The second of two professional sports lockouts is getting a similar reaction from the American public, according to the latest Economist/YouGov Poll: Americans think professional players are paid too much, and majorities of those paying attention have little or no sympathy with either players or owners.
Football however, is the more popular sport. 42% are professional football fans, compared with about half that number, 23% who are fans of professional basketball. And when it comes to the NBA, just 23% say they follow the league even somewhat closely.
Men follow the NBA more than women do, African-Americans more than whites. And younger adults are more attentive than are senior citizens.
But the lockout antagonists get little love from those paying attention to news about the lockout: 71% of those who are following news of the NBA lockout have little or no sympathy with the players, 73% have little or no sympathy with the NBA owners. In late February, near the start of the NFL lockout, the players got a little more love from those following the story: 77% of those who were following that story had little or no sympathy for the owners, and 58% little or no sympathy for the players.
When it comes to the NFL labor dispute, how much sympathy do you have for the...
| *Asked if respondent is aware of NFL labor dispute (February 26-March 1, 2011) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | 14% | 28% | 26% | 32% |
Owners | 5% | 18% | 29% | 48% |
When it comes to the NFL labor dispute, how much sympathy do you have for the...
| *Asked if respondent is aware of NFL labor dispute (July 2-5, 2011) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | 14% | 28% | 26% | 32% |
Owners | 5% | 18% | 29% | 48% |
But in both cases, Americans agree on two things: most expect that there will be game cancellations in both sports next season (51% say it’s likely some NBA games will be canceled, the same percentage who said that about future NFL games in February). And Americans overall say players are simply paid too much. More than two thirds say that now about NBA players and 63% say it about players in the NFL.
