Conference school::sports_memorabilia

    I really don't care.  I gave up on baseball cards this summer and
    I'm not really interested in going back to buy new sets (except
    to finish the collectors choice baseball).  I've moved on and don't
    really care when they come back.
    

    IMHO - the strike is OK.  It will be the omnly time that fans can
    change the game.  If 100,000 people in NY cancel their Yankees cable
    contract it will cost the cable company 17 mill.  If the cable company
    doesn't pay George, it will force him to reconsider his stance and
    presto - fans without knowing it stayed away from the game.
    I'm on strike

    I cancelled NESN (R Sox/Bruins) on the first day of the strike.  The
    rep on the other end of the phone tried to convince me that the strike
    would be short, and then there was the Bruins...blah blah blah.  They
    had a deal where you keep NESN for two months, continuing to pay for
    it, and then on Oct. 1st, they credit you for those two months,
    supposedly regardless of whether you keep it or not.  This package was
    only for those who called to cancel.  I did it, so on Oct 1st, we'll
    see how it comes out.
    
    I have not paid to see a ballgame in person since the last strike (I
    did get a couple of freebies along the way though), and now definitely
    do not plan on paying again for a long time.  I blame the owners for
    being stupid paying marginal players huge bucks (hello Mike Greenwell).
    They created the monster.  I cannot blame the players for having a 
    "strike while the iron is hot" philosophy.  I would do the same.  I'm
    not sure I would have voted to strike though, and I wonder how many did
    so to avoid being labeled a strike-breaker.  I believe there is a lot
    of peer pressure involved.
    
    I have also bought no new baseball cards in months, and again do not
    plan to do so.  I'll continue to try to fill the older sets but all of
    the new stuff can rot on the shelves as far as I'm concerned.
    
    I am also on strike.
    
    PM
    

    Well you guys, I'm not happy with what I'm hearing.  Your not going to
    buy anymore baseball cards, and your cancelling your cable.  I have
    done neither, but my TOPPS Stock has dropped dramatically over the past
    week because the so-called financial experts predict that the lack of
    baseball will effect the earnings of TOPPS, Corp.  So I'm upset.
    
    I feel that the owners are in this for one reason only, to once and for
    all break the players union.  Thats it!  After watching this series on
    baseball, the owners and players have been squabbling ever since the
    game started.  I like the series, very educational.  But getting back
    to the strike, I wish that the owners would open it up to the minor
    leaguers, and the players who wish to come back.  Lets see who has
    brass balls in the majors and dare cross the picket lines. By spring,
    there are going to be alot of players begging to come back, it beats
    waiting on tables, or laying floors.  You wait, the players will come
    begging for work this time.  Just like those football slobs, I remember
    reading back a few years on this same file, talking about all those 
    "coke-heads" how they wanted more money.  Remember??  The owners opened
    it up to the "SCABS", the players got mad, and came back with their
    heads between their tails.  Ha, Ha, Ha.  I feel that the owners take
    the risks, they put up the money, and they administer the game. So they
    should make more money.  If they don't like the rules, let them start a
    new league, put up some of there money, and see how easy it is.  As we
    talk about this, these guys careers are passing them by, without pay. 
    Yes their making a little on the side, but its not what their use to. 
    They will fold!  There not smart enough, there agents/lawyers are
    causing all the problems.  "selohssa" .  Lets see them get them out of
    this mess. 

    Well they're going to either break the union or they'll lose their
    anti-trust exemption.  It'll be interesting  to  see what the card
    companies do next year.  Who's going to want to buy sets in Decem-
    ber if it looks like there won't even be a spring training ?
    
    It's funny how people mention how older players tried harder, went
    out and played when  they  were  hurt etc. etc. Well, if you think
    about it,  if they didn't the  owners  probably would've cut their
    pay or dropped them and I'm sure they did in a lot of cases.
    
    I can see why the Yankees built  their  dynasties starting back in
    the 20's. They must've been one rich ball club.
    
    John

    Get them to stop putting a double in each pack...
    

    My 2 cents...
    
    I don't care if the owner or players have a case - I'm the consumer
    for their product and thats where the decision lies.  Personally,
    I got to believe if avid fans were to lower their consumption 
    say 33%, they would realize that they need to work out problems on 
    their time, not mine.  The Rockies raised their ticket prices
    20% only 2 days after the strike.  I will definitely be going to 
    less games because of costs and to boycott strikes.
    
    They will continue to push (strike) if they believe the market will 
    stand for it, I for one will not.
    
    P.S. I'm not mad as long as I can play, watching is secondary.
         Still got to wonder if M. Williams could have broke the record.

    The fans are talking back, I understand, promotional gear, cards, etc.
    sales have dropped by 50%, and its starting to roll throughout the
    economy.  The card companies are hurting, the clothing manufacturers
    are not getting replacement orders, and they are very concerned.  Don't
    need as many baseballs or bats produced.  The vendors and parking lot
    attendents are bankrupt, can't pay their mortgages.  Peanut prices are
    coming down, supply and demand.  This is a ripple effect that is
    causing many problems for the economy.  The govenment will soon
    intervene.  Can't wait to go to a local National League game, to bad 
    Red Sox, but your 90 mile zone is gone.