League Notes

In N.Y., Howard Beck wrote while Army Maj. Gen. Ronald Johnson, who last week was named NBA Senior VP/Referee Operations, "readily acknowledges that he does not know anything about refereeing, he knows quite a bit about difficult rebuilding efforts." The NBA said that in hiring for the position "it did not set out to hire an outsider." But "Johnson's background appealed" to NBA Commissioner David Stern. Johnson: "What Mr. Stern told me was, 'I want someone that doesn't know anything about refereeing, because I don't want them wrapped up in the refereeing aspect.'" Johnson is "expected to address the league's 60 referees at their annual training camp in September." Johnson takes over the officiating program from NBA Exec VP/Basketball Operations Stu Jackson, and league officials said that Jackson's job "had simply grown too big." Officials added that the move "was not a reflection on Jackson" or NBA Dir of Officials Ronnie Nunn, who is continuing in that position (N.Y. TIMES, 7/6).

TIP OF THE CAP: In Manchester, Matt Scott writes UEFA is "again seeking the help of Europe's political institutions to become a central regulator for football which could see the introduction of a continent-wide salary cap." UEFA President Michel Platini, who will meet with the council of ministers for European affairs in France over the weekend, also "will outline his vision for a strengthened UEFA licensing system that would give football a greater degree of legal certainty in an attempt to reduce the instances of clubs challenging associations through the courts."  The idea of a "'pan-European licensing regime' ... is strongly opposed" by the English Premier League (Manchester GUARDIAN, 7/8).

FISCAL BLAME: In Detroit, Drew Sharp writes under the header, "Shame On NFL For Blaming Rookies' Pay For Fiscal Woes." Sharp: "How dare [NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell] paint his ownership cartel as helpless victims of a rookie salary structure that's wrongly eating into teams' insane profit margins? He's suggesting that even billionaire owners struggle to make ends meet in the face of rising stadium construction costs and a failure to create new revenue streams." That is "an insult to those coping with real financial issues." Where is "the owners' accountability for creating this financial problem? They established the rules, so I don't want to hear any of them crying about the consequences, especially when the central problem remains an utter lack of financial constraint" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/8).

NO GUARANTEE: SOCCER AMERICA's Ridge Mahoney wrote, "MLS players deserve a bit more security, seeing as very few of them can negotiate guaranteed contracts." It is "just one more topic for the MLS Players' Union to address as it bargains for a new [CBA], to take effect for the 2010 season." Most MLS players are "'semi-guaranteed,' meaning they are guaranteed as of a specific date." That is "great for the teams, since it gives them wiggle room in case pending deals are hung up." And "it's great for the league, since it can save money if the players are waived and not picked up, since a team that wants them can always try to sign them at a lower salary once they clear waivers." But it is "hell on the players" (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 7/3).