It was a little surprising that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver even had to say his league's basketball season would not be shortened.
Silver gained international respect when he banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life from all activities involving his team and the league, and that led to the sale of the Clippers, after Sterling was recorded making racist comments in 2014.
Silver is one smart dude, but anyone who thought the NBA season would be shortened hasn't read the TV contract that makes the league more money than a lot of countries are worth.
Everything is predicated on an 82-game schedule, plus playoffs, which is where the issue lies with players taking some days off, especially on the second night of back-to-back games, during the season.
That is probably the most grueling schedule of any of the professional leagues. It is a grind on the entire body running up and down that hardwood floor night after night, year after year. It has to take a toll.
Sixty-four games -- the length of the 2011-2012 season because of a players strike -- seem perfect to those who aren't big NBA fans, but for buddies such as Joe Franklin and Derrell Young, the season isn't long enough.
Young takes a day of vacation for the opening day of the NBA season, sometimes two. He's a suffering Los Angeles Lakers fan. Despite the fact the franchise had no plan for when Kobe Bryant retired, he's loyal 24-7.
Still, if you think about the pounding those players' joints are taking day after day, it seems understandable they might want to rest a few days before the playoffs.
Yes, it is just a handful of the superstars -- and in what sport are the headliners not given extra consideration? Yet, if there is going to be a rule about taking days off, it should be uniform and have stipulations to ensure fairness to all.
And yes, the guys have it easier today than the guys from the past.
Today, travel is not squeezing a 6-8, or larger, frame into a first-class seat designed for someone 6-2. Players drive or get driven to a private airport, get on a private luxury plane designed just for them, and a couple of hours later set down in a city where they'll play a game.
The pace of the game and physicality of it seem to have become much more difficult, and today's players are seeing yesterday's players having knee replacement surgeries. As Keith Jackson said when he retired from the NFL after nine years, "I've never had a serious injury, my knees are in good shape, now seems like the perfect time to retire."
Since the season is going to remain 82 games, plus the playoffs and exhibition games, perhaps every player on every roster who plays an average of at least 20 minutes per game should be allotted five vacation days during the season.
However, they have to be taken for home games. No more shelling out big bucks to see LeBron James play in person, as many did earlier this year when Cleveland made it one appearance in Memphis, only for him to be a no-show.
Additionally, off days cannot be taken when games are nationally televised. Already the TV folks are upset that's happening, and with good cause. It isn't like the NBA has NCAA Tournament-type ratings -- of course, that has a lot to do with March Madness being a tournament with a champion crowned after six victories.
This is not about would yours truly trade places with any NBA player; you bet your mother's biscuit recipe that would happen in a New York second. This is about long-term health issues.
There has to be a compromise, and one that keeps the fans as happy as it does the players and owners.
Sports on 04/09/2017