Four of the N.B.A.'s five Christmas games generated higher viewership this year over last year, perhaps not a surprise because they opened the lockout-shortened season.
He opened the telecast by joking about the NFL and NBA lockouts before taking some digs at the Miami Heat.
Was there so much pressure to settle the lockout and open the season on time that an agreement was reached that solved only a piece of the problem?
The vicar comes out after lockout, and chants, "Open the gates, that the people may come in, in the name of the Lord".
This officially ended the lockout and allowed training camps to open the following day.
First, they would seek an injunction from a court that would block the lockout and force the owners to re-open the league.
Unlike any other Christmas in N.B.A. history, this one was also opening day for the lockout-shortened 66-game season, with the Lakers coming off a preseason in which Commissioner David Stern struck down their deal to acquire Chris Paul, who wound up going to the Clippers.
Mike Rupp, the Devils forward who fought with Thornton, said: "After the lockout, they opened up the game more.
Find and open Account lockout threshold.
Should no agreement be reached before the contract expires on Sept. 15, training camps will not open and a lockout could delay the season, which is scheduled to begin on Oct. 13.
When next season opens -- labor lockout willing -- the goons will have soaked their scarred hands over the summer.
