NOT TO BE LEFT OUT: LOCKOUT TALK IN THE NBA, TOO

     ESPN's Linda Cohn followed up on speculation from last week
that the NBA is considering a Thanksgiving lockout of players if
a new collective bargaining agreement is not signed.  NBA Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik denied that would occur: "It is much too
early to make any decisions about anything like that.  We still
have six weeks before the season starts" ("SportsCenter," ESPN,
9/24).  The possibility of a lockout is expected to be discussed
at Wednesday's NBA Board of Governors meeting at which
representatives from all 27 teams will convene.  Before
negotiating with the owners, the players reportedly want to hear
the decision by a federal court panel on the validity of the
NBA's salary cap, free-agency system and draft.  A decision is
expected in 4-6 weeks.  NBPA Exec Dir Charles Grantham contends
that the players "will stand firm" against any calls for a hard
cap.  Grantham added: "I want to make this clear: they [players]
are not going to stand for the status quo" (Lawrence & Bunn, N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 9/25).