Will NBA go way of NHL in '06? By Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin February 10, 2005     SACRAMENTO - The NHL should be a good example of what would come if the NBA strikes in October. The NBA players don't want that to happen to them and they're working hard to come up with a solution right away so they don't have any problems. One of the persons currently working very hard is NBA Players Association head Billy Hunter, who has said he wants to get things done right now. Going to the NHL, in all fairness, the players don't have the TV revenue like the NBA does. The players in the NHL and the NBA are going to have to be realistic and the players in the NHL are not realistic and they're not going to play this year. They have got to realize most of the revenue from the hockey comes strictly from ticket sales as opposed to the NBA. NBA commissioner David Stern has done a great job. In the NHL, it's questionable if you can blame commissioner Gary Bettman that much. Hockey doesn't have the revenue the NBA has. Its hard to compare the two from that standpoint, if you did criticize the NHL commissioner, Bettman may have over-expanded. There are teams there that are financially going to have a hard time making it once the labor issues get settled, if they ever do. The NBA is seeking a harder salary cap and the players are really doing pretty well. I would be surprised if there's any problem. From all appearances, from what's been picked up, both NBA owners and players are moving towards an agreement, as opposed to the NHL, who is not. Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin cover the Sacramento Kings and the NBA throughout the season. Listen to Ken and Joe weekends on KVVN 1430 and KLIB 1110 Sacramento.

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