National Lacrosse League team owners, apparently not content with imposing the labor rules of their choosing, have issued the ultimate deadline to the striking Professional Lacrosse Players Association.

The strike, which began on 6 December, must end by noon Thursday, or the upcoming season will be cancelled.

"Failure by the players' association to meet the deadline will result in the cancellation of the [2004] season," NLL commissioner Jim Jennings said in announcing the unanimous decision by the owners.

"The inability to reach an acceptable long-term agreement by both sides, the imminent start of the season, and the long-term business ramifications of cancelling games gives the league no option but to cancel the season for business reasons."

The owners are demanding that PLPA not only end the ten-day walkout, but also that the union agrees to begin the season under the terms of the recently-expired collective bargaining agreement until a long-term deal can be reached.

The owners, unwilling to wait any longer for a deal to materialize, imposed the previous CBA on Sunday, and began signing players to contracts yesterday.

The league has not announced any signings, but the Vancouver Sun reported today that two unnamed Vancouver Ravens players have inked deals, and that others are meeting in groups to decide whether to sign.

"The players indicated that's what they'd like," Ravens head coach Paul Dal Monte said, "so no one feels like they're doing it in isolation."

It appears that the all-for-one method might be catching on around the league. The Outsider's Guide has learned that the majority of players from at least four teams have discussed signing contracts together -- or staying out together.

Stay tuned.