Bulls G Steve Kerr said last night on "SportsCenter"
that he "would hope that both sides" in the NBA labor
dispute "would start to feel a sense of urgency." Kerr, to
ESPN's Bob Ley: "I'm a little dismayed right now that they
haven't been meeting. I think they should be in a room
every day trying to get this thing done. ... I mean, this
thing is just dragging on and on." Kerr, on players missing
paychecks: "We do have some licensing money that's coming
in, conveniently, in the next couple of weeks. So guys will
be getting some checks that way." Kerr, on the "mix of
interest" among the union: "For [NBPA Exec Dir] Billy
Hunter, you've got people coming from all different
directions. You've got the agents of the high-priced
players, of the low-income players. You have players of all
different salary levels. And it's tough for him to try to
cut a deal that's going to please everybody ... that's
impossible. He's got to understand, just as David Stern has
to understand, that there are going to be people that aren't
happy with the deal" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/9).
IS THERE ANY MOVEMENT? In San Antonio, Glenn Rogers
reports that reps from each team are "expected to meet
tonight" in N.Y. with the players negotiating committee and
then meet with the executive committee on Wednesday. The
NBPA then "may offer a new proposal to the league Thursday."
Rogers: "Sources indicate that an agreement could be reached
late next week" (EXPRESS-NEWS, 11/10). But NBA Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik said, "There's really nothing going
on. ... My guess is we'll hear something from the union
after their meeting Wednesday" (AP, 11/10).
EXHIBITION GAME: The SportsBusiness Journal's Josh
Gotthelf reports in THE DAILY this morning that David Falk
is leading the effort to organize a players exhibition game
pitting Dream Team I against a combination of Dream Teams II
and III. Agent sources tell Gotthelf that the game would be
played in early December in Las Vegas, and that Michael
Jordan is expected to play, making it far more likely to
attract TV network interest. It is expected that some money
generated by the game will go to charity, while some will go
to helping some players during the lockout. The NBPA and
Advantage Int'l's Jeff Austin are also involved in planning
the game. Falk: "If and when we're in a position to
comment, we will." The only Dream Team players who would
not be available to play in Vegas are Larry Bird and Magic
Johnson, due to their ties with the NBA (THE DAILY).
TEAM TALK: Nets coach John Calipari said that he made
"telephone contact with every player on the team's roster
yesterday." Nets veteran Michael Cage, after speaking with
Calipari: "It raised my eyebrows a little bit. I have to
question the sincerity of John Calipari calling me and, all
of a sudden, the league allowing coaches and general
managers to talk to the players. But it's their rules.
They can change the rules. ... It only shows me the power
they have at this time" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 11/10). Suns
President Jerry Colangelo has begun contacting players, and
"at least five" have spoken with him: Rex Chapman, Clifford
Robinson, Horacio Llamas and draft picks Pat Garrity and
Toby Bailey (AZ REPUBLIC, 11/10). David Robinson said Spurs
ownership hasn't contacted him: "We know what the issues
are. This is not rocket science" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS,
11/10). Agent Herb Rudoy, on teams contacting players: "I
guarantee you the league will send out a script. It will be
like telemarketing" (Portland OREGONIAN, 11/9). In Orlando,
L.C. Johnson writes a memo to NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter and
stresses a union vote on the current deal: "Surely, these
men, many of whom are millionaires, are smart enough to
decide what is good for them" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/10).
ANTONIO ROLLS MCDYESS: In Phoenix, Bob Young reports
that free agent F Antonio McDyess "has fired agent Arn
Tellem and has hired the duo" of James Bryant and Tony Dutt
(AZ REPUBLIC, 11/10). The AP's Chris Sheridan reports that
the reason was not "immediately clear" (AP, 11/10).
SING US THE SONGS OF THE PIANO MAN? In N.Y., Mitchell
Fink reports that MSG President Dave Checketts is "going on
the offensive against the NBA lockout." With MSG losing
$750,000 per canceled game and "more than" $2M due to the
entire canceled slate, Checketts "has decided the bleeding
has to stop." Checketts "wants" Billy Joel to "add another
date to his three-night" MSG stop in December. The proposed
December 13 show would have been a Grizzlies-Knicks game,
but Fink is told "it will be offered to Joel pending
approval of Knicks President Ernie Grunfeld." MSG Senior
VP/Corporate Communications Barry Watkins wouldn't confirm
the switch but said MSG execs have "begun looking into dates
left open from canceled games" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/10).
MORE LOSSES: In DC, Thomas Heath examines the financial
losses due to the lockout. Agent Bill Strickland: "It's
easy to sit and make the assessment that players will give
in first because they don't have the deep pockets and they
have a lavish lifestyle. And there's some legitimacy in
thinking in those terms. But go talk to (Wizards Owner) Abe
Pollin and the dark nights in his arena. He's got
concessions, the Velocity Grill, and he is not in a position
as some of the other corporate owners in terms of depth of
pockets." The Wizards offer two options in addition to
direct refunds of money to season ticket holders. Ticket
holders can leave the money in the account with 6% interest
and put it toward next season's Wizards season tickets at a
5% reduction. Or they can use the canceled game money plus
interest toward individual Caps tickets this season or WNBA
Mystics tickets for next season. That includes 10% off this
year's Wizards playoff tickets (WASHINGTON POST, 11/10).
ALL-STAR UPDATE: Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell's
spokesperson Kevin Feeley "confirmed the NBA released a few
conference and meeting rooms back to hotels in the city"
during All-Star Weekend in February. The "possibility of
releasing a small number of the 5,300 rooms that have been
kept on hold was also discussed." In Philadelphia, Phil
Jasner asks, "Is this a sign of pessimism as the labor
dispute drags?" Feeley: "It's not accurate to read it that
way" (Phil Jasner, PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 11/10).
LOCKOUT NOTES: USA TODAY's Roscoe Nance writes, "There
is plenty of blame to go around. Blame the players for
accepting a bad deal in '95. ... The deal was made with the
union, not its leaders, and the union should live up to it.
... On the other hand, owners must recognize that players of
the '90s are more aware when it comes to the business of the
game" (USA TODAY, 11/10)....Blazers TV analyst Steve Jones
attended Sunday's ABL Xplosion-Power game in Portland to
"see if there was a residual" effect from the NBA lockout.
He "concluded that there wasn't." Jones, on the Power's
6,829 in attendance: "They're drawing their own crowd, and I
think that's more a tribute to the Power than anything
that's happening in the NBA" (Portland OREGONIAN, 11/9).
