NFL Players Urge Appeals Court to Lift Lockout

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JIM SUHR

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Attorneys on both sides of the NFL's bitter labor fight were back in the courtroom as the league's work stoppage dragged on with no sign of a deal to save the 2011 season.

Surrounded by some 200 people, including retirees on folding chairs brought in to handle the crowd, NFL players urged a federal appeals court Friday to declare the lockout illegal. Each side got roughly 30 minutes each to make its case.

The appeal centers on the lockout that began hours after months of labor talks fell apart March 11, the players' union dissolved and the fight ended up in federal court. The NFL contends the union decertification was a sham meant to gain leverage in the talks and the conflict remains subject to labor law.

The players argue that antitrust laws apply and the lockout put in place under labor law needs to be put on hold, as it was in April by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson in Minnesota.

Read more: http://sports.excite.com/news/06042011/v9133.html

[BadtotheboneBob]

1. Those forgotten in this mess

... are the 'Little people' that would be financially much more adversely affected if the season were canceled. The thousands of people from ticket takers to ushers to concessioners to vendors to cleaning crews to security staff etc that depend on those games to be played to help pay the bills. Be-damn'd to the avarice of the owners/players. What about the guy walking up and down the stairs carrying the hotdogs and peanuts (and, yes, beer) for 3-4 hours trying to make a buck or two?

[Crowman1979]

2. The NFL better be prepared for a fan backlash if they cancel the entire season.

There is gonna be a lot of empty seats in the season after that one.