NBA: In N.Y., Ian O'Connor writes under the header,
"Trouble Brewing In NBA: Face Lockout, No Jordan." He
writes that the NBA "is about to suffer a crisis of
charisma" and as NBA Exec Dir Billy Hunter has "established
himself as a worthy opponent" to NBA Commissioner David
Stern, the union is "more galvanized than ever." The
"marriage of employer and employee, a partnership built on
trust, grows more frayed by the hour" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
3/10)....UNC junior/ACC Player of the Year Antawn Jamison
said that an NBA work stoppage would impact his decision to
turn pro a year early: "I don't want to sit out while the
college season is going on" (Mult., 3/10).
NHL: In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont wrote that with NHL
VP/Operations Brian Burke likely leaving his post this
summer, "names being bandied about" to succeed him include
Isles GM Mike Milbury and former Canadiens GM Serge Savard.
Dupont floats former Bruins Coach Terry O'Reilly for the
post (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/8)....On ESPN, Michael Wilbon decried
"thuggery" in the NHL and noted the Ducks' Paul Kariya may
miss the rest of the season due to a concussion from a hit
by the Blackhawks' Gary Suter, who was suspended for four
games, Wilbon said, "What good is any league if it won't
protect its No. 1 asset, its best players? ... One would
hope that the NHL powers that be, who've allowed this ugly
environment to exist, will wake up and listen up before
anyone else is so seriously and needlessly injured" ("The
Sports Reporters," 3/8)....In N.Y., Dave Anderson writes on
"Hockey's Concussion Concern" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/10).
