GREECE IS THE WORD; STERN MEETS WITH DILLER AT "MOGULFEST"

          Former NBA players like Dominique Wilkins and Byron
     Scott, "who initially wanted to play" for Team USA at the
     World Championships in Greece, "were talked out of playing
     after an intensive telephone lobbying effort by current NBA
     players," according to ESPN's David Aldridge in his "NBA
     Beat."  Aldridge: "And that peer pressure is working on
     members of the original U.S. team who now want to play in
     Greece."  Aldridge, quoting one high-ranking member of the
     NBPA: "A lot of the players want to go back, but we have to
     hold fast" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 7/9).  In Orange County,
     Randy Youngman wrote that "several" former NBA players who
     "were approached" by NBA Senior VP/Operations Rod Thorn
     about playing for USAB "initially were interested in playing
     until learning they would be paid only $90 in per diem"
     (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/9).  NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ
     Granik said "all of American basketball is taking a hit" in
     the players' decision not to play in the event.  Granik:
     "USA Basketball takes a hit around the world.  But it's even
     bigger than that (for America's basketball reputation)." 
     More Granik: "To this day, I have not gotten a reasonable
     explanation for why they aren't playing.  I told them if
     they wanted me to resign (as USAB president), I would"
     (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/10).  USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke reports
     that due to the lockout, NBC and TNT "have dropped" their
     World Championships telecasts (USA TODAY, 7/10).
          STERN AT "MOGULFEST": In N.Y., Keith Kelly notes that
     NBA Commissioner David Stern is attending Herb Allen's
     "Mogulfest" in Sun Valley, UT (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/10).