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Leagues and Governing Bodies

THE JERSEY SOLUTION; PLAYERS REACT TO NBA LOCKOUT

          "Both parties are at fault," according to Dave
     D'Alessandro of the Newark STAR-LEDGER, who offers his
     "solution" to the NBA's labor woes.  D'Alessandro writes
     that the players' "main problem is that they are mesmerized
     by the misguided notion that fiscal stupidity should be the
     basis of fair market value."  The owners, meanwhile, say
     that the players earned 58% of all basketball-related income
     (BRI) last year, but "what they don't tell you is that the
     BRI includes only" 40% of luxury-box income, 40% of signage,
     none of the revenue from NBA theme stores "that exploit the
     players' names, and none of the naming-rights revenue on
     arenas."  D'Alessandro: "The only logical solution is to
     keep the present system but find a way to restrict annual
     increases."  D'Alessandro suggests a "graduated raise
     system," in which "the annual increases in the standard
     contract is contingent on the base salary," and "profit
     sharing" of revenue sources such as gate and signage.  He
     also suggests a new rookie scale whereby picks 1-10 are
     "bound" to five-year contracts, picks 11-20 for four years,
     21-29 for three years, with all becoming unrestricted free
     agents when their contracts expire.  D'Alessandro, noting
     that the NBA's last proposal to the union included a minimum
     salary of $350,000, with an extra $50,000 per season after
     five years of service: "The union should take the money and
     run, but not before asking for the $50,000 raises to kick in
     after two years" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 9/17).  
          PLAYERS FRUSTRATED, BUT UNITED: Sonics player rep Vin
     Baker: "This is definitely discouraging.  We can come to an
     agreement to make this thing work.  There has to be a happy
     medium. ... If we lock out for a long time, and if Michael
     Jordan retires, those are significant things that could
     really put us a big step back" (Portland OREGONIAN, 9/15). 
     Raptors rep Dee Brown: "We might have a shortened training
     camp, a few pre-season games, but I'm optimistic we won't
     miss any regular-season games" (TORONTO SUN, 9/16).  Pacers
     F Chris Mullin: "From what I've heard, it doesn't look like
     training camp will start on time.  After that, who knows?" 
     Pacers G Fred Hoiberg: "We just have to stay positive and
     stay together.  If the guaranteed players do get paid, there
     can't be any jealousy" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 9/16). 
     Rockets C Hakeem Olajuwon: "It's sad.  Both sides know
     there's so much at stake" (AP/S.A. EXPRESS-NEWS, 9/16). 
     Grizzlies F Shareef Abdur-Rahim: "This is something you
     think would happen more to truck drivers or pilots.  In
     professional sports, you wouldn't think this would be going
     on. ... As players, we have to put up the best deal, but
     hopefully we can do a deal where both sides are comfortable"
     (Vancouver PROVINCE, 9/15).  Warriors rookie Antawn Jamison,
     on coming out of college early: "Honestly, I don't regret
     (my decision) at all. ... I definitely didn't think it would
     last this long and be this serious.  I thought everything
     would be fixed by now.  At most, I thought we'd miss a
     couple of days of training camp.  But I didn't know it would
     be this much of a headache" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/17).
          MOVING CAMP: In Toronto, Frank Zicarelli reports that
     NBA teams "have been put on official notice to seek
     alternative training camp sites" (TORONTO SUN, 9/17).
     

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