The NBA Board of Governors voted 24-5 Friday afternoon to
approve the new CBA with the players. The lockout, in effect
since July 1, will be lifted today at 12:00pm EDT (THE DAILY).
NBA Commissioner David Stern: "We had to sell [the deal] a little
bit, but our owners knew what the downside was. This was no
coup. All we did was avoid disaster" (Ailene Voisin, ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 9/16). In Dallas, David Moore notes the lack of
unanimity, but calls the vote "a strong statement that the owners
are ready to put this summer of discontent behind them and
preserve the only professional sports league not to lose a
regular season game to a work stoppage" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
9/17).
FIVE EASY PIECES: Stern "did not disclose the five
dissenters, but did say the chief concerns were the enlarged
salary cap ... and the continuation of the so-called 'Larry Bird
exception'" (Peter May, BOSTON GLOBE, 9/16). In Chicago, Sam
Smith reports that the Bulls were one of the five and voted
against the deal because they believed "Stern was too generous
with the players." An unidentified source in the Bulls
organization, quoted by Smith: "They felt he gave away the store
in the new deal agreed to in August. They felt Stern should have
held on for the original deal, or something closer" (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 9/16).
FROM THE OWNER'S BOX: Lakers Owner Jerry Buss: "I believe
the players certainly got far and away the better of the deal,
but I am first and foremost a basketball fan and therefore could
not accept losing the season. I think the fans understand that
this is in everybody's interest" (Scott Howard-Cooper, L.A.
TIMES, 9/16). Grizzlies Chair Arthur Griffiths: "It's a richer
deal than we originally intended. We're in a situation where we
have to reshuffle the numbers because the cost of operating our
business has gone up. (CP/VANCOUVER SUN, 9/16).
CBA'S 'R US: Referees are "next on the agenda" for a new
CBA with the league. Agent Fred Slaughter, who represents the
refs, on a list of proposals already sent by the NBA: "I think
they're very nice proposals. I hope we can get the deal done
quickly. ... I hope there's a little of the obligatory saber-
rattling. For me, I hope all that is over with and we can get it
done in two hours. We're ready to get it done" (Peter May BOSTON
GLOBE, 9/16).
GOURDINE SAYS UNION IS "REAL WINNER": NBPA Exec Dir Simon
Gourdine, reflecting on last week's votes: "I suppose if the
union is vindicated, by logical extension, it has to flow that
because I am the executive director, I am vindicated. But it's
not about me personally, and I don't think it ever has been"
(Peter May, BOSTON GLOBE, 9/16). Gourdine also confirmed Friday
that Knicks forward Charles Smith has resigned as union VP
(WASHINGTON POST, 9/16).
WEEKEND TALK: On ESPN's "Sports Reporters," Dick Schaap
asked if NBA players are the smartest of all pro athletes for
resolving their labor dispute without having to cancel any games.
Mike Lupica: "Yeah, and I'll tell you why. Because whatever spin
they all want to put on it, the guys who were voting against
decertification were voting for their pocket books, and voting
against what happened in baseball. Period." William Rhoden: "I
don't know if they are the smartest, but maybe it is a reflection
of how weak they were" (ESPN, 9/17). Former Sun Danny Ainge, the
newest member of TNT's NBA broadcast team, addressed the state of
NBA labor relations at halftime of TNT's Cowboys/Vikings game.
Ainge, on any residual effects: "Things are going to go on as
normal. I think you are going to see a lot of transactions over
the next month and the fans are going to get excited about the
upcoming season, and it will all be behind us once things get
underway" (TNT, 9/17).
