Its ratings have skyrocketed, but the National Basketball Association may still be the next… Its ratings have skyrocketed, but the National Basketball Association may still be the next league to fall victim to a lockout. Either way, the city of Pittsburgh should invest in its own NBA franchise. And speaking of investing, the Boston Red Sox gathered up $200,000 from fans and players to help the Dominican Republic.

NBA, meet my friend NHL.

Billy Hunter, the director of the NBA Players Association, said that the NBA could be heading toward another lockout next summer. This could prove to be devastating for a league that has been on the rise.

It was only six years ago that the NBA last locked out. The 191-day lockout was the first in league history.

Negotiations between the owners and the players will continue, but Hunter said as long as the owners stand by their proposal for a collective bargaining agreement, there will be a great chance of a lockout next summer.

All this comes after one of the greatest finals in NBA history. The ratings were sky high, and the hype was even higher.

This again proves that the NFL is the best-run league today. Basketball was on the rise, but a lockout would squash any improvements the NBA has made since 1998.

Besides, if experiences a work stoppage, and hockey does too, it leaves America with football and baseball. And we all know that football is run better than baseball, for there are no Yankees in the NFL.

So, are you ready for some football?

Another team in black and gold?

The following may sound a little crazy, but stick with me here.

Mario Lemieux continues to stand by his statement that if something is not done soon to construct a new arena, the Penguins will have to pack up and move to another city, and that would be a shame for Pittsburghers, for hockey has its pull in this town.

I believe a good way for the Penguins to prosper and stay in the city would be to work on bringing an NBA franchise to Pittsburgh.

For one, Pittsburgh has always been a great sports town and, according to many of the Pittsburghers I’ve run into, it is the best. So why not add an NBA franchise?

An answer I’ve heard from Pittsburghers is that they don’t care about basketball, but that cannot be true. The past three years, the Pitt Panthers have proven them wrong. The Panthers have made three straight Sweet 16 runs, and the city has rallied behind them 100 percent. And the hype for next year is even higher.

It may take a little time to prosper, but a professional basketball team would work in this city.

It would also help the Penguins out. The basketball franchise could work with the Penguins in their attempts to build a new arena, and keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

As I said, it’s all a little crazy, but it was just a thought, and I do believe it could work.

Spare change.

The Red Sox earned a Jimmy’s Jargon Merit Badge this past week with their collective effort that raised more than $200,000 to aid flood victims in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic fell victim to devastating floods last month.

Boston’s owner, John Henry, pledged $100,000 in relief, and collections were made in the clubhouse and from the fans. Touched most in the Red Sox organization by the floods were players Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, who all call the Dominican Republic home. Ortiz even set up a collection box in the locker room.

All together, collections from fans and players totaled $31,000. Corporate donations helped push the total figure over $200,000.

This was a great move by fans and players, but there was only one thing out of this great act that disturbed me.

Donations from fans and players equaled only $31,000. I understand the lack of money from fans, because they put enough into the organization as it is, but where was the money from the players?

The Red Sox have one of the highest payrolls in baseball at $127,298,500, and true, it’s no Yankee salary, but only $31,000?

I guarantee you that there are players on that team who drive cars that are worth more than that, with the median salary on the Red Sox being $3,087,500.

I shouldn’t complain, because any sort of donation is a great display of kindness, but I just feel their less than $31,000 in donations could have been more, considering their high salaries.

Jimmy Johnson is the assistant sports editor for The Pitt News and he can be reached at [email protected].