USA Basketball (USAB) last night "dropped 12 NBA
players from the world championship team rather than wait
for them to commit to play as the pending labor-management
dispute between the NBA and its players took an
international turn," according to Mark Asher of the
WASHINGTON POST. USAB Exec Dir Warren Brown said that the
decision was made after the 12 players, "under contract" to
represent the U.S., would not commit to playing until July
2, one day after the league is "expected" to impose a
lockout. Brown said that the new team could be made up of
collegians, CBA players and Americans playing professionally
overseas (WASHINGTON POST, 6/17). Brown: "We are extremely
disappointed in the position the original 12 have taken. We
feel we have been held hostage by that (dispute between the
players and NBA) and don't have much of an understanding why
USA Basketball was placed in this position." In Dallas,
David Moore calls USAB the "loser" in the "first skirmish"
between the NBA and NBPA over its new CBA. Moore: "Since
three members of [USAB's] eight-person executive committee
have NBA ties -- deputy commissioner Russ Granik is the USA
Basketball president -- this is a clear signal that they
consider a lockout to be imminent" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
6/17). In Miami, Steve Wyche calls the move the "first
example of the potential ugliness" of this summer's labor
dispute. Brown: "We contacted each player individually and
asked them to reaffirm their commitment. No player did."
Brown said USAB holds the right to "sue the 12 players for
violating their contracts" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/17). In Boston,
Peter May calls it "an expected but still somewhat stunning
move" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/17). USAB voted unanimously to drop
the players from the team (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/17).
THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED: In a statement, NBPA Exec
Dir Billy Hunter said the move was "premature" since USAB
didn't need to send in its final roster until July 26. In
Philadelphia, Stephen Smith reports that the NBPA "contends"
that with Granik's ties to USAB and the NBA, a "clear
conflict of interests exists." One NBPA official claims
that a "portion of the revenue from USA Basketball goes to
NBA properties." But USAB's Brown called the NBPA's claim
"insulting," and noted the diversity of the USAB board.
Brown said Granik has "done more than bend over backward to
make sure no conflict of interest has occurred. To say
we're an arm of the NBA really impunes the integrity of this
organization" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/17). Granik
abstained from yesterday's vote (WASHINGTON POST, 6/17)
LABOR NOTES: USA TODAY's Greg Boeck said USAB discussed
completely severing ties with NBA participation in int'l
events, but dropped the issue "without action." Boeck adds
that the NBA and union meet again today in New York for
another bargaining session, "but are far apart" (USA TODAY,
6/17). In Houston, Eddie Sefko notes that Rudy Tomjanovich
will still coach the USAB squad and floats Magic Johnson as
a possible replacement player (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/17).
BARNSTORMING TOUR? CBS had no comment on whether it
would televise a players barnstorming tour during a lockout,
according to USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke. Neal Pilson of
Pilson Communications: "I don't think CBS could find the
time and revenue for a new pro basketball league, but in the
event of an NBA lockout, it might find a players league more
intriguing." Media buyer Paul Schulman: "Why would CBS want
to take on another sport with this soft NFL marketplace?"
(USA TODAY, 6/17)....On ESPN SportsZone, Jeffrey Denberg
writes that if a lockout occurs, the "rank and file of the
players association may crumple as questions about their own
self-interests are raised" (ESPN SportsZone, 6/17).
....SCRIPPS HOWARD's David Nielsen reports that several U.S.
Congressmen, including House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA),
have sent a letter to Billy Hunter and NBA Commissioner
David Stern calling on them to adopt a "zero-tolerance" drug
policy in their CBA negotiations (ESPN SportsZone, 6/17).
