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Leagues and Governing Bodies

HOOPS HELD HOSTAGE, DAY 147: TALKS FACE ANOTHER HURDLE

          NBA and union officials met briefly yesterday and
     "agreed ... to resume full-scale collective bargaining" on
     Saturday in N.Y., according to Mark Asher of the WASHINGTON
     POST.  After lengthy meetings on Friday, a source said the
     sides were "essentially in agreement" on the mechanics of an
     escrow account that would set aside money to be returned to
     the owners if player salaries exceeded a certain limit.  But
     sources "aligned to the players" said yesterday that the
     league "attached to their acceptance of the union's escrow
     plan at least four conditions, two of which the union
     considers to be deal breakers" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/24).  
          POOR TIMING ON THE FREE-AGENT ISSUE? In Newark, Dave
     D'Alessandro reports that "at least one" player rep at
     Friday's meeting said that a deal was "actually within
     reach" until the owners "broached a long-forgotten
     provision" on the Larry Bird Exception.  The "timing rules"
     have any team signing another's free agent giving up the
     right to re-sign its own players under the Bird rule. 
     D'Alessandro writes, "Presumably, this issue was mentioned
     yesterday" during the one-hour meeting, and "judging" by NBA
     Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik's reaction "to the union's
     latest protestation, it would appear" that talks have "taken
     a step backward."  Granik: "It's things like that that might
     cause us to not make a deal this season."  Magic C Danny
     Schayes said the issues had been on the owners' "back sheet. 
     ... Now it's become a 'we-gotta-have-it' issue.  It's a
     major problem."  Granik: "You have to make up your mind --
     you can't have it both ways.  To go out and sign a big-
     priced free agent, then go way over cap, and then sign your
     own guys. ... If you want the Bird Exception, then do it to
     sign your own player" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 11/24).
          MORE TALK: Granik: "I'm sorry if you got too inflated
     after Friday night.  We did make some progress, but we're so
     far apart on so many issues that we're really a long way
     from a deal."  Granik said NBPA outside counsel Jeffrey
     Kessler's comments that the "timing issue" could be a deal-
     breaker "weren't very conducive to making a deal."  Granik:
     "It's sort of typical that, as soon as we think we're
     getting close on an issue, up crops some other issues that
     is now their take-it-or-leave-it issue" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY
     NEWS, 11/24).  Spurs G Vinny Del Negro: "It seems whenever
     we appear close to a deal, they throw a wrench into the
     works" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 11/24). 
          CLEVER, VERY CLEVER: The Hornets sent out Thanksgiving
     postcards to fans and supporters with a shot of their
     mascot, Hugo, carving a turkey under the tag, "So Much For
     The 'Bird' Exception!"  On the flip side it said, "Thanks
     For Hanging In There! Happy Thanksgiving!" (THE DAILY).
          LOCKOUT FALLOUT: In N.Y., Mike Wise writes a follow-up
     on Celtics G Kenny Anderson, who was quoted a month ago
     saying he would have to get "tight" during the lockout and
     perhaps sell one of his eight cars.  Wise: "The backlash
     Anderson suffered made me wonder if I should have followed
     around an N.B.A. owner to see how he spent his money.  If
     the season ever does get under way, Anderson will be the
     victim of a few chants behind the bench" (N.Y. TIMES,
     11/24)....AZ attorney Andrew Peyton Thomas writes an op-ed
     in the WALL STREET JOURNAL titled "NBA: Nasty, Brutish
     Athletes."  Thomas: "True fans of the NBA must hope that the
     current labor negotiations will address the rising tide of
     boorishness and outright crime that threatens to reduce the
     league to a confederation of outlaws" (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
     11/24)....PGA Tour player Mark O'Meara, on the lockout:
     "When I hear players saying they can't play for $16 million
     in one year, I'm sorry, I don't agree with that."  Fellow
     golfer Lanny Wadkins: "We don't have the unions bitching
     about the things they're complaining about.  I mean, NBA
     players wanting marijuana to be legal?  Give me a break. 
     These guys don't have a clue" (CBS SportsLine, 11/20). 

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