With an NBA lockout looming, NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter
was profiled this weekend in three NBA markets. NEWSDAY's
Barbara Barker wrote, "Hunter has never backed away from a
good fight." Hunter, on his talks with the league: "The
themes of all the meetings is that the players needed to
have a change in expectations, that they shouldn't expect to
be paid so much. My position is why?" (NEWSDAY, 6/28). In
Philadelphia, Stephen Smith called Hunter a "formidable
adversary" to the NBA and Commissioner Stern. Smith said
that unlike the circumstances during the last labor talks in
'95, there are "no questions about who is going to lead the
players' union." Hunter: "We got shafted last time. We're
not going to let that happen again. We will fight. I will
not let these players get exploited" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER,
6/28). Hunter: "I like to think I'm conservative. I don't
think I'm radical or liberal. I'm a Republican. That's
sort of an aberration. I believe in what I believe in. I
believe I'm eclectic. I don't believe in any one thing to a
fault" (Steve Adamek, Bergen RECORD, 6/28).
