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).
