Does Union Solidarity Decrease Fighting in the NHL?

Rival stars such as Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin
flank NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr during the lockout.

Recently, in a collective bargaining course at the ILR School, a labor official familiar with this season’s National Hockey League lockout gave his take on a number of issues. While it was easy to accept most of his opinions on collective bargaining in sports as expert testimony, one prediction would have to be tested by looking at data. The speaker claimed that because of the solidarity developed among players during the work stoppage, the NHL would experience fewer fights this season. He felt that the goodwill exhibited as union brothers off the ice would carry over on the ice. 

The argument seems to stem from the fact that NHL Players Association Director Donald Fehr effectively united workers who are normally paid to compete against each other. The NHLPA leadership effectively pitted players against management rather than against each other. There was actually more dissent among League leadership and owners, who arguably compete for much higher stakes in normal years. But while solidarity is always an important part of union strategy in collective bargaining, could it have unintentionally made players less pugilistic?

Unsurprisingly, the stats do not overwhelmingly support this theory.  According to hockeyfights.com, there have been .50 fights per game since the lockout, up from .44 per game last year. Though the four year period of 2008-2012 shows an average of .54 fights per game, it decreased in each of those years, dropping a total .16 fights per game. It doesn’t appear that the lockout had any immediate effect in reducing fisticuffs between players.  

But this was an unusual season in many regards. The shorter season could make this data less reliable in theory, but more importantly it could have affected how often players drop the gloves. Perhaps, because of the intra-conference schedule (to make scheduling easier, Eastern and Western Conference teams did not play) the familiarity of opponents increased tensions. Or maybe more fights take place closer to the playoffs in normal seasons, and with the entire season taking place in this timeframe, a whole season’s worth of scores got settled in less time. A whole season of post-lockout data might look different.  

Fortunately (actually unfortunately), there is another data set, as the NHL did experience a work stoppage lasting the entire 2004-05 season. In the previous 2003-04 campaign, fights reached a violent .64 per game, with the four year period of 2000-04 seeing nearly .60 fights per game. But with a contentious year of collective bargaining behind them, players engaged in a historically-low fights per game mark of just .38 in 2005-06, and then .40 in 2006-07, before rising to the levels previously described.  



Following the missed 2004-2005 season and subsequent rule changes, fights rose after a dramatic drop off, then trended downward into the most recent lockout. 



Overall, it’s not clear what conclusions can be drawn from this theory. Maybe coaches were aware of a pacifying effect this time, and changed their direction to players accordingly. More likely, there are many variables involved with hockey fights, and the differences in the yearly data are explained by other factors. Still, any time NHL players from different teams are united together, there’s a possibility that it could have an effect when they are inevitably turned against each other. Looking at post-Olympic and post-All-Star Game data may help provide an answer.

One thing is for sure though. Fans that love to see the gloves dropped had little to be disappointed coming out of this lockout. Our guest speaker was stuck on quotes from players like Pittsburgh Penguin Tanner Glass, who said he was “firmly behind what we are doing” in expressing his NHLPA solidarity. Only a few months later Glass would be a little more hostile to union brothers like New York Ranger Aaron Asham, as evidenced below.

 

Bulls Expose Nets lack of shooting in Game 2

Gerald Wallace's shooting struggles have hurt the Nets

When the Miami Heat signed Lebron James and Chris Bosh in the Summer of 2010, they formed a "big 3" that consists of 3 superstar caliber players surrounded by a group of role players. The Nets pursued the same strategy this past offseason by re-signing Brook Lopez and Deron Williams to maximum salaries and trading for Joe Johnson, the third highest paid player in the league in terms of average salary. There are a few significant diferences between the roster construction of each franchise. First, the "big 3"of the Heat is much better than the "big 3" of the Nets. Furthermore, the Nets have two marginal players with big salaries, which limits their flexibility to make improvements. They signed Kris Humphries to a 2 year $24 million dollar deal this past offseason and he was relegated to the bench early in the season. His deal is only 2 years so it's not severely damaging. On the other hand, Gerald Wallace has a 4 year $40 million dollar deal and his contract and playing style could limit the Nets from becoming a legitimate contender in the next few seasons.

Modern NBA offenses are predicated on floor spacing and 3-point shooting. Being able to spread the floor with shooters is essential, particularly against stout defenses like the Bulls. The Nets starting lineup consists of three players who are non-threats from the 3-point line: Wallace, Reggie Evans, and Brook Lopez. Teams can get away with having a frontcourt player who likes to stay around the rim but it is hard to maintain a steady offense when a wing player is not a consistent shooter. The Bulls were aware of Wallace’s limited shooting ability (28.2% from 3PT this year per NBA.com) and they ignored him in order to concentrate on the Nets other threats like Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. 

In the video below, watch how Reggie Evans has no time to go up for a layup because Luol Deng has moved all the way from the corner to help on defense. Evans has no choice but to kick to Wallace in the corner, who can’t hit the wide open 3.

