Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

NEW GROUP OF NBA PLAYERS SUES TO STOP LOCKOUT

     "Another legal shot was fired on the NBA labor front Tuesday
when a group of players attempting to decertify the union filed a
preliminary injunction against the league's lockout," according
to today's DALLAS MORNING NEWS.  Jeffrey Kessler, the lawyer
representing dissident players, filed the complaint in the U.S.
District Court in Minneapolis.  The suit, which seeks a hearing
September 6, argues the lockout "violates antitrust laws in the
absence of a union."  Kessler:  "We feel we're going down the
best path of change to save the game for the fans and not injure
anyone except some owners who might not make as much money as
they might otherwise."  NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik:
"Mr. Kessler represented to our players that there would not be a
lockout.  That advice was wrong.  His advice to our players about
the impact of decertification is just as wrong.  This lockout
will continue until the owners and the players reach an agreement
at the collective bargaining table" (David Moore, DALLAS MORNING
NEWS, 7/12).
     DECERTIFICATION:  Moore writes that decertification "has
become the central issue in this legal battle ground.  If the
union dissolves, Kessler paints the picture of the season being
conducted while the two sides take their disagreement to court."
NBA's Senior VP/Legal and Business Affairs Jeffrey Mishkin:  "If
the union decertifies, it makes it that much harder to negotiate
a new agreement.  It places the season in greater jeopardy than
it is right now." Moore adds, "If the union dissolves, players
lose everything that has been collectively bargained under past
contracts -- pensions, health benefits, etc.  In that climate,
Kessler will maintain that the owners' decision to impose a
lockout was a breach of contract" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/12).
Jackie MacMullan reports that Kessler plans to hold regional
meetings in DC and L.A. in late August open to all players.
Kessler said "an election for decertification remains a
priority," and to that end, the players have "temporarily
withdrawn their unfair labor practice suit" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/12).
In Chicago, Lacy Banks writes that decertification would mean "no
union with which to have any agreement, past, present or future"
(CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/11).
     FROM THE UNION:  Yesterday's Portland OREGONIAN reported
that "final briefs" are to be filed with the NLRB on Friday
concerning possible decertification, and a decision on whether to
hold an election is expected within the following seven to 10
days.  From NBPA President Buck  Williams -- On a revised CBA:
"There is a strong possibility there will be an altered agreement
before (an election) date."  On new bargaining:  "There's
definitely nothing this week, and next week is real sketchy, too.
To be quite honest, I can't give you a timetable at all."  On
players backing off of decertification:  "I know for a fact we
have players who have rescinded their petitions.  I'm not going
to get into names and numbers, but every day players are getting
informed and rescinding signatures.  Agents have been persistent
in claiming they have their numbers, and if they do, there will
be an election."  More on a revised CBA:  "There is a strong
possibility (the league will bargain).  We have a mandate from
the players to go back to the table and work through those
channels or decide on another course of action" (Kerry Eggers,
Portland OREGONIAN, 7/11).
     MORE PLAYER QUOTES:  ESPN's "NBA Today" had reactions by
several NBA players present at last weekend's Isuzu Celebrity
Golf Tounrament to the labor situation.  Charles Barkley, heading
through a doorway:  "Do what's best for the players.  Screw the
owners" (ESPN, 7/11).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/1995/07/12/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/NEW-GROUP-OF-NBA-PLAYERS-SUES-TO-STOP-LOCKOUT.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/1995/07/12/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/NEW-GROUP-OF-NBA-PLAYERS-SUES-TO-STOP-LOCKOUT.aspx

CLOSE