The NBA "indefinitely postponed its training camp for
referees and its rookie orientation program yesterday,
increasing the possibility that the season will not start on
time," according to Mike Wise of the N.Y. TIMES. NBA Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik said that the "next casualty of the
labor strife" between the NBA and NBPA may be "cancellation
of exhibition games next week" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/16).
STATE OF THE GAME: In Newark, Dave D'Alessandro reports
that a "league source believes as many as a dozen owners are
now willing to attempt to exhaust the union's resolve by
chucking the entire 1998-99 season -- a dangerous option
that risks public alienation, but a safe financial option in
the short term." During the lockout, the "tide of public
opinion continues to run with management," while the
"business of selling the league goes on." The NBA will soon
open its merchandise store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, "a
venture that has already had three cost overruns."
Arbitrator John Feerick will soon rule whether owners must
pay guaranteed contracts during the lockout. NBPA Exec Dir
Billy Hunter said if Feerick rules against the union, "We
could appeal in court, but there are probably minimal
grounds. So basically we have to abide by his judgement."
Hunter said decertification would also be considered. In
addition, if Feerick rules for the owners, Hunter feels they
would be "inclined to take a hard line, and might become
more rigid than they currently are" (STAR-LEDGER, 9/16).
NOTES: In N.Y., Fred Kerber writes that the Nets'
forays into the community, usually reserved for the players,
have been handled by execs "such as" Exec VP/coach John
Calipari and GM John Nash (N.Y. POST, 9/16)....BLOOMBERG's
Scott Soshnick reports that Jonscott Turco, a former NBA
employee in the league's human resources dept., "is charged
with stealing more than $50,000 from the league." The NBA
has accused Turco, who worked for the league until July, of
establishing a "phony headhunting firm that was paid $72,500
by the league for four new hires" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 9/16).
