A STERN WARNING ON NBA LABOR DEAL AS TALKS STALL

     NBA Commissioner David Stern said last night that the league
and the NBPA "are far apart with no sign" that a new CBA is near.
Asked about main point of contention, Stern replied, "There's
really only one.  The last proposal by the players reflected the
belief that the owners should not make any money."  Stern said he
would "have a hard time selling that to the owners."  At the
beginning of this season the NBA and NBPA agreed on a no-strike,
no lockout deal through this year, even though the CBA had
expired.  That agreement is nearing an end.  Stern:  "Things are
far apart. .... There's nothing concrete that would lead me to
believe we're close to an agreement" (AP/ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
5/25).