Arbitrator John Feerick's hearing on whether NBA
players with guaranteed contracts should be paid during the
lockout "ended last night in Manhattan, with lawyers from
the union and the owners delivering closing arguments,"
according to Mike Wise of the N.Y. TIMES. Lawyers will have
one week to file post-hearing briefs, "after which Feerick
will have 30 days to render a decision" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/9).
But USA TODAY reports that Feerick "will rule no later" on
the matter than October 9 (USA TODAY, 9/10).
THE GO-TO GUYS: NBA players were in N.Y. for the All-
Star Basketball Classic charity game, and NEWSDAY's Judy
Battista writes they are "concerned that if the lockout
delays the start of the season, their sport will suffer the
same drop in fan support from which baseball has only
recently recovered." Bucks G Ray Allen: "Baseball has
jumped leaps and bounds. I think it's taken people's minds
off the lockout. Soon ... it will be time for basketball,
and people will be ... very upset with the NBA and
definitely with the players." T-Wolves F Kevin Garnett
called Feerick's decision key: "That's going to be very
crucial if they do decide they (the owners) have to pay. I
think that would be backbreaking to the organizations."
Battista: "Players seem convinced that their union would not
splinter" (NEWSDAY, 9/10). In Newark, Dave D'Alessandro
writes that the players "don't know if they deserve to be
subjected to the public backlash that will undoubtedly
result" from canceled games. Players "are preparing for the
worst, especially in the court of public opinion," and they
"openly wonder if they'll alienate the audience that they
once thought would never turn away" (STAR-LEDGER, 9/10).
TAKE 'EM OUT TO THE BALL GAME: In N.Y., Mitch Lawrence
reports that Marbury sported a Red Sox home jersey last
night, Garnett wore a gray Yankees cap and Ray Allen went
"retro, donning a 1929 Baltimore Black Sox T-shirt."
Lawrence: "Somebody from Major League Baseball should have
been there to capture the moment" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/10).
