Facing "bad publicity and long odds of selling the
event," organizers of "The Game on Showtime" have decided to
give all of the event's proceeds to charity, instead of
splitting the proceeds with "needy players," according to
John Curran of the AP. FAME President and event organizer
Curtis Polk: "Because of the cancellation of the NBA All-
Star game, the players want to do this for the fans in
Philadelphia and the world." Game profits will be donated
to UNICEF and other charities, but "that's assuming there
are profits to give away." Curran: "Ticket sales have been
delayed twice, casinos have been slow to support it and
experts say the hurried scheduling of the Dec. 19 game ...
could spell trouble." As of Thursday, Ticketmaster
operators were still telling callers "no information was
available about the event" (AP/GLOBE & MAIL, 12/11). Agent
and game promoter Arn Tellem: "It was my expectation from
the beginning that the money was going to charity. ... I'm
not aware of any players who need help" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/11).
Polk, on the changes: "I was surprised at how overwhelming
the (negative) response was." He also said that tickets
would range from $25 to $500, down from the $1,000 top
ticket announced earlier (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 12/11). Polk
said he "made a mistake" in announcing the $1,000 seat: "For
some reason I had $1,000 on my mind" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-
NEWS, 12/11). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir calls the changes
"a triumph of sense over silliness" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/11).
NOT SHOWING GAME ON A LARK: Showtime Exec Producer Jay
Larkin said televising the game "was a no-brainer for us.
We don't stand to gain either way with the outcome of the
NBA discussions. We view this as a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity" (Howard Manly, BOSTON GLOBE, 12/11).
ONLINE RESULTS: A CNN/SI.com poll asked users, "Do you
plan to watch the NBA players' exhibition game Dec. 19th?"
Only 14% of the 41,390 respondents said they would watch the
players' charity game on Showtime, while 86% said they would
not watch the game (CNN/SI.com, 12/10). ESPN.com asked,
"Which would you prefer after five months of the lockout?"
Of the 26,851 responses, 70.5% don't want an NBA season,
while 29.4% still want a season (ESPN.com, 12/11).
THEY GOT GAME...AND NERVE? A sampling of week-long
reaction to the December 19 game in Atlantic City before
game promoters announced yesterday that they would give all
the proceeds to charity: In S.F., Gwen Knapp: "Clearly,
[agents/game promoters David] Falk and Tellem are as out of
touch as their clients. Who knows? They might even be the
reason their clients are out of touch" (S.F. EXAMINER,
12/10). In Dallas, Kevin Blackistone: "This is, of course,
the season of giving to the needy. And, Lord knows, out-of-
work NBA players are in need. Of a better PR strategy, that
is. ... [The game] is likely only to influence the populous
the worst way" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/10). In Cleveland,
Bud Shaw: "Aligning themselves with a charity is such a
shameful twist. ... They're just so out of touch with
reality that nothing they come up with should surprise
anyone at this juncture" (PLAIN DEALER, 12/10). On
CNN/SI.com, Leigh Montville questioned the game's site:
"Atlantic City! Presumably the gym wasn't available in Las
Vegas. Or Monte Carlo. Or Biarritz." He writes that
players "look as foolish as they ever have during this long,
foolish process" (CNN/SI.com, 12/9). In Akron, Terry Pluto:
"Every time an NBA player tells you how difficult it is to
pay the bills during their lockout, shut off the TV. ... Go
get a real job" (BEACON JOURNAL, 12/10). On ESPN.com, David
Aldridge wrote the "players finally convinced me Monday that
they just don't get it" (ESPN.com, 12/9). In Philadelphia,
Mike Bruton writes the game "will most likely demonstrate
without question that the fans don't give a fat rat's behind
about the absence of an NBA season ... [and will] embolden
the owners to hold out a little longer" (PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER, 12/11). In Oakland, Monte Poole, who sides with
the players in the dispute, called the game a "clumsy,
misguided attempt to gain sympathy. Crying 'poor' can be
justified only in cases of real disadvantage; otherwise,
it's irritating" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 12/10).
NEWSWEEK'S ANGLE RACE RELATED: On ESPN.com, Frank
Hughes reports that Newsweek has been "interviewing people
around the league for a story it is doing, the premise of
which is that the lockout is racially motivated," as the
"old boys' network of white owners does not want young black
men making this much money" (Frank Hughes, ESPN.com, 12/11).
DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO? In N.Y., Phil Mushnick notes
that Karl Malone crossed the NABET picket line yesterday "in
front of ABC to appear" on the "Regis and Kathie Lee" show.
Mushnick adds that the NBPA "had requested that its members
honor the NABET line" (N.Y. POST, 12/11).
TAKING SIDES? In Portland, Rachel Bauchman: "Despite
the dearth of public information about NBA owners, fans have
tended to side with them in the NBA lockout. But how much
do people really know about owners -- and how their
increasing wealth could affect the league?" (Portland
OREGONIAN, 12/7). In Palm Beach, Greg Stoda: "Are the
owners as greedy as you? Without a doubt. Are they
smarter? Apparently, because at least they're not going
around during this season-that-isn't alienating whatever
customers are still out there" (PALM BEACH POST, 12/9).
REGRETS, HE'S HAD A FEW: NBPA Founder Bob Cousy tells
the N.Y. POST, "I'm ashamed I ever started the players
association. ... These agents are just pulling Hunter's
strings. The agents don't love anything but their
percentage, they will suck it dry ... until it dies. They
could care less" (Kevin Kernan, N.Y. POST, 12/11).
