TNT's draft preview show "Hoop Dreams '95," began with an
interview of NBA Commissioner David Stern by Craig Sager on the
NBA labor situation. When asked what happened last Friday, Stern
blamed a "breakdown in communications." Stern: "The players did
not have the deal explained to them in detail early enough, and I
think they jumped to certain conclusions which we hope they will
change. ... We are happy to meet with them, in fact on Thursday
if they want to." Asked what message he has for players who are
thinking about decertification: "The players have to follow
their own advice, I'm not going to try and get into that at this
point." On how open he and owners would be to renegotiating the
rookie salary cap or the luxury cap: "The deal has a value to
the owners. We are trying to make good on our promise to give
the players a fair share and the owners have to be able to have
some ability to make money. If there are different ways to
achieve that goal, then we have always said, 'We are all ears.'"
On his confidence that the '95-96 season will start on time: "I
am always an optimist, even if I am not brimming with confidence
tonight" (TNT, 6/27).
ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY: In Dallas, Richard Alm examines
the proposed rookie cap comparing it to similar caps in the NFL
and NHL. Alm writes, "Spiraling rookie pay is most glaring in
basketball, a sport in which one player can make a difference to
a team's fortunes" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/28). TNT's Tim Brando
asked TNT analyst Jack Givens: "Do the players of today care
enough about this to take control or is this really an agent's
issue?" Givens: "I don't think there is any question that in
this agreement the interests of the agents were not taken into
consideration, and they are letting the players know there is
some allegiance. The players have to make a decision if they
want it or not" ("Hoop Dreams '95," TNT, 6/27).
