The "poor relationship" between NBA Commissioner David
Stern and NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter has "deteriorated so
much that the union director decided Friday to give the
commissioner another dose of the silent treatment,"
according to Chris Sheridan of the AP. Hunter "again
refused to place a telephone call to Stern, reneging on a
vow he made Wednesday to touch base with his adversary."
Instead, NBPA Outside Legal Counsel Jeffrey Kessler called
NBA Chief Legal Office Jeffrey Mishkin to say that the union
"saw no point in a meeting" (AP, 11/14). In Miami, Steve
Wyche wrote that Friday's non-action "may be the low point"
of the lockout (MIAMI HERALD, 11/14). Hunter said Friday,
"I don't know whether there'll be a meeting next week or
not" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/14). On ESPN.com, Jeffrey Denberg
reports that players and agents who left Thursday's union
meeting "were under the very clear impression that, within
hours," Hunter was to call Stern. One insider: "There was
no question of that." Denberg writes that Hunter is "more
intent on chest-beating than deal-making" (ESPN.com, 11/16).
HELP THEM IF YOU CAN, THEY'RE FEELING DOWN: While
reports had a possible players' exhibition game at Thomas &
Mack Center in Las Vegas on November 21, the building's
Assistant Dir for Booking & Marketing Daren Libonati is
waiting on its promotion "until he knows it's real."
Libonati: "When I see written confirmation from the right
parties, then we'll know. I've been told Nov. 21 through
our promoter, who has been working with the union. ... I
don't want to go out on a limb about players until we know
who's coming. I can't mislead the public on something like
this" (Phil Jasner, PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 11/14). One
source "close" to the labor negotiations, on the proposed
exhibition games: "Yeah, they can have that game right after
the Beatles reunion concert." One former player wonders if
the games will be good for the union: "Do they really think
the public is interested in a series of those silly, no-
defense 200-198 all-star games? I think they can get by
with one, just because of the curiosity factor, but a
series? No way. It'll be a joke, and I think it will turn
the fans off" (Michael Murphy, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/15).
OWNERS BACK STERN: In N.Y., Mike Wise wrote under the
header, "Team Owners Continue To Line Up Behind Stern."
Clippers Owner Donald Sterling: "We call him Easy Dave. I
don't think Stern would ever take advantage of anybody. I
think he wants to leave something on the table for everyone.
I have my own ideas, and they're not consistent with
Stern's. ... Stern is going soft on them." Stern: "I'm the
person who is charged with managing the lockout, and if it
requires us to lose the season, well, that's part of my
job." Suns President Jerry Colangelo: "Time will tell how
David will be looked upon by the various people involved, be
it the media, the fans or the owners. But I don't think
there are any regrets from the owners about the decision to
make David and Russ [Granik] the spokespeople." A graphic
showed that 12 NBA teams belong to owners with
personal/family fortunes of $1B or more (N.Y. TIMES, 11/15).
LOCKOUT FALLOUT: In Chicago, Lacy Banks offered his
proposal to end the dispute and called on players "to make a
truce and accept a smaller majority of the revenues [55%].
They have already proved their point to the surprise of
many. They have shown they can make a stand" (CHICAGO SUN-
TIMES, 11/15)....Warriors G Bimbo Coles: "Nobody's moving.
... I still don't think we should drop from 57 percent to 50
percent, but I'm not saying we should get 60 percent either"
(S.J. MERCURY NEWS, 11/15)....In DC, Jefferson Morley
examined fan reaction to the lockout and wrote, "Until
recently, the NBA seemed to have created a uniquely
compelling place for itself in popular culture." But while
Michael Jordan's "appeal remains intergalactic, the younger
generation of NBA stars who followed him have worn out their
welcome with many fans" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/14). The
FINANCIAL TIMES' Jurek Martin wrote that it is "hard, some
might say impossible, to recall any party to a dispute that
has so consistently undermined its own case like" the NBPA.
The players "are pleading poverty" and basketball players
"are shooting not basketballs but themselves in the foot.
And that is rather sad for a sport which used to be the
model which other professional sports tried to emulate"
(FINANCIAL TIMES, 11/14)....In St. Paul, Jim Caple: "Is
there anyone out there who actually misses the NBA?"
(PIONEER PRESS, 11/14)....Sonics GM Wally Walker: "I don't
sense hostility as much as I do apathy" (OREGONIAN, 11/15).
