NBA NEWS & NOTES: MASON SUSPENSION DRAWS IRE OF UNION

     The NBPA filed a grievance with the league over the 5-game
suspension of Knicks forward Anthony Mason.  NBPA Exec Dir
Charles Grantham called the suspension "arbitrary and
unjustified."  Mason was suspended after an argument with coach
Pat Riley (Mike Freeman, N.Y. TIMES, 3/18).  Grantham, who claims
that Mason "works very hard" and broke no rules:  "It's clear
that the club's only motivation is to gain complete control over
the personalities and actions of what it perceives to be the new
breed of athlete, and they hope to gain this control by
humiliating a player and taking his money" (Curtis Bunn, N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 3/18).
     LABOR TALK:  Deputy NBA Commissioner Russ Granik said
negotiations on a new CBA will resume this week, "with the hope
that a new deal can be struck by the end of the regular season"
(Ric Bucher, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/19).