NBA players will meet in Las Vegas, where an agents'
advisory committee will talk with players on Wednesday "to
help them formulate a new plan." The players' union will
meet on Thursday (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/20). Hunter: "This is
a time for a show of strength, and we will have Michael
Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning and
all the other marquee players and rank-and-file members
present" (SUN-TIMES, 10/20). Hunter: "It's time to step
forward. I always said, 'never let a boy do a man's job.'
And the men are coming to Las Vegas" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/20).
HUNTER, OR THE HUNTED? In Toronto, Craig Daniels writes
that the result of Feerick's decision "is a labour battle in
danger of dissolving into chaos." Daniels adds that in
Vegas, what is "expected to unfold" is a "power struggle
that could result in the ouster of Hunter." One "prominent"
agent: "That's exactly how it's shaping up" (TORONTO SUN,
10/20). In N.Y., Peter Vecsey writes that after Las Vegas,
the "players are sure to swear by their leaders. But you
can't convince me a vow of solidarity will amount to
anything more than a face-saving gesture toward Hunter."
Vecsey adds that if a new CBA isn't done in the next few
weeks, "it says here, rest assured the majority of players
will vote down their marquee officers" (N.Y. POST, 10/20).
One player told the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER the Las Vegas meeting
will be "pure chaos" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/20).
FULL PLAYER REAX: ESPN's David Aldridge said that he
sensed players and agents will "become much more public in
their desire to get a deal done as soon as possible. That's
the problem that Billy Hunter and the union leadership faces
now" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/19). Warriors G Muggsy
Bogues: "When you see all that money not coming your way,
you start to wonder how much more are you going to give
away. You've got to ask yourself, who are you fighting for?
Guys who'll come along later and the top 15 players? I'm
going to be looking at where (union leaders) stand. Maybe
I'm not going to be agreeable to where the union stands"
(SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/20). Pistons Player Rep Jerome
Williams: "I'm just fighting to play. You can have the
luxury tax, the hard cap, do whatever you want. Just let me
get back on the court. ... People need to understand that
the guys who are getting hurt are the guys least affected by
all things we are fighting over." Free agent G Shawn
Respert: "Our problem is, it seems the minority is speaking
for the majority. ... The guys on the middle or lower end,
are the majority" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/20). Magic G Penny
Hardaway: "I think it (the season) is in jeopardy." Spurs G
Avery Johnson: "I would not be surprised if they say if we
don't have a deal by this (some particular) time, they're
going to cancel the whole season." Lakers F Robert Horry:
"I think it's going to bring us together" (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 10/20). Heat F Terry Mills: "We can't say we
held our ground for two weeks then all of a sudden give in.
We might have to miss a check or two. We've got to show we
mean business" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/20). Jazz F Karl Malone:
"I'm sure at this point, the owners are sitting back with
cheesy smiles, but it doesn't deter us" (WASHINGTON POST,
10/20). Bulls G Steve Kerr: "They (owners) hold every card
now. They've been in a better bargaining position than we
have all along with the power they have." Bulls G Ron
Harper: "Some guys don't need the cash, but some guys do and
there are more guys who need the cash. It's going to get
ugly over the next 10 days" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/20).
FOX TO AIR MLB ACTION: BRANDWEEK reports that "word
among" the N.Y. buying community is that Fox Sports Net
"closed a deal" with MLB to carry the three-week MLB All-
Star exhibition tour in Japan as "replacement programming
for the postponed NBA season." Fox Sports reps declined
comment on the deal (Mike Freeman, BRANDWEEK, 10/19 issue).
