Thought this was a pretty good one for discussion, in light of current events. Enjoy!

I, as a die-hard fan of baseball as a child, just recently returned to my full fandom after a good 14 years of avoiding the sport. I still played when I could, but watching the game lost a lot of the magic it had when I was young.

I fear that the NFL lockout will do the same to me. I could care less who benefits from the outcome of this lockout. What matters to me is that my game is being sullied by a bunch of selfish assholes.

Now, I know there is a lot to be considered on the part of the players. Unguaranteed contracts, the lack of retirement benefits, a rookie wage scale and other issues do need to be addressed. But not at the cost of a potential work stoppage. I know it is much more complicated than it looks to us, but that does not absolve the NFLPA nor the owners of any guilt.

We, the fans, are the most important part of this equation; and we are not represented at all in the talks between the two sides. They seem to ignore this fact.

The main problem is, they know we will always come back.

The sad part about all this is that they are right. We love the game, and they are taking advantage of us like a hot, sociopathic ex-lover. They know we will always come back because they provide a product that we cannot live without.

I would love to make this a call to arms, and rally the fans against the NFLPA and the Owners, but it simply would not work. There are too many of us who would stand up, only to roll over and return to the game even if they put out a lesser product. I know I would.

It may be 3:00 in the morning, and I may have had a few too many. But I know when someone is taking advantage of me.

I hope, I wish, I would almost go so far as to say I pray that a deal is made before any significant damage is done. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening in the near future.

Perhaps it is time for another player to come into the mix, where is the WCW to this WWF?