The NBA announced the cancelation of the NBA Jam
Session, the four-day event that was "expected to draw more
than 100,000 people" to the Philadelphia Convention Center,
according to Christopher Hepp of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER.
The league, mired in a four-month lockout, was "faced with
providing the Jam Session's many vendors assurances that the
event would take place as scheduled" from February 11-14,
but decided instead to cancel it. NBA Deputy Commissioner
Russ Granik: "We are determined to have an All-Star Weekend
if at all possible, and we will try to substitute an event
for Jam Session that has a shorter lead time." Hepp writes
that the Jam Session "could have" resulted in a $1M economic
stimulus to the city. 76ers President Pat Croce: "I
understand what David Stern had to do. It just doesn't take
the pain away, that's all" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/17).
NBA execs "have had discussions with the Sixers about
possible alternative events, perhaps using the First Union
Spectrum." Fleer is the Jam Session's title sponsor and
spokesperson Doug Drotman said, "An event of this magnitude
needs time and planning. This is really for the best for
everybody, (but) it's not best for fans." Meanwhile, Upper
Deck Manager of Corporate Communications Mary Mancera said
that NBA trading-card sales are down 50% from last year at
this time (Phil Jasner, PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 11/17).
MORE TEAM MEETINGS: Jazz Owner Larry Miller met with
eight players on Monday to discuss the labor situation.
Only Karl Malone and Shandon Anderson did not attend. Jazz
F Adam Keefe called the meeting "great ... very productive."
Keefe: "My feeling is both sides walked away understanding
things they didn't understand before." Keefe said players
came away "with a better understanding of the owners' point
of view and concerns" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 11/17). In N.Y.,
Mike Wise notes union sources who say the NBA's "campaign to
persuade players to approve the league's proposals is still
going strong." While Stern "imposed a deadline last week
for team officials discussing the deal with players," a
union official said that players "have been called by Stern
and other league employees." The union officials said Stern
has "been complaining about his inability to get a deal with
union leadership" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/17).
WILL ARENAS START BOOKING LOST DATES? Granik: "I have
no reason to be hopeful. We're not getting anywhere. We've
told people at our arenas that they can book dates four
weeks out. We're not kidding" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/17).
MY DINNER WITH MICHAEL: Suns President Jerry Colangelo
"asked" Michael Jordan, who was in Phoenix playing golf,
"whether he wanted to get together for lunch or dinner and
discuss the labor situation." But no arrangements were
made. Colangelo: "He's vacationing and playing golf. ... I
thought we might get together and have a cup of coffee or
something and talk about this. But the timing isn't going
to work out" (Bob Young, ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/17).
