Wizards G Tim Legler yesterday "ripped into the players
union, saying it didn't adequately represent the 400 NBA
players, wasn't negotiating in good faith and should accept
the current proposal from league owners," according to Amy
Shipley of the WASHINGTON POST. Legler "also said
negotiations were stalled largely because the game's highest
salaried players were looking out for themselves." Legler:
"They're the ones who are going to feel it if we sign this
deal. That's why the deal is not being signed." Legler:
"The problem is, players all know what the guy at the next
locker is making and they want to make $5 more. ... What
this whole thing boils down to is the superstar players
don't want to be maxed out on what they get paid
individually." More Legler: "There's only one word that
this is about, and that's greed. ... I don't expect fans'
sympathy. I don't blame them for being bitter. ... I would
take the basketball out of my daughter's hand and put a
soccer ball at the end of her foot." Legler's teammate
Mitch Richmond, who is on the players' negotiating
committee, called Legler's comments "uncalled for" and
"definitely wrong." Richmond: "He hasn't been to one
meeting. ... We are not going to sell out the lower-paid
guys for the higher-paid guys. ... He's misinformed."
Legler did not attend either of the two player meetings, but
has talked with NBPA Associate General Counsel Ron Klempner
and NBPA negotiating team member Jim McIlvaine. Klempner:
"The ironic thing about Tim speaking out is we are fighting
this fight exactly for the Tim Leglers of the NBA" (Amy
Shipley, WASHINGTON POST, 11/19).
LOCKOUT FALLOUT: Independent promoter Martin Fox said
that "he is considering either Las Vegas or Phoenix" as a
site for an exhibition game featuring NBA players. Fox is
hoping to schedule the game for December (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES,
11/19)....In Detroit, George Hunter reports that Pistons
ownership "stands to lose as much as" $1.3M in ticket sales
and $51,000 in parking revenue for each lost game (DETROIT
NEWS, 11/19)....USA TODAY's Roscoe Nance writes that NBC's
Christmas doubleheader is "on the endangered list." NBA
Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik: "Unless a miracle happens,
those games are almost surely gone" (USA TODAY, 11/19).
...Even the Hornets' mascot, "Hugo," was booed when he ran
onto the court during Tuesday's Duke-Davidson basketball
game in Charlotte (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/19).
