The NBPA will focus its case on the lack of due process
for Sprewell from the league and NBA Commissioner David
Stern, according to Mike Lupica of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS.
Lupica: "So they are going after Stern and the league here,
and that is why this is a case for our times. Because it is
a battle for control of sports. They want Sprewell to be
not only the victim of a dictator coach, but of a dictator
commissioner" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/10). In Orlando, Larry
Guest: "From all that we can tell in a week of widespread
reaction, poor Stern only has the ticket-buying public on
his side" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/10). On ESPN, former CBA
Commissioner Jim Drucker said he believes the suspension
"will be upheld." Drucker: "The one thing [Sprewell's team]
is forgetting to say, for their own purposes, is that the
factor of premeditation weighed heavily in the NBA's
original announcement. ... And [Sprewell's team] is right --
this is unprecedented -- because in my memory, this is the
first premeditated attack that has ever occurred" (ESPN,
12/10). On MSNBC's "The News With Brian Williams," Peter
Vecsey of the N.Y. Post said, "For his lawyers to talk about
an unprecedented punishment, it should be unprecedented
because the violence was unprecedented" (MSNBC, 12/9).
THE REAL DREAM TEAM? In San Jose, Bud Geracie writes
that if Stern "isn't willing" to negotiate a settlement,
Sprewell "and his camp are ready to take to the court
system. They carved out some legal ground Tuesday, not just
with legal precedent but also with Sprewell's mention of
anger management" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/10). In N.Y.,
Harvey Araton writes under the header, "Stern Makes Sprewell
The Victim." Araton: "Insiders say the Warriors were
reluctant to terminate Sprewell, but the league pushed them,
then promised Sprewell would not embarrass them in their
building anytime soon. That sounds manipulative, insincere,
an agenda being carried out." Araton concludes: "The story
-- sports franchise finally showing guts -- had an
encouraging message until Stern, ever the N.B.A. image
maker, stepped in and made Sprewell, in many eyes, the
victim of a witch hunt" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/10).
IF YOUR COACH YELLS, YOU MUST REBEL: Cochran's role has
received the attention of many in the media. In Chicago,
Rick Telander, under the header, "Hold Your Nose: Here's
Johnnie," writes that Cochran was seated next to Sprewell
and his "what? Consultants? Posse? Defense team?
Sycophants? Immoral, blood-sucking, money-grubbing
leaches?" Telander calls it the "second Trial of the
Century. Welcome to it, NBA" (SUN-TIMES, 12/10). In N.Y.,
Wallace Matthews: "The Cochranization of the Latrell
Sprewell Incident promises to become every bit as messy as
the O.J. Simpson Trial, and probably just as dismissive of
the truth" (N.Y. POST, 12/10). In Toronto, Stephen Brunt:
"The words jump right off the page. Johnnie Cochran. 'Rush
to Judgement.' The race card. We are about to return to
interesting times." Brunt adds that when Stern suspended
Sprewell, "he surely didn't think he was leading us back to
Rockingham, Kato and the Bronco, but that's exactly where we
have arrived" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/10).
BARKLEY BECKONS: Charles Barkley showed "support" for
Sprewell and "solidarity" for the NBPA yesterday when he
said that the league's top stars "have talked about" the
possibility of boycotting events such as the All-Star Game
and the World Championships of Basketball, according to
Eddie Sefko of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Barkley: "I think the
10-game suspension was fine. I think maybe the year's
suspension was fine. But I promise you they're not going to
take all his money. ... [W]e're going to makes sure he gets
his money back because he deserves it." Barkley believes
the boycotting of events, "which he admits would be an
extreme, last-resort measure, could be necessary if the
league opts to reopen" the CBA, which it has the option of
doing after the season (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12/10).
TV TREATMENT: "NBC Nightly News" led its telecast with
two segments on the Sprewell incident. NBC's Tom Brokaw:
"Was there a rush to judgement? It is a sign of our times
that the behavior of big-time athletes, on the court and
off, ignites a battle of justice, values, and yes, race.
This is a story that goes well beyond pro basketball" (NBC,
12/9). "CBS Evening News" reported on the press conference
in its first ten minutes (CBS, 12/9). Sprewell was the
second story on ABC's "World News Tonight" (ABC, 12/9).
