NBA players are "prepared to announce today they'll
participate in an exhibition game" November 21 at the Thomas
& Mack Center, according to Tony Garcia of the LAS VEGAS
REVIEW-JOURNAL. Thomas & Mack Assistant Dir for Booking &
Marketing Daren Libonati said that ticket prices are
"expected" to be between $15 and $70. He added that the
gross from the event, which may be a "preclude to a 12-city
tour for the players, could range from $450,000 and
$525,000." L.A.-based promoter Mark Berman will handle the
contest. Agents David Falk, Arn Tellem and Eric Fleisher
"reportedly are trying to organize" the game. NBPA Dir of
Communications Dan Wasserman: "This is all from Falk and Arn
Tellem. It's not clear what level of participation -- if
any -- that we would have" (REVIEW-JOURNAL, 11/13).
NO TALKS: Neither "the league nor the union said the
sides" talked yesterday (Mike Wise, N.Y. TIMES, 11/13).
STERN SPEAKS TO AP: NBA Commissioner David Stern is
quoted by the AP as saying, "As far as I'm concerned, the
enormity of the losses that we're suffering should require
us to be negotiating now, but we just can't seem to get it
done. We can't get to first base." On negotiations slowing
down: "We know where each other are, but the rhetoric seems
to have picked up on their side." On the All-Star Game:
"Our pledge to Philadelphia is we won't cancel the All-Star
Game just to get extra dates" (AP, 11/13).
FALLOUT: From a USA TODAY editorial: "If the [NBA]
action is so 'fan-tastic,' how come so many fans don't seem
to care that the league's not playing?" (USA TODAY, 11/13).
...In Chicago, Sam Smith wrote that the NBPA's
"representation of its membership has not been good enough."
The "problem" is that the union "refuses to limit the high
wage earners," and has become "overly influenced by the
high-salaried players, most represented by agent David
Falk." Smith had Falk "lobbying for a plan that would have
the players refuse to negotiate, go back to play and then
stage wildcat strikes." Smith wrote the "problem is the
players union is now becoming isolated because of Falk's
influence. ... Union chief Billy Hunter is a fair and
respected man. But he has never negotiated a sports deal,
and it's only natural that he'd listen to the people he's
most often with." Falk "seems to be turning Hunter away"
from his goal of getting the "best deal for the majority of
the union members. The only way to do that is to limit the
top wage earners. ... It's up to the union to demand that
rather than being intimidated by the selfish goals of some
high-powered individuals" (TRIBUNE, 11/12). In Detroit,
Chris McCosky writes the dispute is now the "agents against
owners." The players "are just pawns being shuffled around
by Hunter and the power agents. If Hunter doesn't buy this,
maybe he should put the owners' proposal before the players
and hold a secret-ballot election" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/13).
