Negotiators for the NBA and its players resume talks
tomorrow in New York "in an effort to resolve differences that
have delayed finalizing and signing" of a six-year, $5B agreement
ratified by players and owners before this past season. NBA
Commissioner David Stern, asked if he thought there would be
another lockout: "I hope not. We're trying to wrap this up."
But, asked what that would take, Stern said, "A lot." Key issues
include group licensing, pensions and the salary cap. NBPA
attorney Jim Quinn: "It's not impossible to get resolved. From
the players' point of view, these are important issues, but there
is a deal here" (Mark Asher, WASHINGTON POST, 6/23). In New
York, Peter Vecsey writes, "Unless both sides adopt radically
fresh stances, look forward to another fun-filled summer (and
beyond?) of litigation, arbitration, accusations and counter-
claims of unfair labor practices." Stern: "It's an ominous
situation. I'm not despondent. I'm exasperated by the fact
we've just come off a great season and now we're looking at a
disaster scenario. ... We're standing here at the edge of the
precipice of the abyss" (N.Y. POST, 6/23).
UNION PERSPECTIVE: NBPA President Buck Williams refutes the
notion the ascension of Jeffrey Kessler (who led the
decertification bid last summer) as chief negotiator was a
repudiation of himself and former Exec Dir Simon Gourdine.
Williams, noting the players' "mandate" issued during the All-
Star break on group licensing: "This isn't Kessler's personal
battle. Simon was working on them right before he was fired."
While league sources say Kessler wants to renegotiate licensing
percentages (50/50 on team/player endeavors and 100% on separate
ventures), Williams approves the figures, adding, "We're only one
season away now from owning 100 percent of our own licensing
rights." Vecsey writes Kessler may be using licensing to
"squeeze" Stern on other issues (cap, pension, etc.), but notes,
unless the licensing formula is in the deal, "there is no deal.
Translation: Lockout" (N.Y. POST, 6/23). Acting NBPA Exec Dir
Alex English denies the NBA's claim that agents are running the
union and says the players are united in seeking "more
independence to do our own marketing under our own logos" (Ailene
Voisin, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/23).
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE HEAD HUNT: ESPN's David Aldridge
says to add NFLPA General Counsel Richard Berthelsen's name to
the list of those "being seriously considered" to be new NBPA
Exec Dir ("SportsCenter," 6/22).
HOOPS NOTES: In Dallas, David Moore reports the NBA hopes
to announce a TV deal for its new women's league by July 1
(DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/23). INSIDE MEDIA reports sources peg
ESPN, NBC and Lifetime as the front-runners with final
presentations this week. Also, the rival ABL is said to be near
a deal for 18-20 games on Liberty Sports (Reynolds & Brockinton,
INSIDE MEDIA, 6/24)....The young age of several prospective
draftees in Wednesday's draft continues to gain media attention.
In Salt Lake, Brad Rock writes it "will be a grade school
graduation as much as anything" (DESERET NEWS, 6/23). In
Orlando, Tom Povtak writes, "The Class of '96 should have a
playpen as its logo" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/23)....The NBPA has
established the NBPA Foundation, the goals of which "will be to
provide support, education, scholarships, funding and resources
for youth from economically disadvantaged communities,
individuals demonstrating positive leadership skills among their
community and peers, and community enrichment" (NBPA).
