The hearing on Latrell Sprewell's grievance against the
Warriors and the NBA begins today "and will stretch on into
next week," according to David Steele of the S.F. CHRONICLE.
Although "opening statements should take up most of today,"
both sides "will likely get to the heart of the matter
tomorrow, when coach P.J. Carlesimo, the players, assistant
coaches and staff members step before" arbitrator John
Feerick to tell their side of the story. While the league
pointed to Sprewell's "clearly premeditated assault" on
Carlesimo as the reason for his one-year suspension,
Sprewell and his reps "insist that they have no fewer than
six of his former teammates" to support his claim that he
didn't punch Carlesimo after he returned to the practice
court 20 minutes after first attacking him. Steele: "At
worst, some Warriors players have indicated, there is a
division of opinion among them on whether Sprewell did throw
a punch in that second confrontation." The date Sprewell is
to testify is not yet known (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/27).
SCHEDULE: The hearing will return to N.Y. next week,
where league execs will testify. Both sides then have one
week to give post-hearing briefs. Feerick has up to 30 days
to give his decision (WASH. POST, 1/27). In Philadelphia,
Sam Donnellon says Feerick's decision is the league
"equivalent of a Supreme Court decision in that it will make
future law, or at least set a bar by which all future player
transgressions are measured" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 1/27).
COULD GET UGLY: In Portland, Paul Buker wrote that
"both sides are digging in for a long fight." NBPA Exec Dir
Billy Hunter: "We didn't want to engage in any more
bloodletting. But I kind of expect the worst" (Portland
OREGONIAN, 1/25). Hunter added that he had a "gut feeling"
the suspension would be reduced (David Steele, S.F.
CHRONICLE, 1/26). Feerick has imposed a limited gag order,
ruling that all participants must refrain from discussing
details of the hearing (WASHINGTON POST, 1/27).
WHO IS FEERICK? John Feerick was profiled by Mitch
Lawrence in the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Feerick, Fordham Law
School Dean since '82, "is highly regarded for his fairness"
(DAILY NEWS, 1/25). Lawrence reports that according to
those "familiar with Feerick's thinking," he is "likely to
reject" Sprewell's bid for a reduced suspension. One
source: "John is not afraid of strict punishment" (DAILY
NEWS, 1/27). But Mike Wise of the N.Y. TIMES quotes legal
experts who say that a review of Feerick's writings and case
history may give the NBPA some "optimism." Denis McInerney,
Senior Counsel of Manhattan's Cahill & Gordon, said of his
friend Feerick, "His sentiments are clearly for individual
liberties" (Mike Wise, N.Y. TIMES, 1/27).
OTHER NOTES: Johnnie Cochran is not a part of
Sprewell's defense team this week (N.Y. TIMES, 1/25)....
Sprewell is interviewed in the N.Y. POST by Peter Vecsey.
Sprewell, asked about various altercations in his career:
"The funny thing about it, sometimes you have more respect
for people after one of those altercations." More Sprewell:
"[T]his incident has helped me grow. There's no doubt this
has made me a better person" (N.Y. POST, 1/27)....NBPA Exec
Dir Billy Hunter "is working on unionizing" WNBA players
(BOSTON GLOBE, 1/25)....ESPN's David Aldridge reported that
the NBA's owners committee, "which will determine whether of
not to reopen the collective bargaining agreement at the end
of April, met with the players' union last week in a cordial
meeting that nonetheless found precious little common ground
for an agreement. Owners are still adamant about reopening
the CBA." Aldridge: "One team executive put the number of
teams that want to keep the current agreement at somewhere
between only four and six clubs" ("SportsCenter," 1/26).
