NBA Commissioner David Stern testified for an hour and
a half during the first day of arbitrator John Feerick's
hearing to decide whether players with guaranteed contracts
should be paid during the NBA lockout, according to Mike
Wise of the N.Y. TIMES. The hearing is "expected to
continue today and last into next week. Hinging on the
outcome is whether the owners will have to pay $800 million
in salaries to more than 220 players who have guaranteed
contracts for the 1998-99 season" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/25). Among
players in attendance during yesterday's hearing were NBPA
President/Knicks C Patrick Ewing, Hawks G Steve Smith and
Sonics C Joe McIlvaine. The three "are all expected to
testify" today or next week (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 8/25).
POLY'S GRIP? The AP's Chris Sheridan reports that a
"unique clause" in the contract of Kings C Olden Polynice
"was cited" by the NBPA at yesterday's hearing. The clause,
part of Polynice's five-year deal signed in '94, "protected
the Kings from losing any money they had paid Polynice in
the event that games were cancelled due to a work stoppage
-- whether a strike or a lockout." Cavs F Shawn Kemp is the
"only other" NBA player with "any type of lockout language
in his contract, but his clause is more complicated than
Polynice's." The NBPA is arguing that "since explicit
lockout language exists in the Polynice contract, the lack
of it in every other contract makes those deals payable."
Agent Keith Glass, who negotiated Polynice's deal: "This is
not a good thing, I don't think, for the league." NBA Chief
Legal Counsel Jeffrey Mishkin: "We think it's a waste of
time. The only way this dispute is going to be resolved is
at the bargaining table" (AP/Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 8/24).
SEALY'S POSTURE: Pistons free agent Malik Sealy said
the league wants players "to give up our rights to be able
to get what we're worth, and that doesn't make any sense.
Don't make me give up my right to negotiate just because you
couldn't say no." Sealy: "The NBA has a lot to consider
because nobody is going to pay to see David Stern dribble
the basketball, period" (Scott Rosen, NEWSDAY, 8/25).
TAKING SIDES: In S.F., Glenn Dickey called both sides
"wrong" in the dispute: "I'd sympathize with [the owners]
except that they won't do the one thing which would relieve
the pressure: share gate revenues. Because they won't do
that, some teams have much greater revenues than others and
can afford to go well over the cap, which puts pressure on
other, less fortunate teams." The union "would do better to
concentrate on raising minimum salaries and the 'veteran
minimums,' for players who need more money far more than the
stars, who are ... overpaid" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/24).
ADVERTISERS LOOKING ELSEWHERE? In Philadelphia, Mike
Bruton writes, "Already there are signs that the NBA, which
has enjoyed immense popularity in the last 15 years, is
taking a public relations hit because of the uncertainty
over whether the season will open as scheduled on Nov. 4."
Burns Sports Celebrities President Bob Williams: "We're not
seeing as many opportunities for NBA players right now as we
did, say, a year ago or two years ago. ... [Advertisers are]
either putting plans on hold or looking at other sports."
Bruton: "Maybe Feerick can save the league and its employees
from themselves by ruling in favor of the players. If the
owners have to pay the players despite a lockout, the
players will have so much leverage, the whole mess might get
settled quickly" (Mike Bruton, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/25).