All game long the Bulls defenders were drifting away from the corners in order to defend the basket and the Nets could not make them pay. They tried playing Keith Bogans and Jerry Stackhouse (both of whom are better shooters than Wallace) but neither was able to fix the problem.

(Both videos from Synergy Sports)

The result was an 8-point win for Chicago that saw the Nets shooting 4-21 from the 3-point line. Because the Bulls crowded the paint so effectively, the Nets main scorers, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, were unable to get to the rim and they combined to shoot 7-27.

Some may think that this analysis is an overreaction to one playoff loss. While it's true that the Nets won game 1 and generally had a successful offensive season, the Nets struggled against top defensive units all season long. For example, against Memphis, Miami, and Chicago (three of the top 7 defensive teams in terms of defensive efficiency per NBA.com) the Nets only averaged 83 PPG. That’s a pretty significant number considering Memphis, Miami, and Chicago combined, on average, to concede about 92 PPG during the regular season and the Nets averaged 97 PPG. It is evident that the Nets struggle against strong defenses and they will need to fix that problem to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Unfortunately for the Nets, their lack of flexibility will make it difficult for them to acquire quality role players in the upcoming offseason. It would be advisable for them to try to sign a relatively inexpensive 3-PT specialist in the free agency period. Randy Foye, Daniel Gibson, and Anthony Morrow are a few players who come to mind because none of them will command a salary that the Nets won’t be able to afford. Ironically, the Nets traded Morrow (who has the 11^th best 3-point percentage of all time per basketballreference.com) to acquire Joe Johnson. Forming a “big 3” will assuredly give a team star power, but doing so may make it necessary to sacrifice role players that play a key part in formulating a winning team.

Upcoming Event: Linda Cohn of ESPN

On Thursday, April 25, Linda Cohn, a longtime anchor on ESPN's SportsCenter will give a lecture and answer questions in Call Auditorium of Kennedy Hall.

The lecture is part of Cornell Hillel's Major Speaker Series. Along with ILRSBS, co-sponsors of the event include the Slope Media Group, the Department of Communication, the Athletics and Physical Education Department, and the Association for Women in Communications.

More information can be found on the Facebook group. We hope you'll join us for what should be a great evening with one of the longest running SportsCenter anchors. 

New URL!

I am pleased to announce that the ILRSBS blog may now be reached by typing blog.cornellsbs.com in your address bar.

Additionally, all previous links associated with the old "ilrsmc.blogspot" url will continue to work and remain active.

Be on the lookout for more major changes as the semester comes to a close!

The Impact of the Long-Term Contract in Major League Baseball

Buster Posey didn't need free agency to land his big deal.

With the recent contract extensions awarded to Tigers’ ace Justin Verlander ($180M/7 yrs) and Giants’ MVP Buster Posey ($167M/9 yrs), it’s hard to ignore what has become a powerful trend in Major League Baseball. Teams are locking up their young talent as we rapidly approach what Grantland’s Jonah Keri calls “the death of free agency.” The list of homegrown stars that have recently signed long-term extensions with their clubs is vast, highlighted by names such as Joey Votto, Felix Hernandez, and Evan Longoria.

Changes to the recent CBA, coupled with a new TV contract for MLB, have fueled this trend on both the supply and demand sides of baseball’s labor market. New luxury tax incentives to reduce payroll, as well as a revamped free agent compensation system that raises the implicit costs of signing a player, have created new risks for players entering free agency Rather than test this tenuous market, players are wise to ink lucrative deals as soon as they become available. Further, small-market teams, anticipating their equal share in MLB’s forthcoming massive TV contract with FOX and Turner Sports, are more willing than ever to pay a hefty price to keep their young talent.

So the stage is set for an era of parity in baseball. It’s no coincidence that this upcoming season is so difficult to predict, as the times of buying one’s way to a championship is essentially over. Instead, teams will need to direct funds toward talent development within their systems if they wish to compete.

But will the effect on competitive balance truly be positive? The answer is yes, but a very qualified yes. See why after the jump.

In the short run, there is no doubt this trend will help improve on-field parity. Teams evidently no longer feel compelled to trade their stars prior to their entering free agency, and similarly, big market teams simply won’t be able to buy up talent on the free agent market. But in the long run, the answer is not so clear-cut. The ultimate irony of free agency is that it has incidentally served as a great equalizer between small and large market teams. And the pattern of securing young players early in their careers threatens the balancing function of free agency.

