Michael Jordan "wants to play union activist this
summer," according to Lacy Banks of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
Owners and players are scheduled to begin negotiating on a
new CBA next Wednesday, and Jordan said, "I'm always going
to be a pro-union player." Jordan: "I will speak out when I
feel the players are being taken advantage of. ... I will be
involved. I will contribute" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/25).
LABOR NOTES: Pacers President Donnie Walsh, on
reopening the CBA: "Not only are we overpaying what we
bargained for, but we're also distributing it in a way that
isn't good for the players. The top players are getting a
bigger percentage and there are a lot of players at the
bottom that are taking the minimum" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS,
3/25). Sonics GM Wally Walker: "[T]here are some smart
people working on both sides that will work towards getting
something done that will work for everybody." Kings Player
Rep Olden Polynice called NBA Commissioner David Stern the
key to preventing a work stoppage: "[A]s long as he's there,
I don't think there will be one" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 3/24).
...NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter is profiled by Scott Soshnick
of BLOOMBERG BUSINESS NEWS, who writes that "armed with
renewed player trust, he will provide the NBA with an able
negotiation adversary" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/25).
