Let us know when the NBA begins playing again

I'VE SURPRISED myself a bit.

Last night, the NBA was supposed to start its 2011-12 season, highlighted by marquee matchups between the reigning champion Dallas Mavericks and the Chicago Bulls, plus the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tonight, the 76ers were supposed to tip off in Toronto against the Raptors. The Sixers' home opener at the Wells Fargo Center was supposed to be Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Didn't happen, won't happen.

Because of the lockout, which began July 1, the NBA canceled last night's games, tonight's games and all remaining games through November.

What surprises me is that it doesn't really bother me.

I'm not one of those haters who somehow gets some measure of personal satisfaction by saying, "Nobody cares about the NBA." I love the NBA, even with all of its faults.

As soon as the owners and players settle this thing and get the games back on the court, I'm back in.

Just as with the NFL, I won't hold a grudge.

But until games actually are being played again, I could not care less about what's going on with the NBA.

I've had enough of the juvenile saber-rattling that's been passed off as collective bargaining negotiations. At this point, unless it is an announcement that the lockout has been lifted, I'm not interested in anything NBA commissioner David Stern, National Basketball Players Association executive director Billy Hunter, NBPA president Derek Fisher, any owner or superstar player has to say.

Friday was the last, backbreaking straw for me.

After negotiating for nearly 30 hours over a few days, the league and the union abruptly threw up their hands and said they were back where they had started.

"I want a 50-50 basketball-related income split." . . .

"Not going to give it to you."

Why did they need 30 hours? After about 40 minutes of that kind of dialogue, you can figure out it's time to pack up and go your separate ways. But, instead, these yahoos teased us with talks of optimism that a deal might be close.

The next thing you know, they are storming out of meetings and throwing out excuses about who is to blame for things breaking down.

I don't care who is to blame.

You've let a month of the season get canceled, yet you still can't be concerned enough to meet 24/7 to resolve things.

The agenda has little to do with getting the product back on the court.

What bothers me is that I already know how this will play out.

When it's finally resolved, we'll all say, "Hell, they could have done those things 3 months ago."

The owners will win. It's not about what's right or wrong or what is or is not fair. The owners have the leverage. A player's earning potential is extremely finite.

Players must make as much as they can as quickly as possible, because they never know what game might be their last. If the NBA shuts down even for only a season, some players will lose significant portions of their careers.

Owners have the luxury of time. Much of their losses will be offset by the player salaries they save. And once the games resume, they'll have various avenues to gradually recoup the rest.

Most of us think only of the superstar multimillionaires like Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James. But a lot of rank-and-file players don't have millions stored away. There are players from the 2011 draft who have yet to receive a dime.

There are low- and midlevel free agents who simply are looking for one more season.

Ultimately, those guys will have a say in these negotiations, too. Eventually, they will realize that the only "win/lose" situation in this fight revolves around pride.

Financially, because of the type of money involved, there won't be any losers when this thing shakes out. It's not as if NBA salaries will drop from $20 million to $200,000 if the owners get their way.

Think about it.

If the offer is 90 or 95 percent of $20 million, $15 million, $10 million or even $2 million, will you really keep holding out on principle while you are getting nothing?

Obviously, there are negotiating points that aren't that simple; still, the bottom line is that once the deal is made, both sides will make a ton of money.

Once these guys accept that and get this thing solved, call me, and then I'll care about the NBA again.