The rest is just noise

Chapter 114: Greetings to you who will surely get what you want

As usual, the union wants to strike, but this is not a mandatory measure or an administrative order. The union serves the players and has no right to order the players to do anything.

Therefore, for the union to ask players to strike, it requires the players' voluntary consciousness.

All teams must hold a players meeting, led by the captain, to vote within the team on whether to strike.

This tradition originated from a snowy night in Boston in 1964. Players of that generation did not have high salaries, comprehensive benefits, no guarantees after retirement, the schedule was devilish, and the flying conditions were terrible - no matter what.

You can't compare with today's players.

It was the voting results that night that determined that today's players can get an average salary of US$200,000, and that they have the confidence to ask the boss for a share of the TV broadcast contract.

In this historical context of great responsibility, no player will let his selfish nature dominate his will.

It took ten minutes for the Celtics players to gather for a meeting, but the voting process took less than five seconds.

No one opposed the strike.

Bird took on the team's hopes like a leader. He said: "I will express my position to the team. I will tell Bill and Reid and let them know our decision."

Isiah Thomas asked: "What if they threaten you with the future and the law?"

"I can lose this job, or I can go to jail." Bird didn't even look at Thomas, he just made sure everyone saw his determination, "But I won't let you down."

On March 6, Fitch proposed an internal team meeting.

All players, the entire coaching staff, management and owners are required to attend.

The atmosphere was very tense. The atmosphere within the Celtics team had never been so tense. Even if they played a bad game and Fitch scolded everyone, it would not be like this.

No one wants to speak first.

Owner Harry Mandrian is currently involved in a contract dispute with the Boston Garden. He is distraught and can be said to be the most low-key owner in this labor crisis.

There are rumors that he is considering selling Celtic.

If he is serious, his low profile is understandable. He doesn't want to be the boss anymore, so why does he care about the salary cap?

Louis sat next to Auerbach, and then the boss spoke first.

Mandrian said softly: "You must all know about the recent labor disputes. The players union has announced that if a new agreement cannot be reached before April 1st, you will go on strike. Now I just want to know what you really think."

As agreed before, Bird will negotiate with the team.

Byrd stood up and said: "The attitude of the union is our attitude."

Mandrian's tone was very gentle: "You have to think about it, the strike means a reduction in income, and may also anger CBS. They have the right to shorten or even cancel the broadcast contract. Once there is no TV broadcast income, the team will only rely on normal operations.

It is impossible to maintain the current operations, and by then, all of your incomes will be sharply reduced."

"Sir, we are not businessmen." Bird said, "Each of us is confused, but we believe in the union and Mr. Larry Fleischer. Although the future is confused, this is definitely the right path and our necessity.

Through the road."

Mandrian's determination to convince the players was not very strong. Louis noticed the fatigue on his face and he no longer wanted to get involved in these things.

"I don't know what reason you have to strike!" Auerbach said, "I gave each of you a good contract. The amount of the contract was signed after consultation with your agent.

What are you dissatisfied with now?"

Bird replied with a straight face: "Because we can't just think about ourselves."

Bill Fitch couldn't stand to hear it anymore.

"What you do will only put other teams into a more difficult predicament! Do you know that 2/3 of the teams are losing money? Do you know that many of them are just barely holding on? If you don't control it,

With increasingly exaggerated salary levels, many teams will go bankrupt! There will be many players without jobs. Is this your purpose?"

"Stop it Bill!"

Another player spoke, and the speaker was veteran Archibald.

"The owners in 1964 also said they were going bankrupt; the owners in 1972 said the same; you still said the same in 1976. The result? The league is getting richer, but the owners are unwilling to share the money in their pockets.

To the players, we are also part of this league. We play hard, bring exciting games, and attract more fans. Now we ask for a share of the revenue from the broadcast contract because we are the guarantee of ratings. Isn’t this too much?”

Fitch said angrily: "You know nothing!"

"The league's revenue has increased, but now the cost of signing players has also increased. The Celtics have not wronged any of you. You all received a salary that is consistent with your worth. The salary of others has nothing to do with you. All you have to do is

Be worthy of your salary, train and compete on time, and then go home and sleep!"

Fitch's roar filled the room.

