Magic Player Rep Danny Schayes, on attendance at the
NBPA's Las Vegas meetings: "I couldn't imagine us having
less than 100." But three of Schayes' teammates -- Penny
Hardaway, Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw -- will skip the
meetings to participate in the players-only pickup games in
Houston (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/21). In Houston, John Lopez
reports of the union meeting in Las Vegas rather than
returning to the bargaining table and writes that players
"should ... wonder why at this critical moment in the NBA
lockout, the Players Association acts as if this is some
two-bit game of keno. It acts as if it is playing with the
house money, which, the rank and file will remind
leadership, it is not. This is the biggest gamble yet by
the Players Association." Asked how many players live
paycheck to paycheck, one NBA agent said, "More than you
think. When you have more money in your checkbook, you
write bigger checks" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/21).
PLAYERS READY TO DOUBLE DOWN? In Philadelphia, Stephen
Smith writes that "players from around the league seemed to
be considering breaking ranks" before going to Las Vegas.
76ers G Aaron McKie: "Some players are making millions, some
are not. Those that are not may have a lot to say"
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/21). Spurs F Sean Elliott: "I
want to see the tone of the players now. Maybe a lot now
will say they can't stay out any longer. My guess is that
an overwhelming number of guys will want to play, and I
think the owners feel that" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS,
10/21). Blazers G Damon Stoudamire: "Something has to
happen because a lot of guys are p---ed off. ... If it turns
out the majority of the union membership wants to go a
certain route, regardless of what the high-salary guys say,
democracy might have to rule." More Stoudamire: "A lot of
guys feel out of the loop. They've [the NBPA] sent us
bunches of documents, but really, guys need things spelled
out for them" (TORONTO SUN, 10/21).
SAMPLE OF OTHER PLAYER REAX: 76ers G Allen Iverson:
"It's another mistake I think I've made, waiting so long to
get involved. I didn't think (the lockout) would go on this
long, be that serious. I didn't take it as seriously as I
should have." More Iverson: "I feel I can go a year, a
whole season. I know others wouldn't be able to, and that
might make other guys give in. Those guys have families. I
would tell them to do what they think is best for them"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/21). T-Wolves' Player Rep Sam
Mitchell: "I've said all along, 'Put a deal on the table,
let everybody vote and let a simple majority decide.' The
bottom line is, players still want to play basketball."
Wizards G Tim Legler: "I'm all for fighting for a cause
that's worthwhile and you believe in, but when you're trying
to fight a war and one guy has an AK-47 and you've got a
slingshot, it's awfully tough" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE,
10/21). Spurs C David Robinson: "I've gone over some of the
proposals, and it doesn't seem like the league is making a
sincere effort to move forward" (EXPRESS-NEWS, 10/21).
Bulls G Randy Brown, asked how long the rank-and-file can go
without paychecks: "It's not fair. But that's what our
union is all about" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/21).
