey League players are busy guys during the wintertime months. But it's not as if they are on the rink 18 hours a day. They watch stuff in their spare time. They will find stuff other than the NBA to occupy their eyeballs. So will most North American citizens.

I'm not the guy to analyze the NBA negotiations and pronounce judgment on who's right or wrong. But if the NBA players are smart, they might want to consult their hockey peers.

During the winter of 2004-05, the NHL did miss an entire season because of a labor dispute. The consensus among players is that it stunk on ice.

The Shark players -- at least those to whom I spoke -- all said they empathized with the NBA players, said it was important for them to stick together as a union. But they also said that 2004-05 was definitely not a joyful memory, even if Thornton did meet his future wife while playing in Switzerland. He was happy about that. He wasn't happy about most everything else. It wasn't a nuclear winter for the hockey players. Just a cold and lousy one.

Dan Boyle, the Sharks defenseman, swears that he no longer thinks about the financial ramifications of that non-season. But he still remembers the numbers. During that lockout season, he would have made more than $3 million playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Instead, he played in Sweden and made about $300,000.

Boyle is not complaining. He feels lucky to be compensated as well as he is. But late at night, how could he not think about the $2.7 million that vaporized out of his life? How could any player not think about his lost salary of 2004-05?

"I don't think it was good for anybody," said Sharks defenseman Colin White about that missed season. "The fan base, thank God, came back. You never know if people might lose track, lose interest and get involved with something else."

The NBA fans -- which means Warriors fans in the Bay Area -- will also come back. Pretty fast, probably. Fans of the NBA seem to regard the games, at least the regular season, as more performances than competitions. This work stoppage, to them, is more like their favorite music act taking time off before reuniting for another tour. The fans will just wait and buy seats for the next concert.

Until then, the NBA's absence will provoke no anguish. Especially around here. Not with the Bay Area's two NFL franchises in first place and guaranteed to be relevant at least through December. Not with Cal's basketball team ensconced in the college Top 25 rankings. Not with the Sharks providing reliable games of interest on a regular basis.

That's why the whole thing is so idiotic. The only people taking a hit -- except for the folks who work at Oracle Arena for home dates -- are the players and owners themselves. The NBA fans in Russia who live near Chernobyl must read Stern's quote about "nuclear winter" and puzzle over his comparison of basketball to radiation poisoning. And anyone in America who's been laid off or has taken a pay cut must laugh at the players' concerns over losing leverage to make more millions.

Enjoy your standoff, owners and players and Mr. Commissioner. Now let's see what other games in other sports are on television this week. Why would we spend time worrying about a train wreck instead?