Agent Steve Woods has filed a grievance against the
NBPA "accusing the union of mismanaging negotiations with
the NBA," according to Rick Bonnell of the CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER. Woods filed the one-page grievance Wednesday with
the N.Y. office of the NLRB. NLRB NY Regional Dir Daniel
Silverman will oversee the case. Woods, who represents NBA
players Kevin Willis and Willie Burton, "says union
leadership is not representing the best interest of most
players." NBPA Chief Counsel Bob Lanza dismissed Woods'
grievance in a statement saying, "The charge is hardly worth
dignifying with a response and is totally without merit."
Woods said that NBPA Dir of Agent Administration Robert
Gadson threatened him with decertification if he proceeded
with the grievance. Woods also cited the union's leadership
as being unfit: "I don't think [NBPA President] Patrick
Ewing and Alonzo Mourning are equipped to make a $10 billion
deal. I don't want to be on the bus going over the cliff
with Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning driving it." Agent
Steve Kauffman criticized the timing of Woods' grievance and
suggested that he should have waited until after arbitrator
John Feerick's ruling on guaranteed contract payments
(CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/15). In DC, Mark Asher reports that
another NBA agent, "who said he does not know Woods and
asked not to be identified, confirmed that a large number of
agents are unhappy with the way the union has handled
negotiations" (Mark Asher, WASHINGTON POST, 10/15).
FISSURES? Hornets F Anthony Mason said players should
wait to hear Feerick's ruling: "I think that is a no-
brainer. If you have a guaranteed contract, it's a contract
... I don't sense any of the guys getting impatient."
Hornets F J.R. Reid: "The guys I've talked to all said they
want to stay strong and keep the union strong. And as the
time comes up when guys need money, the union has some money
for that" (Leonard Laye, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/15).
