NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter said that Friday's
exhibition game in Houston is sold out and that another game
with "many high profile players was being planned for Las
Vegas," with a third being planned for Japan (AP, 10/22).
Agent Bill Strickland: "There will definitely be some games,
and the frequency and location could pick up to where it
becomes a regular activity." Hunter: "I'm sure if we put
something on ... it'll either be on network TV or pay-per-
view" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/22). IL-based Perceptual
Robotics will provide images for the players' game on Friday
at www.perceptualrobotics.com. Broadcast.com will provide a
delayed Web cast on Sunday (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/22).
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN: In N.Y., Mike Wise writes that
the union and agents will explore a new league, "as a four-
or-five person committee has scheduled a meeting for this
morning to discuss economic alternatives for the players."
Agent Marc Fleisher: "It's in the very early stages, but
we're ready to start talking to potential owners,
broadcasters, investors, anybody out there that might make
sense." Two agents said that David Falk said he would
approach Michael Jordan about a new league, and one agent
said, "If Michael is involved, I'd bet it would work" (N.Y.
TIMES, 10/22). Agent Keith Glass, on a new league: "Yes, it
was discussed, but no one wants to (con) the league or try
to think they're scaring the league. There weren't a lot of
specifics, but there seemed to be a general embracing of the
concept. But I also think that people felt that the purpose
of anything like that would be to actually do it and not to
use it as a bargaining tool" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/22). Agent
Dwight Manley: "We're talking about the players earning
money as players but also owning the league and owning the
event so they would be making money as the owners also."
ESPN's David Aldridge: "If you think that putting on games
is not a possibility, keep in mind David Falk's [FAME was]
recently bought by SFX, one of the biggest promotional arms
in the world" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/21).
THE PLAYERS SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE: While all players
are set to receive $25,000 checks on November 15 as part of
the league's licensing deal, NBPA President Patrick Ewing
said that "many of the wealthiest players would forgo those
checks for one year," with lower-salaried players getting an
extra $25,000. Hunter also said that he has obtained lines
of credit from two banks (Chris Sheridan, AP, 10/22).
AND DECERTIFICATION? In L.A., Mark Heisler writes that
the union "took a small step" in "renouncing decertification
... in favor of returning to the bargaining table." Hunter:
"We don't think decertification is necessary at this point."
Heisler notes sources say that "only three agents" -- Marc
Fleisher, Mark Bartelstein and Don Fagan -- supported the
move. Agents are "cool" to the move due to the length of
the process and after labor lawyers told them such a move
was "no slam dunk" (L.A. TIMES, 1022). In N.Y., Mike Wise
writes while decertification came up, "neither the players
nor the owners gave it much credence at this point" (N.Y.
TIMES, 10/22). In DC, Ric Bucher adds that there was "little
talk" of decertification. Agent Keith Glass: "I don't think
we spent 10 full minutes on it. This is not 1995. We're
not scared about who is negotiating for us" (WASHINGTON
POST, 10/22). Agent Steve Woods, on decertification: "It
would be the equivalent of pushing the nuclear button. And
for the players to even suggest decertifying reinforces the
notion that they're out of control" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/22).
UPSHAW TO SPEAK TODAY: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Josh
Gotthelf reports from Las Vegas that NFLPA Exec Dir Gene
Upshaw was invited by Hunter to address the players today.
Upshaw said he will recommend decertification: "Given where
they are right now, I don't see any other choice." Upshaw:
"I think it's time for them to do it. Bargaining won't do
them any good anymore. That's over" (THE DAILY).
NEXT TALKS? Hunter plans to call NBA Commissioner David
Stern after today's meeting in "hopes of resuming
negotiations" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/22). Stern, asked about
a return to the bargaining table after arbitrator John
Feerick's decision: "I said, 'Let's sit down and negotiate.'
Their response was, 'We're heading for Las Vegas'" ("Fox
Sports News," 10/20). Agent Tony Dutt: "Most big deals, and
I would consider this a big deal, don't get done until the
last hour. But it's strange to be in this place and not be
heavily in negotiations" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/22).
QUOTEBOARD: NBPA VP Herb Williams: "We got some pretty
big name players coming in for, I think, the first time. We
got Michael, Charles Barkley, Shaquille is coming in. ... We
never had those players at the table before" (ESPN, 10/21).
...Agent David Falk, on the NBA's wealthiest players
directing the bargaining process: "Michael [Jordan] supports
a proposal to put a tax on his next contract. As such, he's
willing to make a sacrifice of his own money to support the
lesser-advantaged players." NBPA President Patrick Ewing:
"We want to improve the pay, especially for the lowest-paid
players, and restore the middle class" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES,
10/22)....Agent Steve Kauffman: "For the first time, there
was serious discussion about the possibility that the whole
season could be lost. I don't think many of us believed in
that before" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/22)....Agent Dwight Manley: "I
think that Stern has backed himself into a corner and he may
pay the ultimate price" (CNN, 10/21).
VEGAS BLUES? In Toronto, Craig Daniels quotes one
player agent who said, "Can somebody please explain to me
why this meeting is not in New York?" Daniels writes that
Hunter "is a talented, committed individual but one who is
in the process of doing the impossible, namely, knitting 400
weak links into a chain." Daniels calls the union strategy
"fundamentally flawed. ... How do you have a hope of talking
the league into spending more on salaries when you wrote
into the last agreement the league's right to reopen if
costs began to outstrip revenue? The best the union can
hope for is to give the league what it wants, let it get fat
and moneyed, and then go to war at a later date. Let's hope
that, but then, the players actually might have a clue what
they're fighting for" (TORONTO STAR, 10/22). Agent Steve
Woods: "This is an awful thing, but here you are holding
this (meeting) in the middle of a circus. That, to me, is
symbolic, symptomatic, of the entire problem. These guys
just don't get it" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/22).
