The NBA, "perhaps as soon as tomorrow, will officially
cancel all training camps and its entire preseason schedule
for the first time in its history because of the ongoing
lockout," according to Mitch Lawrence of the N.Y. DAILY
NEWS. The cancellations, along with "no negotiations
scheduled, virtually guarantee that the start of the regular
season will be postponed -- another first." In other news,
NBA Commissioner David Stern talked to owners last week and
"reportedly was told by 12 owners that they were in favor of
canceling the entire regular season" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
9/22). The AP's Chris Sheridan reports that owners and
players "discussed getting together for another bargaining
session, but the idea was dismissed when the sides couldn't
agree on the ground rules." NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ
Granik: "We invited players to come back to the table, and
they declined." NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter said that he
proposed a smaller meeting, with four reps attending from
each side. But when Stern asked that the "meeting be held
when the eight members of the owners labor committee were in
town, Hunter declined" (AP/WASHINGTON POST, 9/22).
HARD LINERS: In Boston, Will McDonough wrote that as a
possible compromise in negotiations, look for the "owners to
offer to grandfather the Bird Rule players for three or four
years. This way, most of them will be covered for the rest
of their careers. Then the owners will try to do a deal
without the Bird Rule that would guarantee more money to the
middle class and reserves" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/19). In San
Jose, Jesse Barkin wrote, "Unity on both sides has never
been higher." Agent Jerome Stanley said Stern "figures if
the owners ride it out, the players will break down because
their families are depending on them. And he's right about
them. But here's where he's made his mistake. They've
misjudged the leadership. They're right about the players
but they're wrong about the guy at the top [Hunter]" (SAN
JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/20). One labor source: "I have great
admiration for [Stern]. But [NBPA General Counsel Jeffrey]
Kessler is just like Stern. He's as smart or smarter than
Stern but he doesn't have Stern's class or style." But
some labor "hawks" wonder why the NBPA's Hunter "lets
Kessler stay out front, when Kessler so clearly antagonizes
Stern" (L.A. TIMES/Bergen RECORD, 9/20).
NBA NOTES: In Orlando, Tim Povtak wrote that Magic fans
"have begun to waver in their support" of the team,
partially due to the lockout. The season-ticket renewal
rate for this season is 80%, down from 93% a year ago
(ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/20)....In S.F., Dwight Chapin profiled
CSI Capital Management's Leland Faust, who offers financial
advice to "roughly" 100 clients, including 30 NBA players.
Faust: "For the last year, we've been telling everybody to
be sure to save money. We've suggested in certain cases
that certain lifestyles be deferred" (S.F. EXAMINER, 9/20).