NBA REFEREES PETITION IN ONTARIO TO BE RULED ON TODAY

     "Either the NBA or its referees' union will suffer a
significant defeat today," according to Bill Harris of the
TORONTO SUN.  Both sides made final arguments to the Ontario
Labor Relations Board, and the board has been asked to determine
if the NBA's lockout of the refs is legal under Ontario labor
laws.  Board Chair Janice Johnston could give her decision today.
Arguments yesterday by the league said the union has "never been
recognized in Ontario and therefore the refs have never been
employees in this province."  Even if the lockout is declared
unlawful, it's not known what Johnston "will instruct the two
sides to do about it" (Bill Harris, TORONTO SUN, 11/10).  The
GLOBE & MAIL's Robert MacLeod calls it "uncertain" if Johnston
will hand down her ruling today (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/10).