You cant blame the league for running a wildly successful business. Young makes a good point, but it appears that everyone is after all of the money, not just the league. Player lawsuits, agents, municipalities, State Governments all want a piece. If the fans are willing to pay, via PSL's, TV, Games , Shirts etc then keep selling adn selling until something changes.
As for the refs, I really have a problem with them basically saying the league has all this cash, and we want more just on the basis the league has it. Are they doing anything more than they did last season or the season before? Dont know about any of you, but in the world I live in raises, bonuses etc have been non existent for quite some time. Actually things have gone backwards so what entitles the refs to more? Many of these part-timers make significant dollars into the six figures.
I agree with the league on this one. The refs are trying to strong-arm for the cash and its easy to say its only a few million so why is it an issue. Its a money grab for everyone involved. Players, Managers, owners, refs, vendors and they all want their fair share-which is way more than they are entitled to. We will be the ones eventually paying for eveyones unrealistic demands. Also are the replacement refs incapable of learning the game? From what I read on this board and many others you could probably pull hundreds of people who know the game and its rules as good as the regular refs and put them out there on the field. After a while no one would really know the difference. Its experience and the ability to learn that makes refs good, not some magical ability. GIve these guys some time and I think they will get the job done until and if the regular refs get back.
We cant complain about the costs of things too much and the underlying greed, because the only ones who can really change things are the people paying the freight-THE FANS!