Again? Seriously?

The locking out of professional hockey players by the owners of NHL teams starting Sunday is the fourth labor shutout in the league since 1992. It’s the third lockout under Commissioner Gary Bettman’s watch.

The owners are clearly the bad guys in this battle. They have decided that the slice of revenue that they once had agreed to share with the players is now too great, and several sports pundits are predicting the 2012-2013 season will not happen.

The last dispute was resolved in July 2005. Players absorbed a salary-cap system — a major point sought by owners — and took an immediate 24 percent rollback of existing contracts. In exchange, though, the players received 57 percent of hockey-related revenues. It was a fair compromise.

Now, the owners want to reduce the players’ share to between 47 and 49 percent. This after their laughable original offer of 43 percent.

The players’ union said it shouldn’t have to reconsider its 2005 agreement considering the NHL has experienced record growth, greatly benefitting owners and players.

Who is being forgotten in this battle? The fans.

The season is scheduled to start Oct. 11. The owners are just hoping the lockout will cause a hardship for players and force them to reconsider their stance. Frankly, for the sake of their teams’ fanbases, the owners need to stop playing patty cake, footsie and other nonsense and stick with the promises they made in July 2005.

Get a deal done, drop the puck and play some ice hockey.