Owners vote unanimously to enact lockout on midnight Sunday.

April 25, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden before the start of game seven of the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE

Now the owners have voted 30-0 to support the lockout on midnight Sunday. ( I am more than a little curious to see who got to cast the Coyote vote.) Now, the owners have declared that there is a gag order in regards to the negotiations. (Not buying that.) Charlie Jacobs came out two weeks ago saying that they’re shouldn’t be a lockout. (Fat chance Chuck.) So, lets take a look at how wonderfully things have been run in the last twenty years.

Since 1992, the NBA has lost 504 games to work stoppages, and MLB has lost 938. (The NFL has been blessed without a lockout in that time.) So, Bettman…. how has hockey been doing under your tenure? As of now, the NHL has lost 1,698 games to work stoppage in that time frame. (That’s 250 more than all the major sports combined!) Well done, NHL Board of Governors, well done indeed.

The Bruins had their last informal practice at Ristuccia before they’re banned from rink. There’s a lot of frustration,” said Bruins’ Gregory Campbell. “As hockey players our instincts are to play, to prepare ourselves to play every September. It’s frustrating not being able to. The No. 1 question is, ‘Why is this happening?’ But we just have to be patient, accept that this is what it is — it’s a business. Hopefully there will be an agreement soon.”

Most of Boston’s media and I have been in complete agreement. It’s a matter of owner avarice. They had a legitimate right to activate the lockout last time. This time, it’s all on them. Can they be that stupid? Can they be that greedy? Of course they can!

Now it comes down to when will the Bruins take the ice again? Some people say the day after Thanksgiving. Why? The owners wouldn’t want to give up the money from the NBC networks. Others have offered that hockey won’t start until January 1, 2013. A few doomsayers already believe the season is done.

Hey owners! Lift the gag order. If this is really not about greed, then disseminate copies of the minutes of the meetings. Try a little transparency. If that doesn’t work, go on TV and explain to the fans why you’ve done this. Oh, and while you’re on there explain to us lot of dullards why you want to have limited terms on contracts and then offer career length contracts to others.

Hockey players for the most part get paid less than other players in major sports. I’ve seen players take severe hits, get cut, take 90mph pucks to the head and body and still play. Why?! They love playing for themselves, and a lot of them love playing for us.

Millions of fans and a thousand players……against thirty owners. Custer had better odds gentlemen.