The first two paragraphs are an excerpt from an Associated Press article on Sportsnet.ca http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl-lockout/2012/11/24/nhl_lockout_qanda/ Since Gary Bettman became NHL commissioner in 1993, the league has had three lockouts that greatly affected seasons. The first in 1994-95 forced that regular season to be shortened to only 48 games per team -- instead of 82 -- after a deal was reached in January. The entire 2004-05 season was cancelled, marking the first time a major North American professional sports league lost a full campaign to a labour dispute. The main issue then was the owners' insistence on obtaining a salary cap for the first time. It wasn't until after the season was cancelled that players agreed to the cap. Things are much more straightforward this time, but the sides can't agree on how to split up hockey-related revenue that reached a record $3.3 billion last season. They are arguing over $182 million of a $3.3 billion dollar pie. The owners are essentially trying to role back salaries that they have continued to dole out despite knowing that this direction would be unsustainable. Now they are looking to use a lockout to bully the players into taking less money so they can continue to build their teams in this fiscally irresponsible manner. I have grown tiered and frustrated by their bickering and feel I need to try and do something. At the very least I feel we the fans should show them how unhappy we are. Please sign this petition to help show how we feel.