To the NBA: You're kidding, right?

Let me see if I've got this right.

The NBA labor talks broke down tonight (like anyone has paid much attention), which wiped out the preseason (really exciting stuff. After all, that eighth-string player from Ipsa-what's his U. might make the Nuggets) and puts the regular season in jeopardy (I'm stifling a yawn).

On one side, you have owners who are making billions of dollars of money. On the other side, you have players who are getting paid millions of dollars -- rather paltry, don't you think?

And they are arguing about? -- right! Money.

In the real world -- which neither side has had much to with the past few years -- 9 percent of the work force can't find work. There are untold numbers of other people who have stopped looking because the job market is rather depressing, even though there are jobs to be had. People can't pay their mortgages. They have to make decisions between putting food on the table and medicine in the cupboards. In the 27J School District, voters get to decide whether the economy will allow them enough money to pay extra taxes for their schools in November.

And we have another dispute about money between two sides with plenty of money. That's just plain stupid. The rest of society -- and the author -- look to professional sports team for 2 1/2 to three hours of entertainment per night so we don't have to worry about $3.50 a gallon gas, whether credit cards can take another charge of needed medication, whether the hubcap on the dresser has some loose change for a can of soda.

What fan base the NBA had will find something else to do with a limited entertainment dollar (selfless plug -- high school sports, perhaps?). If the NBA thinks that's not the case, all it has to do is look at the NHL. It is still reeling from the last strike. Those empty seats at Pepsi Center and other hockey arenas aren't there by accident.