In an sit-down before the first pick was announced at last
night's NBA Draft, Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik was
interviewed by TNT's Craig Sager and Peter Vecsey on the labor
situation and its possible effect on the Dream Team. Granik, on
yesterday's talks: "Some progress was made. We did meet for
four or five hours and we're scheduled to meet again tomorrow,
but it's still too early to tell if we're getting anywhere or
not." On a lockout and the Dream Team: "I don't think that it
should affect the Olympics. We support USA Basketball and the
Olympic movement, but that's an entirely separate institution
from the NBA. And I'd be surprised if any player said that they
weren't ready to play for their country just because we have
labor dispute in the NBA. And I have not heard that from any of
the players yet and am certainly hopeful that whatever happens
with the labor problems in the NBA that we'll still have a Dream
Team together." Asked about the roots of the dispute, Granik
said union attorney Jeffrey Kessler came in and "basically said
he didn't feel obligated to live up to a lot of the cap rules
that had been agreed to, the fact that we had a group license
agreement allowing us to continue to utilize player likenesses,
pension issues -- there's a whole host of issues that they really
turned the tables on" (TNT, 6/26). Granik, on a Dream Team
boycott: "That's no bargaining chip in these negotiations. If
the players think it is, they're making a big mistake on that"
("Sports Tonight," CNN, 6/26). STARS, STRIPES, BUT NO SHAQ?
In Chicago, Lacy Banks reports that Shaquille O'Neal is the
primary player threatening not to play on the Dream Team if there
is a lockout. Some players argue that a lockout would prevent
them from signing new deals and adequately insuring themselves
against injury in Atlanta. Granik: "I think the only player
this would apply to is Shaq because they can't get enough
insurance for a [player of his value]. He has so many policies
with so many sponsors, who also want to be protected. Everybody
else, they can find enough insurance for. But not for Shaq"
(CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/27).
LEGGO MY LOGO: ESPN's David Aldridge reports "some
progress" was made over the NBPA logo. Aldridge: "The players
had been talking about $31 million in payment, now it's down to
$29 million -- the league still holding at $21 million."
Aldridge added that Kessler said "if they continue to make
progress like they did [Wednesday], he thinks they can avoid a
lockout" ("SportsCenter," 6/26). Granik: "We're still millions
apart, but they did discuss ways we could make that money back"
(N.Y. TIMES, 6/27).
UNION VIEW: Kessler: "My anticipation is that we can make
a deal. And if we don't, I don't believe the league can legally
lock us out. ... They have yet to mention the word, which makes
it seem as if they don't believe they can" (Phil Jasner, PHILA.
DAILY NEWS, 6/27). Granik's response: "We think Jeffrey is
wrong and he hasn't been right about much lately. We haven't
mentioned any lockout. But they understand that if we don't have
a signed agreement by Sunday night, we will have to do something.
And we feel we have the right to lock players out as long as they
refuse to honor the new agreement" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/27).
STERN'S TAKE: NBA Commissioner David Stern: "We made a
deal in June, we made a deal in August; we'd like to get it
committed to paper. ... We can't go back to the owners with a
third deal -- it's the wrong sport perhaps but in this case,
three strikes here and we're out" (Mark Asher, WASHINGTON POST,
6/27).
