Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

National Columnists Point To "Larger Problems" For NBAers Than Hunter-Fisher Feud

Although Thunder G and NBPA President Derek Fisher is pushing for a review of NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter and the union's business practices, it is the NBPA's lockout strategy that "should concern players the most," according to Dan Wetzel of YAHOO SPORTS. Wetzel wrote if Hunter is "showing favoritism to his kids, well, that may not be an ideal practice, but I think LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and the rest of the players will survive." Wetzel: "There are too many broke former players for the current ones not to realize they deserve and should demand the best from union leaders. ... They deserved to get their clocks cleaned in the lockout" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/26). FOX SPORTS' Jason Whitlock writes as the active NBAers "have become more wealthy, they’ve grown in their belief that their business acumen matches their athletic acumen and they should exercise more control over the union than the executive directors do." Whitlock: "While Hunter's nepotism might not have damaged the union’s bargaining against the owners, I find the practice grossly immature, embarrassingly greedy, indefensible and -- as the son of a former union leader -- sadly predictable." The Hunter-Fisher "feud is a symptom of a much larger problem for the NBA." Whitlock writes with "all due respect" to NBA Commissioner David Stern, the league "lacks viable leadership." Whitlock: "Stern, like Hunter, has stayed in power way too long" (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/27).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: May 10, 2024

Start your morning with Buzzcast with Austin Karp: A very merry NFL Christmas on Netflix? The Braves and F1 deliver for Liberty Media investors; the WNBA heads to Toronto; and Zelle gets in on team sports sponsorship.

Phoenix Mercury/NBC’s Cindy Brunson, NBA Media Deal, Network Upfronts

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp chats with SBJ NBA writer Tom Friend about the pending NBA media Deal. Cindy Brunson of NBC and Phoenix Mercury is our Big Get this week. The sports broadcasting pioneer talks the upcoming WNBA season. Later in the show, SBJ media writer Mollie Cahillane gets us set for the upcoming network upfronts.

SBJ I Factor: Molly Mazzolini

SBJ I Factor features an interview with Molly Mazzolini. Elevate's Senior Operating Advisor – Design + Strategic Alliances chats with SBJ’s Ross Nethery about the power of taking chances. Mazzolini is a member of the SBJ Game Changers Class of 2016. She shares stories of her career including co-founding sports design consultancy Infinite Scale career journey and how a chance encounter while working at a stationery store launched her career in the sports industry. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/04/27/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NBPA.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/04/27/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NBPA.aspx

CLOSE