"Today is pro basketball's version of Groundhog Day," writes
Michael Sokolove in this morning's PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. "About
3 pm, it will be revealed -- or will seem to be revealed -- which
is more likely: seven more weeks of labor chaos leading up to
the scheduled start of the NBA season or a settlement that
ensures that the games will actually begin on Nov. 3." Playing
"Punxutawney Phil" will be an official from the NLRB office in
Manhattan "who will publicly tally the ballots cast over the last
two weeks by NBA players" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/12). NLRB
New York Regional Dir Daniel Silverman: "There's no chance that
we'd refrain from counting the ballots and announcing the vote
[today]" (Rick Bonnell, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/12).
OPTIMISM REIGNS: NBPA Exec Dir Simon Gourdine: "I'm
optimistic; they're optimistic. Happily -- and I think this is
the one thing we all agree on -- we'll all know (today). We're
all guessing. But we won't have to wait any longer" (Justice &
Asher, WASHINGTON POST, 9/12). NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ
Granik: "You never know for sure, but we're confident the vote
is going to go in our favor" (Eddie Sefko, HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
9/12). Dissident attorney Jeffrey Kessler: "We think we've won.
Of course, there's no way to be certain. But in talking to the
players, we feel we have enough to win" (Sam Smith, CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 9/12).
NOT NECESSARILY A DONE DEAL: The union and dissident
movement will have one week to appeal today's decision, and,
according to the BOSTON GLOBE's Peter May, Kessler "said
yesterday he may well contest the results if the union prevails"
-- because "he believes many players voted for the deal because
NBA commissioner David Stern equated a vote for decertification
with a vote against playing the season." Kessler: "You didn't
see one player say he voted for the deal because he liked it.
(An appeal) is something we would pursue if we don't prevail"
(Peter May, BOSTON GLOBE, 9/12). Agent Bill Strickland: "If the
decertification is defeated, you'll see a number of players join
Mitch Richmond [in contesting the vote], and the NLRB will have
its work cut out for it" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/12).
BACK TO CHICAGO: The NBPA has scheduled a player rep
meeting for tomorrow in Chicago to ratify the proposed CBA, if
the union does not decertify, but yesterday Kessler sent a letter
to Gourdine saying a player rep vote on Wednesday would be
"another rush to judgement that tries to avoid, instead of
respect, the wishes of a majority of players" (Ailene Voisin,
ATLANTA JOURNAL, 9/12). Attorney Herb Rudoy: "When players
rejected the first deal, Simon Gourdine sent a letter to all the
players saying that the next time an agreement was reached the
players (at large) would get a chance to vote specifically on the
agreement. He put that in writing." Gourdine: "If I said that,
I never meant for a player vote to replace the constitutional
requirement that three-quarter of the player reps must still
ratify the contract" (Lacy Banks, CHICAGO SUN TIMES, 9/12).
EXIT POLL: Shaquille O'Neal: "I just want to play, baby.
I just want to play" ("Sports Tonight," CNN, 9/11).
