CBS and Fox "already have had contact" with NBA player
agents about the "possibility of forming a rival league or
at least televising all-star games to generate revenue for
NBA players whose income has been cut off by the lockout,"
according to Greg Logan of NEWSDAY. Network execs declined
comment, but one TV industry source said, "The NBA, more
than any other league, has left itself most vulnerable. It
markets players as opposed to teams." Another source at a
"major" network told Logan that a "few agents with a roster
of high-profile clients -- starting with David Falk, for
example -- could deliver the necessary core of star players
to attract network interest." NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ
Granik said that he was unaware of any talks and "didn't
want to speculate." But one league source said it was
"unclear how Fox could be involved in the formation of
another league since it has an ownership interest in both"
the Knicks and the Lakers (NEWSDAY, 7/1). USA TODAY's
Roscoe Nance also reports that the NBPA is "considering
staging a series of exhibition games this summer to generate
revenue." NBPA VP Charles Smith: "We've gotten a lot of
offers over a period of time" (USA TODAY, 7/1).
CAN PLAYERS HOLD? NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter said that
when polled, 90% of his union membership said "they were
prepared to stay out the entire season and would not need
financial assistance" (USA TODAY, 7/1). But agent Steve
Kauffman, who represents several players, said some of his
clients "might need financial assistance" from the NBPA by
the end of this year. Kauffman said that "most players seem
to have taken the union's warnings seriously and have been
prepared for the lockout" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 7/1).
CURRENT PARTNERS: In N.Y., Mike Wise reports that NBC
and Turner Sports will recoup any lost games "in different
ways." NBC would see a rights reduction, while Turner would
add more games to its schedule (N.Y. TIMES, 7/1).