Because players are not eligible for free agency until they have amassed at least six years of service, players generally do not reach the open market until their late 20s. At this point, most them have reached or passed their primes, rendering long-term contracts to free agents generally unfavorable for teams, particularly at the tail end of a deal. When you think long-term free agent contract, it’s much easier to come up with a bad one (Alex Rodriguez, Vernon Wells, Alfonso Soriano) than a good one (I can’t think of any). Free agency, therefore, has offered an easy out for small-market teams. They can let their soon-to-be-aging-stars walk, while saving face to their fans by blaming the rich. Then, they can funnel the cash that they would have wasted years down the road toward retooling their farm systems. Now, however, small market teams will remain on the hook for their star players even once they have passed their primes. Undoubtedly, Buster Posey is an excellent player. But $18.5 million for a 35-year old catcher in 2022? Probably not ideal. The Giants, of course, are a relatively large-market team and can probably absorb that cost. If Posey can go on and consistently perform at the level he is clearly capable, and wins the Giants a few more World Series on the way, no one in San Francisco will complain. But consider the Joey Votto deal ($251.5m/12years), in which the small-market Reds will owe him $21 million in 2023, when he is 40 years old. Sounds like an impending disaster.

Small market teams are trying to beat the free agent system that has stolen their talent since its inception. But this process has largely been a blessing in disguise, and these teams are now killing the very game that has allowed them to compete in recent years.

Charity Event Recap: ILRSBS Dodgeball Tournament

2013 ILRSBS Charity Dodgeball Winners

Written by Melissa Kelly

Last Saturday, March 30th, the ILR Sports Business Society ran a charity dodgeball tournament in the Ramin Room of Bartels Hall. The proceeds raised at the event were to benefit a wonderful philanthropy called SEEDS. The acronym stands for Sports for Education and Economic Development in Senegal, and promotes “the education, healthcare, and athletic prowess of thousands of Senegalese youth striving to make a difference in their world and in the world.” This charity has succeeded in getting more than 20 of its alumni into college programs, some of which have accepted full athletic scholarships. SEEDS is an inspiring charity, and the ILRSBS was honored to donate its proceeds for such a cause. [Read a full background of SEEDS HERE] 

Make the jump to read about the rest of the tournament!

Overall, the turnout was great, as 22 teams squared off in the quest for a champion. Teams came from all over campus, representing clubs, varsity sports teams, fraternities, and groups of friends. Fortunately for the referees, the teams were both competitive and respectful, and the tournament was an absolute success. The winning team was comprised of four of Cornell’s Varsity Football players and were unable to be matched. The first rounds of the tournament were single elimination, but once the final four were decided, the series were best of three. The finale was a nail biter, as it came down to a great battle of the two best teams.

The ILRSBS wants to thank all of those who came out and helped make this tournament such a great success! We plan on making this an annual tournament, so start gathering your teams for next year!

Roundtable: March Madness Storylines

Florida Gulf Coast University became the first #15 seed to reach the Sweet 16 in the 2013 tournament

Roundtable compiles the views of various ILRSMC bloggers and e-board members. If you have a suggestion for a future roundtable topic, email Geoff at gjr52@cornell.edu.

As always, March Madness has given sports fans some of the craziest and most memorable moments of the year. From Florida Gulf Coast University's shocking run to the Sweet 16 to Kevin Ware's horrifying injury, the tournament has provided plenty of memories and images for CBS' "One Shining Moment.

Last week, we asked several ILRSBS club members what they felt was the biggest March Madness storyline so far. Check out their answers after the jump.


Gabe Cassillo: The reemergence of Syracuse's vaunted 2-3 zone. The way the Orange are playing, could this be Jim Boehiem's last dance? [Editor's Note: Question asked BEFORE Syracuse's loss]

Robbie Cohen: I think the biggest storyline is the success of the Big East in its final season as we know it. Two of the Final Four teams are currently playing their final seasons in the Big East - Louisville and Syracuse. The Big East also featured Marquette, who will join the new Big East after the season, in the Elite 8, giving it more teams than any other conference. Great way to send out a great conference, and we can only hope that it stays strong as a basketball-centric conference.

Chizoba Ibeanusi: The BIGGEST storyline of March Madness so far was definitely when Florida Gulf Coast #15 beat Georgetown #2. Practically everyone I knew thought Georgetown would win and no one even knew who Florida Gulf Coast was. It's crazy that a new school could beat out a known winner such as Georgetown. I definitely think that was the first major bracket upset.

Adam Kirsch: You can't talk about March Madness without discussing Wichita State. While the national media was obsessed with Florida Gulf Coast, the #9 Shockers dispatched #1 seed Gonzaga, fresh off a 32-3 season, and easily beat La Salle. With the Cinderella spotlight all their own, they took down a dangerous Ohio State team and punched their ticket to the Final Four.

 John Rodriguez: I think the storyline for the March Madness so far has been: Cinderella Story Florida Gulf Coast and the rise of mid major schools busting everyone's bracket this year. The balance of power in college basketball seems to be evening out.

Zach Schelberg: Up until Sunday night [3/31], I would have had to highlight The University of Michigan's historic second-half comeback against the top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks as one of the most memorable moments of the tournament. Trey Burke's ability to take over the game and hit clutch shot after shot to come away with a victory, will truly be something to remember. However, after witnessing Kevin Ware's gruesome injury against Duke, it is one moment that I unfortunately will not be able to get off my mind.