NHLPA Exec Committee In Talks Regarding Extending Current CBA
The NHLPA Exec Committee "has begun discussions about the importance of notifying the NHL of its intention to extend the collective bargaining agreement through 2011-12 -- as it surely will -- so that the 7.5[%] bonus cushion for entry-level and over-35 contracts is in effect next season," according to Larry Brooks of the N.Y. POST. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly indicated that the "deadline to trigger the cushion is Sept. 15, 2010," and the union, which "did not submit notification on a timely basis for 2008-09, has until May 15, 2011 to extend the CBA" (N.Y. POST, 3/7). Meanwhile, in Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont wrote there is a "growing sense of fait accompli in the industry" that former MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr will become the new NHLPA Exec Dir. Dupont: "Which leads to the question: Why not just put Bob Goodenow back on the watch and save a boatload of dough? Just as Major League Baseball's rank-and-file is between addictions (PEDs just the latest permutation), is the NHL between labor interruptions? Sure feels that way" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/7).
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Pendergraph Takes On Player Rep
Responsibilities In Rookie Season |
CONCESSION STAND: Trail Blazers F Jeff Pendergraph, the team's new player rep, said that the NBPA is "poised to make concessions, but has not settled on what those might be." NBPA BOD members and union lawyers are "collaborating to prioritize their wants and the players union is scheduled to meet again in August." Meanwhile, in Portland, Joe Freeman wrote the Trail Blazers' decision to choose a "rookie second-round draft pick as their player representative is a reflection of Pendergraph's background and depth." Trail Blazers F Juwan Howard said that he "wouldn't be surprised if Pendergraph became a prominent figure for years to come" in the NBPA. Howard: "I foresee Jeff being president of the union at some point. He's a very smart, sharp guy. He wants to know what's going on. He's not afraid to get in the mix and ask questions. I just think with his personality and his intelligence, he has that kind of future down the line" (Portland OREGONIAN, 3/6).
TIMING IS EVERYTHING: In Boston, John Tomase wrote with labor strife "threatening both the NFL and the NBA, baseball has a chance to re-establish itself as the national pastime in an era when younger fans clearly are gravitating toward the other two sports." MLB Commissioner Bud Selig "never has seemed particularly interested in acknowledging the existence of rival forms of entertainment, be it other sports, movies, cable, the Internet, etc. ... and many believe more could be done to market and extend the MLB brand." If the NFL "disappears for a year," MLB would be smart to "broadcast games during that stretch every Sunday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to give fans conditioned to watching football a reason to tune in to something else" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/7). Meanwhile, SI.com's Jon Heyman reported the NFLPA "has been consulting" the MLBPA about its CBA. Heyman wrote it is a "good idea, since the MLBPA has been a lot more successful in getting fair deals for players than the NFL union" (SI.com, 3/8).
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