The CBA "might be the best professional men's league
playing this winter if the NBA winds up losing the entire
season" and "might just reap some benefits," according to
Bob Young of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. However, CBA
Commissioner Gary Hunter said an NBA settlement "is in the
CBA's long-term interest." Hunter: "There is some upside
for us. But I think there is more of a downside, to be
honest. ... Any type of labor dispute in pro sports is not a
good thing for the rest of us." One upside might be that
some of the NBA's "fringe players" might play in the CBA to
"get into shape and be ready when the lockout ends." Other
players, such as Suns free-agent C Horacio Llamas, "may see
the CBA as an opportunity to make somebody's club" since
they won't have the benefit of a normal training camp and
preseason. Hunter: "Our biggest concern is that we'll start
the season with some very deep rosters, maybe five or six or
even seven players with the capability of playing in the NBA
or at least being invited to camp. Then they'll end the
work stoppage in December or early January, and all of those
athletes could be gone." Hunter continues to push for the
CBA to become more of a minor league for the NBA: "We think
the Idaho Stampede would be a natural association with the
Utah Jazz. The Trenton, N.J., franchise could have an
affiliation with the Nets or the 76ers or the Knicks.
You're able to develop fan interest" (AZ REPUBLIC, 11/9).
GOING GLOBAL: The CBA sent the Idaho Stampede and the
Connecticut Pride to compete against int'l competition in
the inaugural Marseilles Basketball Challenge in France this
week (CBA). The CBA's Hunter said the league "will discuss
playing more games or tournaments against European teams,
and even expansion to Europe" (HARTFORD COURANT, 11/7).
