Arbitrator John Feerick will issue his ruling today on
whether NBA players with guaranteed contracts should be paid
during the lockout. The AP reports that Feerick's decision
is due by 3:00pm ET (Mult., 10/19). The ruling will come
after the union on Friday called the league's counter-
proposal to a luxury tax system a "step backward." In
Chicago, Lacy Banks wrote "what first looked like progress
... turned out to be premature optimism after the players
ripped the owners'" proposal. While the union offered a tax
on all salaries of at least $18M per year, the league
counter-offered by proposing a tax on all salaries that
"exceeded last season's average player salary" of $2.6M.
The league said such a tax would impact about 15% of its 400
players. The tax rate would be 50% for contracts between
$2.6-10M; 100% for contracts between $10-15M; 150% for those
between $15-20M and 200% for contracts worth more than $20M.
The league also said that, after two years, a hard cap would
be implemented for the 2000-01 season if the players' share
of BRI "failed to drop" from 57% to 52%. NBA Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik: "We are willing to try it the
union's way, but they have to agree that if it doesn't work,
we ... try it our way" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/17).
NO CLOSER? NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter: "At first blush,
it doesn't appear as if it's something that demonstrates any
movement on their part. It's quite apparent to us that it's
the same old stuff all over again just kind of repackaged"
("SportsCenter," 10/16). More Hunter: "They're talking
about a tax that affects everybody" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER,
10/17). NEWSDAY's Barbara Barker quoted Hunter: "We had a
couple of ballplayers call up today to say, if need be, that
they've prepared to hock everything they've got in order to
ensure they never accept a deal similar to what was
proposed" (NEWSDAY, 10/17). More Hunter: "It's apparent to
me that what they've done is set out to either destroy the
union and/or break the morale of the players." Granik:
"That's baloney. We need a deal that's effective"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/17). Agent Bill Strickland:
"This is a hard-cap phase-in" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/17).
EUROPEAN VACATION? In addition to Feerick's ruling
today, Mike Wise reports, "Another significant development
could be the departure of many players to Europe until the
dispute is settled." Agent Bill Strickland, a member of the
union's agents advisory committee, said, "I think it would
be a case-by-case basis, but yes, there's already some
people talking about that." Agent Steve Kauffman said he is
"would explore" the "possibility" of Nets C Rony Seikaly
signing with a pro team in Greece (N.Y. TIMES, 10/19).
HONEYMOON IN VEGAS? The NBPA will meet in Las Vegas on
Wednesday and hold meetings through Friday. In Milwaukee,
Tom Enlund writes, "The union is billing the Las Vegas
meeting as [a] brainstorming session but some are
speculating that it may also be an attempt to reinforce the
players' unity" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/19).
Hunter: "We've had no dissension from the ranks. I don't
think you're going to see any dissension Thursday"
(CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/17). In Charlotte, Rick Bonnell:
"One agent said he thought the meeting in Vegas was a big
mistake, reinforcing public perception that players are rich
and spoiled. But frankly, the best way to get players to
attend is going someplace where they can gamble and golf"
(CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/18). In N.Y., Mitch Lawrence: "What
kind of message are they sending to the fans by going to
Vegas, anyway? Not too bright" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/18).
ALL ALONG THE LOCKOUT WATCHTOWER: In N.Y., Mitch
Lawrence wrote: "Watch for the NBA to send letter[s] to
players' wives/girlfriends/members of entourages in coming
weeks outlining all the great aspects of the league's latest
contract proposal. The tone will be, 'Do you realize that
all this has been offered?'" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/18)....NBA
Commissioner David Stern, asked if it has been difficult to
keep the owners unified: "No, this has been extraordinarily
easy. In this one, I am doing their will. Believe me, it's
as surprising to me as it is to you" (Newark STAR-LEDGER,
10/18)....In Chicago, Sam Smith offered his labor proposal:
"It's time for the players to accept a hard cap, and for the
owners to create enough slot exceptions ... to ensure
movement among midlevel players and guaranteed contracts for
players besides stars" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/18).
LAUGH TRACK: On NBC's "Tonight Show" Friday, Dennis
Rodman discussed the lockout: "It's all about money,
everything is about money. We want the control, they want
the control; so they want the Larry Bird exemption rule back
and we want more money. I think it's kind of messed up that
a lot of guys in the NBA do not deserve the money. You have
guys (earning) $150 million and they don't do a damn thing.
That's kind of screwed up, isn't it? I think you have a guy
here in L.A. like that. Don't get me wrong, I like Shaq as
a competitor, but as far as his determination, it's kind of
... I don't know" (NBC, 10/16)....On Comedy Central's "The
Daily Show," a viewer poll asked what players will do with
their free time during the lockout. The results: 41% said
learn to read; 36% said make a "really bad rap" record; 20%
said get busted for drug running; 2% said campaign for
health-care reform (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/19).
