AS EASY AS C-B-A: THOMAS CLOSE TO PURCHASING LEAGUE?

          NBC NBA analyst Isiah Thomas "was busy in his Detroit
     offices trying to close a deal" late Friday that would "give
     him outright ownership" of the CBA, according to Mike Wise
     of the N.Y. TIMES, who wrote that the partnership would
     "help the [NBA] implement an age requirement" for players
     entering the league.  Thomas, on the relationship between
     the two leagues: "I would like to see that relationship more
     cemented, so the N.B.A. becomes more of a partner and we
     combine all our resources."  Wise wrote that a "joint
     announcement between both leagues in the next few weeks
     would not be a surprise" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/4).