The cancelation of NBA games received front-page
treatment in today's USA Today, N.Y. Times, Washington Post,
Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle and
Miami Herald, and was the lead story on ESPN's early evening
"SportsCenter" and CNN's "Sports Tonight." On ABC's "World
News Tonight," Jon Frankel noted the cancelation 5:00 into
the broadcast. It was the lead story after the first
commercial break. On "CBS Evening News," Dan Rather led
into a soundbite from David Stern 5:00 into the broadcast.
On "NBC Nightly News," Tom Brokaw mentioned the lockout
20:00 into the show with a thirty-second brief (THE DAILY).
NEITHER SIDE SCORING POINTS: In DC, Michael Wilbon
writes the "more details we hear, the more ridiculous both
sides look. ... The NBA is betting that a [CBA] more
favorable to the owners is the No. 1 priority, and that the
league can woo back the fans. It's risky." Wilbon: "My
belief is that the owners are prepared to sit out the season
and players aren't" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/14). In Phoenix,
Dan Bickley: "The NBA has overestimated its hold on you.
The NBA thinks it's a vital part of American culture when it
was merely flavor of the month. ... The NBA is in for a rude
awakening" (AZ REPUBLIC, 10/14). In Ft. Worth, Gil LeBreton:
"Pro basketball ... is not the communion of choice in most
American cities. Out of sight, out of mind" (STAR-TELEGRAM,
10/14). In Dallas, Kevin Blackistone writes under the
header, "NBA May Never Rebound From This" (DALLAS MORNING
NEWS, 10/14). In Milwaukee, Michael Bauman writes that the
dispute may not create an "angry public, but something far
worse: an apathetic public" (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/14).
THE PLAYERS: In Minneapolis, Dan Barreiro writes under
the header, "Stern Has Lost His Magic Touch." Barreiro:
"Stern has been reduced to real-life size, stripped of his
aura. Now, he's just another commissioner, at a loss for
answers, unable to resist being swept up in the greedy tide
of big-time sports" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/14). In
Toronto, Craig Daniels writes on the NBPA's Hunter under the
header, "Hunter's Mettle Put To Test." Daniels: "Can he
hold the players together? Can he withstand the public view
that his membership is rich, spoiled and out of touch with
day-to-day economic reality?" (TORONTO SUN, 10/14). In
Philadelphia, Rich Hofmann: "This thing will be run by the
loudest players in the end, not Hunter. It will be run by
the pushiest agents, not Hunter. And, on the owners' side,
Stern will be very, very lucky if his side's positions
aren't being dictated at the end by a handful of the richest
owners -- and nobody else" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/14).
