Dennis Rodman will file a grievance against the NBA for
his two-game suspension after a profanity-filled outburst
where he criticized the league and its officials, according
to Dan Bickley of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Rodman: "The money
has been given to charity, and I think that's great. I
won't take that back. It's better than giving it to the
[bleeping NBA]. I'm not going to fight for the money. I'm
going to fight for the fact that they've been messing with
me" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/17). The NBPA says Rodman's fine
violated the NBA's CBA, which states no player can be fined
more than $25,000. The money went to Chicago's Near West
Side Community Development Corp (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/17).
OPEN TAP: ESPN's David Aldridge reported that the NBPA
and the NBA "were set" for an arbitration hearing on Monday,
"arguing about naming and pouring rights revenues that the
union thinks should be included with the monies that are
divided between the two sides." Aldridge adds if the union
gets its way, those monies will be added to the salary cap
in '97-98, not for '96-97 ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 12/16).
