STERN AND GRANIK SAY DECEMBER MAY BE MONTH TO REMEMBER

          The NBA is six weeks away from the "danger zone" of
     canceling its entire '98-99 season, according to USA TODAY's
     Greg Boeck, who interviews NBA Commissioner David Stern and
     Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik in today's edition.  Granik:
     "If we don't have a deal at some point in December, you're
     in the danger zone of no season."   Stern: "By next week, I
     think the only issue will be, how much of December should be
     canceled, along with November, given the lead time we need." 
     The NBPA had no comment (Greg Boeck, USA TODAY, 10/22).
          MORE: Stern, interviewed on San Antonio's WOAI-AM: "It
     is so incredibly disappointing when we turn on the TV sets
     and we hear it said that either, A) We're trying to get the
     players to cave or, B) We're trying to break the union or,
     C) You know what, this ... is a bad deal.  There is ... no
     deal ... here that is bad for our players" (THE DAILY).