Does nobody see the resemblance between Bilbo Baggins and David Stern.  I am not going to lie after commissioner Stern screwed us out of a title run in 2007 I have not been his biggest fan.  But now, more than ever I despise this man!  Does he really want two lockouts on his watch?  The guy doesn't look like he knows the first thing about basketball, and his smug little face look like it belongs in the next Peter Jackson movie and not deciding the fate of the 2012 NBA season.  I am not taking sides with the players in this battle, I think they are being greedy as well and should have taken the 50/50 split, but I also think the owner could have at least offered 52% because they are coming down from 57% BRI.  I do agree with Stern on one point, and that is trying to make smaller market teams more competitive.  But beyond that point the players make the league what it is and without them the NBA would just be glorified Euro-Ball which maybe wouldn't be all that bad.  So it would be great if the lame NBA commissioner would come out of the Shire, stop messing around with Merry and Pippen, and actually get something accomplished so we can have a freaking season already!!!!