The locked-out NBA referees, "who a day earlier rejected the
league's latest offer, want another negotiating session,"
according to a wire story picked up in today's WASHINGTON POST.
The refs dispute the NBA's claim that the league's current offer
would make them the highest paid officials in pro sports. NBRA
General Counsel Fred Slaughter: "At no time, including its
latest offer, has the NBA ever presented to the referees a salary
scale proposal that would achieve the NBA's commitment to make
our referees the highest paid officials in professional sports."
NBA Commissioner David Stern cited the fact the league's offer
was not put to a vote of union membership. Slaughter claims a
"strong majority" was not satisfied with the "material aspects"
of the league's offer (WASHINGTON POST, 11/22).
WHO'S ZOOMIN' WHO? ESPN's Bob Ley reported the refs and
league continue "to spin their separate versions" of the lockout
talks. The union held a regional briefing in Atlanta yesterday
and said there is another scheduled for today in L.A. Ley
reports, "Union leaders say the dissident factor within the union
is only about 15%. But others indicate that perhaps 20 of the 54
union refs are unhappy with their leadership" ("SportsCenter,"
11/21). ESPN's Mark Jones reported Slaughter said that NBA
Commissioner David Stern mentioned the possibility of a four-year
deal (which the refs want) instead of a five-year deal (which the
league reportedly wants). But NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ
Granik denied that anyone in the league has ever mentioned the
possibility of a four-year deal ("NBA Today," 11/21).
