On "Fox Sports News Primetime" last night, Keith
Olbermann noted a source close to talks as saying the WNBA
and the WNBPA are "just one, non-basketball, charity-related
issue" away from agreeing on a new CBA (FSN, 4/27).
REAX: CBS SportsLine's Mike Kahn wrote that after
watching the effects of "labor disputes" on MLB and the NBA,
"you would have thought this league (WNBA) would have been
smarter." Kahn, noting the WNBA's plans to expand to 16
teams in 2000: "The obvious question is, do enough people
care?" (CBS SportsLine, 4/27). SI's Phil Taylor writes in
the "Scorecard" section that the NBA "hasn't won any fans by
battling the women over sums that amount to tip money for
its male stars." Taylor: "If they (WNBA players) thought
the NBA cared about anything more lofty than the bottom
line, they know better now" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 5/3 issue).
POWER PLAYER: In N.Y., Lena Williams profiles N.Y.-
based agent Bruce Levy, who has "emerged as a powerful
voice" in negotiations, "with considerable influence over
the union's negotiating committee, which includes at least
four of his clients" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/28).
