The NBPA will meet today and Thursday in Las Vegas in
"perhaps its most crucial meeting" during the NBA lockout,
according to Lacy Banks of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. NBPA Dir
of Communications Dan Wasserman said there are "more than"
120 players confirmed to attend, including the league's "top
stars." Banks: "There is talk the union might vote to
decertify, opening the door for players with guaranteed
contracts to go outside arbitration and sue the owners. But
that would result in players missing more paychecks"
(CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/21). One agent, on decertification:
"Not only is it feasible, it may be the only thing to do"
(N.Y. POST, 10/21). Another added, "It's very seriously
being explored. Some people feel it's the answer because
it's our best piece of leverage remaining" (DETROIT FREE
PRESS, 10/21). Agent Tony Dutt: "Either you're going to do
it or you're not. I think that's what we want to come out
of this [Vegas meeting] with -- some definites on what the
next plan is. You can't afford to make the wrong move at
this point." Rockets G Brent Price, after arbitrator John
Feerick's ruling on guaranteed contract payments: "We went
for the gold, and we didn't get it. Now we have to minimize
the losses. Realistically, I don't know how we're going to
avoid signing a hard (salary) cap at this point unless we
decertify. ... We've actually already signed decertification
papers as individual players. ... I don't know if that would
be the best answer. If you decertified, there would be
chaos" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/21). Agent Dwight Manley: "I
think (decertification) is premature at this point. I think
the players are better off sticking together and waiting for
the owners to put a legitimate proposal on the table. ...
Maybe in January you might decertify and look at starting a
new league on your own" (USA TODAY, 10/21).
HUNTER'S GOODWILL TOUR: In Boston, Peter May reports
that NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter testified before arbitrator
John Feerick that the union was involved in efforts to stage
games for players during the lockout. He planned an
international tour "to promote peace and goodwill," and held
talks with IMG and FAME, along with discussions with the UN
about games benefiting UNICEF. Hunter said that the
"purpose was to establish goodwill in the face of the
lockout and to preserve the image of the players." But the
games never got off the ground as Hunter "discovered that
most players, free agents or not, like their summers off and
that potential sponsors wanted marquee names, regardless of
their contract situation" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/21).
HOW DOES LOCKOUT PLAY ON THE STREET: In N.Y., Chris
Broussard writes that "fans across the country are growing
disenchanted" with the NBA and its players due to the
lockout: "In dozens of interviews throughout the country,
people were certain that the N.B.A. would suffer at the box
office when the labor dispute is settled." Broussard adds,
"While major defections among African-Americans, who are
among the game's staunchest supporters, seem unlikely, they
do not represent the majority of those who pay an average of
$40 a ticket" to attend games (N.Y. TIMES, 10/21).
