"Risking a $1 million fine for commenting on the NBA labor
situation, Isiah Thomas, part-owner of the expansion Toronto
Raptors, broke ranks with his colleagues Thursday," according to
Lacy Banks in today's CHICAGO SUN TIMES. Thomas: "I'm sick of
all this mess and I just can't sit by silently and idly and watch
things deteriorate without saying something. I'm disappointed in
the way things are being played out, particularly with our union
... I'm disappointed in how the differences of opinions of the
players are being aired publicly. Whenever a collective
bargaining agreement was reached in the past, it never satisfied
everybody. But any differences that existed were aired or
settled privately." According to Banks, Thomas "also hinted that
it might not be a bad idea to lift the lockout as a show of good
faith" until the vote August 30 and September 7. Thomas: "But
since I wasn't part of the negotiations, I don't think it's my
role to try to negotiate now. And if I were to make such a
suggestion, I would do so to commissioner Stern first before
doing so publicly." Banks says Thomas believes "it was
unfortunate that union leaders Buck Williams and Simon Gourdine
did not communicate better with the players before the first deal
was rejected." Thomas: "But I understand that that is not the
case now. Plus, the owners came back to the table and addressed
the players' main concerns and made concessions for this new
deal." Thomas believes the new CBA will be ratified and there
will be a season (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/18).
NLRB SEEKS DELAY: The NLRB yesterday asked federal Judge
David Doty to delay proceedings in the antitrust lawsuit filed
against the NBA until the NLRB finishes the decertification
election. NBA Senior VP Jeffrey Mishkin: "We expect the court
to grant the NLRB's motion. This is a classic labor dispute that
should be decided at the bargaining table and not in the courts"
(NBA).
REPORT FROM THE ROAD WARRIORS: NBPA Exec Dir Simon
Gourdine, after meeting yesterday with players in L.A. and
Phoenix: "They seemed pleased with the two-year option (on the
Bird exception) and unrestricted free agency. There were lots of
questions as opposed to planted issues" (Roscoe Nance, USA TODAY,
8/18). Alex English, NBPA Dir of Player Programs, after the
Seattle meeting: "It went very well. We told them what we know
about the deal, they asked a lot of questions, and it was all
very positive." Four players turned out for the Seattle meeting;
one showed for the Oakland meeting (Kerry Eggers, PORTLAND
OREGONIAN, 8/18). Today's NBPA itinerary: Denver and Chicago.
(THE DAILY).
