NBA Commissioner David Stern "issued a memo yesterday
to about 750 league employees denying an Associated Press
report that he was planning layoffs during the ongoing
lockout," according to Phil Jasner of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY
NEWS. The league has "lost about 100 employees through
attrition since the lockout began July 1." The league's
office budget is "usually drawn from" 6% of overall gate
receipts. Jasner reports that the league "has had a hiring
and payroll freeze during the labor dispute, not an unusual
development." NBA referees are being paid 75% of their
regular salaries, while Stern has not drawn a salary since
August 1 (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 12/15). USA TODAY's
Roscoe Nance reports that the number of league employees is
"down to about 750." Stern: "We're achieving very
successful cutbacks without mandating layoffs." But if the
season was canceled, Stern said "obviously, that would
affect the situation dramatically" (USA TODAY, 12/15).
BRANDWEEK's Terry Lefton reports that the "latest" to leave
the NBA's marketing staff is Dir of Marketing Partnerships
Dan Fleischman, who will become VP/Sports & Event Marketing
at First Union in Charlotte, NC (BRANDWEEK, 12/14 issue).
NO TALKS: NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik: "I don't
expect there to be any talks this week. We just don't know
what to talk about anymore" (Mike Wise, N.Y. TIMES, 12/15).
THE RACE CARD: Raptors F Reggie Slater disputes a
NEWSWEEK piece where some players claim that race may be an
issue in the negotiations. Slater responded specifically to
comments made by Heat C Alonzo Mourning (see THE DAILY,
12/14): "With all due respect to Alonzo, this impasse is
about business -- and in business, the only [color] that
matters is green, not black or white. No matter what people
say or what people are predicting, we're in this mess
because of the green stuff" (TORONTO SUN, 12/15). On CBS
SportsLine, Mike Kahn writes, "The money is the problem, not
the color of the skin" (CBS SportsLine, 12/15).
SAM SMITH SAYS JORDAN KNOWS PLAYERS LOST: In Chicago,
Sam Smith writes that "one reason you don't see" Michael
Jordan participating in the lockout negotiations anymore is
he "knows the NBA players have lost this fight." Smith:
"The best losers know how to exit gracefully to fight
another day." Smith details the miscalculations of NBPA
Exec Dir Billy Hunter, who was "convinced that NBC ... would
force the NBA into a settlement" so not to lose national
telecasts. Smith: "Hunter also made several errors obvious
to any experienced negotiator. He continually assured the
players the NBA would fold. ... And Hunter left himself with
no leverage because he assured the players they'd be back by
January. Hunter is a bright lawyer, but he has never
negotiated deals." In addition, the NBPA "has made every
possible public relations blunder." Smith concludes that,
"Players know in every game there is a loser. But you lose
most when there's not another game. Like the card player he
is, Jordan knows when to fold 'em and walk away. Does
anyone else?" (Sam Smith, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/15).
AND MEET ME TONIGHT IN ATLANTIC CITY: FAME President
and Dir of Operations of "The Game on Showtime" Curtis Polk
said that 35% of the tickets to the December 19 event were
sold over the weekend. Polk "anticipates a sellout" at
Convention Hall in Atlantic City, which will be configured
to seat 12,500 (Roscoe Nance, USA TODAY, 12/15).
LOCKOUT FALLOUT: In Orlando, Tim Povtak writes that
"two words are going to save the season and settle the
messy, labor fight. ... 'Back pay,' will get it done"
(ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/15). In a sidebar, Povtak speaks with
T-Wolves G Sam Mitchell, who said that "whatever deal we
have -- whether we endorse it as a good deal or bad deal --
each guy should have the right to determine if he can live
with that deal or not" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/15).
....Contrasting the N.Y. Daily News, Mike Wise of the N.Y.
TIMES reports that players are scheduled to miss their third
paychecks today" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/15).
