The NBA lockout is different than previous labor disputes, at least in my recollection. It's the first labor dispute where fans (and journalists) are largely in favor of the plight of the players, and not owners. There are many reasons for this -- most notably, the players have conceded a ton of ground since the last agreement and the owners' claims to large financial losses are suspect at best. There is also the changing way journalists cover sports, more sophisticated fans, blogging and twitter. If you were to search for another reason, I think, you could make an argument that this current crop of players and young stars are better citizens and more dedicated to community service than previous generations. First in my mind are players like Durant, Rose and Blake Griffin. Case in point, check out this heartwarming story: Players give up more than just their time Check out these great pictures from the trip.
