Doug Robinson: NBA players, owners out of touch with fans

The NBA lockout is going strong. The preseason is canceled. The regular season has been shortened. Millionaires are out of work and losing money. Kobe Bryant and other superstars might leave the country to play overseas.

Is there a downside here?

It gets better.

Derek Fisher, who is co-leading the cause for the players, isn't getting his way.

You remember Fish, don't you? He took a $6 million pay cut to leave the Jazz and re-sign with the Lakers a few years ago. Money wasn't important to him then.

It sure is now.

As president of the players union, Fish is singing a different tune these days. He's standing firm — the players have to make X amount of money or else. The owners are choosing the latter, so far.

The NBA Lockout is now 31/2 months old, and the players and owners are still trying to decide how to split a large pot of gold. They're still trying to decide the difference between being able to afford six Bentleys or eight. Apparently, it's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

"We think that we made very fair proposals," Commissioner David Stern said. "... But the gap is so significant that we just can't bridge it at this time."

"I think everybody's waiting for the players to cave," said Billy Hunter, executive director of the players association. "... it's not going to happen."

Pardon us if we yawn. Sheesh, talk about bad timing and bad form. Unemployment in the U.S. is 9.1 percent for the third straight month. People are losing their life's investments in the stock market. The economy continues to nosedive.

And we're supposed to care how NBA players and owners divide $4 billion in annual revenues? It's like watching the Rockefellers and Rothschilds feud. They keep stepping up to the microphone and explaining their position in the battle for billions. Mid-level exceptions. Luxury taxes. BRI splits. CBAs. Hard caps. Soft caps. Shower caps. Whatever and who cares.

Don't you wish they'd just shut up about the details and get back to us when something has been settled?

Both sides seem to think they can win public sympathy in this battle of the elite.

How out of touch can you get?