With the arbitration hearing over, Latrell Sprewell's
future "now rests in the hands" of the arbitrator, Fordham
Law School Dean John Feerick, according to Mike Wise of the
N.Y. TIMES. Feerick has until March 18 to rule on the case.
The gag order imposed by Feerick "remains in effect until a
ruling is made" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/17). CNN/SI's Mark Morgan
reported last night from N.Y. that "closing arguments" in
the case "lasted just over five hours." Morgan: "Feerick's
ruling will send a strong signal as to who exactly runs the
NBA -- the league or its players" ("CNN/SI," 2/16).
WHO HOLDS THE KEY? In Charlotte, Rick Bonnell reported
that a union insider said that the NBPA "is warning its
members a summer lockout could be 'long and bloody.'"
Bonnell: "If this can't be quietly solved before July, then
it could drag on for months. The union feels owners won't
start feeling edgy until late August or early September,
when games get close" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/15).
ALL RILED UP: Heat President/Coach Pat Riley discussed
NBA player salaries with the MIAMI HERALD's Barry Jackson.
Riley: "If the players push this game to the point where
none of the reward is ever going to come back to the owner,
then they will all get out of this, and we will all be on a
white sandy beach someday." More Riley: "One day, and I
can't wait for the day, an owner is going to sue a player
and his agent for damages, for killing trades or not wanting
to go somewhere else. ... One owner is going to win a lot of
damages ... because that isn't right" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/17).
