Though he was one of the NBA owners with the most to lose if the offseason lockout was not resolved in time to salvage the 2011-2012 season, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison did not vote for the labor deal that saved basketball.
At least, that is what he told reporters Thursday afternoon in a chat with the Heat's beat writers.
Mind you, by the time Arison's turn to vote came, the deal had already secured enough votes for approval. Arison calls his move a "protest vote."
"It's a tough financial deal for us," he said of the new collective bargaining agreement. Arison's biggest quibble with the deal is the fact that it forces the Heat to pay out more revenue-sharing money than a few teams in larger markets, including the Los Angeles Clippers and New Jersey Nets. "For us to have to pay revenue sharing to larger-market teams was disturbing, and we will."
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"We are smaller than Minnesota" as a sports market, Arison pointed out. The new deal effectively punishes the Heat for being a better-run team than those in larger markets.
Not that the Heat should expect any sympathy from other teams. By virtue of the fact the Heat employ LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, they can count on every single game they play (at home and on the road) being a sellout.
But Arison counters that even with the star power of the Big Three, the Heat still need to cultivate additional revenue streams, like the team's recently-announced partnership with Tsingtao beer of China.
When asked whether he would have voted against the new CBA if its approval had not already been secured, Arison was demure, smiling and saying, "I won't answer that question."
Regardless, Arison reiterated on Twitter Thursday afternoon that he is elated that the NBA season was not canceled due to the lockout. "Just to make it clear no one is happier to see the NBA starting on Sunday than me," he tweeted, adding, "BIG things are coming."
