The NBA and its players union negotiated for more than
16 hours yesterday, but when it was over, the two sides
"hadn't moved ... much closer to a deal," according to Chris
Sheridan of the AP. After talks ended at 1:00am ET, NBA
Commissioner David Stern said, "There's still a pretty wide
gap that separates the sides, despite the statements of good
faith intentions. But at least we identified the sizes of
the gaps between us." NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter, "looking
haggard and weary when he left the talks," expected to speak
with the league today about the next session. A group of
about 100 players spoke to the NBA's negotiating committee
early in the afternoon and "formal talks" began at 5:00pm
ET. Earlier in the day, the league canceled games through
November and, with the latest cancelation of 95 games, 194
games have been lost in all. Each team's 82-game schedule
has now been reduced to "about" 68 games, and the players
"have lost about" $200M in salaries (AP, 10/29). Stern:
"Where the parties are, a deal is not close. We agreed at
the end of the evening to get away, get some sleep, and do
some analysis of both sides' proposals" (AP, 10/28).
DETAILS: NEWSDAY's Greg Logan reports that the sides
have agreed on a framework in which a luxury tax on Bird
exception contracts would be in place for two years. If
that fails to meet the owners' concerns on cost certainty, a
"modified hard salary cap would be imposed for the next two
years, including an escrow account in which players would
put 10 percent of their salaries." But Logan adds that
owners have "insisted" on rolling back the amount of BRI
committed to salaries from 57% to 48%, and the "owners
fixation on their 48 percent target was an obvious source of
frustration to the players." Pacers F Antonio Davis: "From
Day One, their position has been 48 percent." Magic C Danny
Schayes: "If it's 48 percent or nothing, we're going to have
a long fall" (NEWSDAY, 10/29). Hunter: "The skeleton is
there, but it might take us a while to get some workable
numbers." But Mike Wise of the N.Y. TIMES reports that
league officials were "wondering aloud" if the union will
"compromise enough to achieve the owners' goal" of 48% by
2003. NBPA President Patrick Ewing: "Right now we're
driving a car. They want us to go back to horse and
buggies. Going back to 48 percent is not reasonable" (N.Y.
TIMES, 10/29). Stern said 57% is "too much. It's not a
fair share" (N.Y. POST, 10/29). Ewing: "We're not happy
with what's on the table, but we felt a compromise needed to
be made to show we want the season to start. We're not
comfortable with the escrow system, but we decided that at
the right numbers, we'd definitely do it" (STAR-LEDGER,
10/29). ESPN's David Aldridge reported that as part of a
deal, a fifth year would include "a sort of mix" of a luxury
tax and the escrow account. Aldridge: "Now, what [NBA
Deputy Commissioner Russ] Granik said was if any system can
work, that might be the system that could work; but, they're
so far apart on numbers, they're not even close to getting a
deal from that framework" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/29).
WHAT HAPPENED: Close to 100 players sat in on the early
afternoon session, where Suns Chair Jerry Colangelo
"reminded everyone not to let money kill the game that has
made them all wealthy." According to sources in the room,
Michael Jordan, Wizards Owner Abe Pollin and Stern "had one
of the most heated exchanges after Jordan asked why
increases in franchise values were not being figured into
profitability calculations." Pollin said, "You just have to
trust us." Jordan said, "You've got to trust our
negotiators." Jordan then told Pollin, "If you can't make a
profit, you should sell your team" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER,
10/29). Pollin was reportedly then "interrupted by Stern,
who further upset numerous players by not allowing Pollin,
the league's senior owner of 35 years to continue." Hunter
said later, "Everybody assumes that because you're an
athlete, that you can't be sophisticated, you can't be
enlightened, you can't be business-like, you don't have any
kind of insight. ... You can't talk to them like they're
some dumb jock" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/29). Jordan said
later, "I'm not trying to disrespect Abe, I wouldn't expect
him to disrespect us as players" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/29).
Bulls G Steve Kerr "drew Stern's ire" after he called
aspects of the owners' proposal "an insult." Stern, "losing
his cool," responded by saying the players' demand for 63%
of BRI was also "an insult" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/29).
THE JORDAN RULES: USA TODAY's Roscoe Nance reports that
Michael Jordan has "been increasingly vocal recently."
Nance: "Even though Jordan is not an officer in the 411-
member players union, he wields considerable clout in the
organization. When he speaks, the rank and file -- and
everybody else who's even mildly interest in basketball --
listens." Jordan: "It's part of my responsibility as a
leader" (USA TODAY, 10/29). Jordan: "What's right is for
them not to come in and lock us out and force us to accept
any deal they put on the table. You have to stand up when
somebody is trying to take advantage of you. That's what
has happened here" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/29). In N.Y., Jay
Greenberg writes that Jordan "acts like he wants to play"
again and that fact alone has "already saved" the NBA (N.Y.
POST, 10/29). Header of Lacy Banks' SUN-TIMES column: "MJ
Rises To Challenge, Takes Leadership Role" (10/29).
