Those who bet on MLB odds have had their eye on a couple of lockout situations as the NFL and NBA are in the midst of work stoppages. Actually, the NFL lockout is winding down and could be ending very soon, which means the spotlight is on the NBA, and this lockout threatens to make the NFL look like a walk in the park. This is going to be a brutal time for sports betting players waiting for the NBA.

The NBA and the players’ union are finally going to the bargaining table this week, the first meeting between the two sides since the lockout began on July 1^st, but it will be missing some very crucial pieces, like commissioner David Stern, union head Billy Hunter, nor any players or owners. Representatives for the two sides are getting together with no new proposals, which means the posturing has begun. Stern has been known to be a heavy-handed individual, but the consensus is that Hunter has come out on top in the last two CBAs. This will probably be the last time that Stern negotiates on behalf of the owners and the league, and you can expect him to be as stubborn as he has ever been to go out on a high note.

None of that bodes well of our chances of seeing NBA basketball anytime soon, and there is a real fear that the owners are willing to sacrifice a season to get a new deal done. Of course, the same was said about the NFL lockout, so hopefully both sides can be open-minded. However, that’s not something we’re betting on.