ESPN Profiles Union Leaders; NFLPA's Smith Faces Toughest Task

Writer Feels Smith Has Toughest Job Of Major Union Leaders

NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith "clearly has the toughest job right now ... of all the leaders of major professional sports unions," according to Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN.com, as part of a series profiling the four major sports union leaders. Smith faces NFL owners "pushing for a potential lockout," and retired players "still are unwilling to invest complete trust in him." Smith "doesn't have the luxury of easing into his position," as he has to "hit home runs, early and often, over the first few years of his tenure." So far, Smith has "given every indication that he's up to that challenge, especially the one involving a possible lockout." Smith "repeatedly has told players that his motto is to hope for the best and prepare for the worst," and he "obviously wants the union to adopt that same attitude as collective bargaining negotiations with the league progress." The CBA talks will be the "first real test of Smith's ability to deliver on the promise that followed him into this job." Oregon State Univ. professor Michael Oriard, who wrote "Brand NFL: Making And Selling America's Favorite Sport," said the negotiations for Smith are "crucial because there is so much riding" on them. Oriard: "If they let this thing unravel into a lockout, they'll be shooting themselves in the hearts. But I think Smith knows that it would be better to not have it get to the point. The hard part for him is that you never want to go through your first negotiation and give up something you already have." Chadiha wrote it is also "important that Smith adopt an approach that is productive over the duration of his reign" (ESPN.com, 7/9).

FACING A TICKING CLOCK: ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan noted NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter, the "elder statesman" among sports union leaders following MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr's planned resignation, is "taking a broad view of the events unfolding before him, trying to determine if those circumstances fit with what he believes is the owners' master plan: to stoke the fears of an upcoming work stoppage two years down the road." NBA owners have until December 10, 2010, to decide whether to "pick up their option to extend the current CBA into the 2011-12 season," and in Hunter's eyes, "all signs point to that option's being declined." Hunter: "I anticipate they're not going to exercise their option. ... I anticipate that with the economy being what it is, et cetera, if we don't have a deal by June 30, 2011, we're going to be facing a lockout -- and that's what I've told my players." Hunter added, "I have to prepare for the worst, and I'll be able to determine over the next year or so as we move forward how valid that representation is, whether it's real. But at this moment, you have to be prepared to go to the mat, and then you go from there." NBA Deputy Commissioner & COO Adam Silver said Hunter and NBA Commissioner David Stern have built a "very respectful relationship." But he added, "We recognize there are times when we'll be at odds, and it's nothing personal" (ESPN.com, 7/9).

Will It Be A "Kinder, Gentler Era" When Weiner Takes Over MLBPA?

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: ESPN.com's Jayson Stark wrote with Fehr "moving on as leader" of the MLBPA and General Counsel Michael Weiner expected to be "moving in, the popular notion is that we're heading toward a kinder, gentler era of player-management labor relations in a sport not exactly known for that." MLB player agent Tom Reich said Weiner is "not a person looking for confrontation." Reich: "But as I've observed him over these last 20 years, I've found him to be a guy who will take the 'right' position consistently, not just in terms of the needs of his constituency but also with an overall awareness of what's best for the industry." MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred said, "Mike is a tremendously capable and committed advocate for player interests. He is smart and tough, but fair. He has been instrumental in finding creative ways to accommodate our different interests." Stark wrote for "all the talk of Weiner's easygoing nature and feel for problem-solving, though, no one should forget that he has worked for and with this union since 1988," leading one management source to say he expects "absolutely no change in philosophy" under Weiner. The source: "He may have a different style than Don, and he's smart as hell. But he's still a true believer." Reich added, "I don't think you'll see a dramatic change in philosophy. Michael, Don and [MLBPA COO Gene Orza] worked together for a long time. So I think you'll see a similar approach. But there are issues out there that are humongous. And fortunately for everyone, Michael is one of the brightest, most ethical, most committed guys that either side has ever seen" (ESPN.com, 7/9).

STRIKING A BALANCE: ESPN.com's Scott Burnside writes NHLPA Exec Dir Paul Kelly, after the "openly hostile relationship" that had characterized the union and the NHL, "finds himself trying to chart a course that is both conciliatory and strong-willed enough to ensure players' views are not just heard but acted upon." There are "issues of contention: The limits to which players are willing to submit to enhance the league's drug-testing policy is one." But there also is an "appreciation that the two sides can have different opinions without necessarily being on separate planes, which was how the two sides existed for much of the past two decades." NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly in an e-mail said Kelly "takes a far more constructive approach to labor relations" than former NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow. Daly said Kelly "works hard to find common ground as opposed to points of conflict," and he "clearly understands that success for the players is integrally tied to the league's success." Kelly: "I think with each passing month, you learn more about the job and the game and the membership and the issues. I would not say that I know everything because I certainly don't. I still do feel like it's pretty new; it's been a little over a year and a half." Kelly added, "It's a much more multidimensional role than I think I fully appreciated when I started. That said, I've enjoyed it thoroughly and I have no misgivings" (ESPN.com, 7/10).