"I'm warning you! If you dare to strike, all of you will lose 50% of your salary, and the team has the right to do so! If you bring more damage to the team, you will be sued when the time comes, I guarantee

You will lose everything!" He glanced at Archibald with sharp eyes like a wild beast, "If someone dares to initiate a strike in the name of the team, I hope that person will be able to pay the salary of the entire team. Without this

With financial strength, I guarantee that he will go to court, and I hope he finds a good lawyer!"

Archibald was extremely angry, and Fitch's words tore the bonds between him and the others.

A cold smile appeared on Bird's face, and he asked sarcastically: "What if we decide not to strike?"

"We will find ways to increase your salary, we will find ways to let you fly first class on away trips, and we will find ways to improve your benefits." Fitch is well versed in the stick-and-carrot lobbying method. "As long as you

No strike!"

College coaches like Fitch who don't know much about NBA history can't understand the players' choices at this moment.

"Well, I'm their representative, I can represent them, Bill, in your words, I'm the one acting in the name of the team."

Bird seemed to be about to score a buzzer-beater on the court. His eyes scanned the management and owners, and finally met Fitch: "No matter what happens, if the league and the union do not reach a new agreement on April 1st,

, we will strike."

"What did you say?!" Fitch yelled, "You better know what you're talking about!"

Larry Legend proudly said: "If the negotiations fail, we will set an example for the entire league and respond to the union's call to strike on April 1st!"

Fitch's face was full of anger. Bird was usually the player who supported him the most, but now he was also the player who opposed him the most.

His anger is useless.

In the end, the meeting ended with the players' firm stance.

When the boss Mandrian stood up, he said: "I'll wait and see."

Auerbach looked very angry, sneered and left.

Fitch even slammed the door angrily and left.

Louis opened a bottle of Heineken and held it in front of Bird.

"Louis, what are you doing?" Bird asked.

Louis smiled lightly and said: "I salute you who will surely get what you want."

Fitch's threat was an empty threat and an illegal threat. He clearly violated the Labor Law.

His threats were unlikely to come true and inspired rebellious sentiment among the players.

The same thing happens in many teams.

If the Celtics are a battlefield, then the Seattle SuperSonics are a hand-to-hand battle with bayonets.

The boss threatened the players that if they dared to strike, he would fire everyone on the team and quickly found 12 players to play.

Intimidation from the owner and management, oppression from the coaching staff, dissatisfaction from the fans, and various threatening letters threatening personal attacks appeared continuously.

Larry Fleischer, a good leader, sent out a memo to all players: "I have said in various meetings over the summer and fall that if we were close to a 'strike date,' we would not be allowed to play.

Do not face various attacks from the bosses. Facts have proved that my prediction was correct. They will threaten you, and some teams have already done so.

First, the league's office sends a memo to every general manager with instructions on how to deal with you. Some teams put a three-page memo in your locker; some have the general manager talk to you.

Talked it over; some have had the boss talk it over with you. The purpose of this is obviously to defeat you psychologically. They are improperly stating from a legal perspective that they will be withholding your wages, both now and in the future.

...and there will be ongoing threats in the coming weeks.

I have told you that they will try to divide us, and their initial attempt was to discredit me, which they have always done. The report they give you will appear to be an attack on the confidence of our negotiating team, rather

To me. The next step will be to divide us by teams, salary, high-paid players and low-paid players and other ways. Again, this is something I told you could happen, and it has happened.

Stay patient and have faith, this is not for you and me, this is for the current, retired and young players who will enter the league in the future! This all started when Bob Cousy founded the players union and continued with the great 1964 game.

The strike is inherited from Oscar's four-year lawsuit. This is a historical responsibility that our generation must shoulder. We cannot retreat or bow our heads. We will remain determined until the last moment!"

In just one day, all teams and players, including the hesitant 76ers, expressed through the media that they would respond to the union's call.

If a new agreement is not reached on April 1st, they will strike directly.

This is what the NBA is like today. They are composed of a group of arrogant, arrogant and greedy players. Nearly half of them are drug addicts. They don’t care about the world and only care about themselves. But they have inherited the will of their predecessors. This is related to the future of the players.

At this blessed moment, the selfish ghosts were eliminated by the sense of responsibility. They showed up collectively and sent the strongest voice to the boss and the league who did not believe that they really dared to strike.