The NBA yesterday indefinitely postponed the start of
training camps due to the league's dispute with its players
over a new CBA. In addition, the league canceled all
preseason games scheduled through October 16 (NBA). An
estimated 350,000 fans were expected to attend the first 25
exhibition games during the first week of the preseason
(Lacy Banks, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/25). In Ft. Lauderdale,
Ira Winderman said the league's announcement "should be the
start of rolling cancellations," and could be seen "as a
warning to unified players" (SUN-SENTINEL, 9/25). In
Chicago, Sam Smith writes that league execs "privately
estimate they will need a combined three-week period for
training camp and free agent signings before the season
could begin." Therefore, a settlement would need to be
reached by mid-October to prevent the season's opening from
being delayed (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/25). One union executive:
"The only surprise is that they didn't cancel the whole
preseason" (Mitch Lawrence, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/25). NBA
Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik: "Nobody wants to miss the
whole season, but there are 29 owners that are willing to do
so if they have to" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/25).
MORE TALKS? The cancellations came one day after Granik
and NBA Commissioner David Stern met with NBPA Exec Dir
Billy Hunter and NBPA President Patrick Ewing, the first
time the two sides spoke "at length in nearly seven weeks."
A union official said "that both parties planned to speak
again in the next few days about arranging a bargaining
session." The N.Y. TIMES reports that the fact the two
sides are talking before arbitrator John Feerick's ruling on
the payment of guaranteed contracts "points to an urgency on
each side to prevent the league from losing" regular-season
games (N.Y. TIMES, 9/24). Granik, on Wednesday's meetings:
"I don't know if we got the ball rolling or not. We tried
to offer some suggestions, but I don't know if the process
will move forward. We're waiting to hear back from them on
whether there's any point to having another meeting" (Robert
MacLeod, Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/25). In N.Y., Mitch
Lawrence adds that "the two sides have agreed to talk
perhaps as soon as today about setting up a date for the
next round of talks" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/25). In San
Antonio, Rogers & Ludden: "Trouble is, both sides repeatedly
have said they are waiting to hear from the other side"
(S.A. EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/24). ESPN's Dan Patrick said last
night: "No future sessions are scheduled. Considering what
they've been deciding on, maybe that's good" (ESPN, 9/24).
COULD LEAGUE EXTEND THE SEASON? One source told Rogers
& Ludden of the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS: "Most observers
seem to think the games will resume sometime in early
December. I hear the league has already told teams to
submit available dates for games in late April and early May
to make up for lost games" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 9/25).
CNN/SI's Jackie MacMullan said she doesn't think the season
will be canceled, but added, "I think there's a good chance
you won't be seeing any pro basketball until January, and
you know what -- think about it, if you're NBC, you never
televise games before January anyway. And if this season
starts late and you can extend it a little further, maybe
you have programming in July" ("Sports Tonight," CNN, 9/24).
ANALYSIS: In Orlando, Brian Schmitz writes that "the
wrecking ball that sat so idle and benign in July is now
swinging and chipping at the [NBA's] foundation. With both
sides showing little sense over dollars, regular-season
games are in serious jeopardy ... signaling the end of the
NBA's bubbly reincarnation." More Schmitz: "There is
nothing special about the NBA anymore. FAN-tastic? Try
fatalistic? (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/25). In Toronto, Craig
Daniels writes that the cancellations will now "focus the
attention of the players in a far different way." The
closer players come to missing pay checks, "the less resolve
they have in seeing this dispute through." If the league
"simply waits ... the screws on the players tighten far
greater than they do for the league. ... [Canceling] games
was a way for the league to signal that the fight, now 86
days old, is just warming up, fellas" (TORONTO SUN, 9/25).
LOCKOUT FALLOUT: In Philadelphia, Mike Bruton
speculates as to the possible cancelation of the All-Star
Game scheduled for the First Union Center. NBA Senior
VP/Communications Brian McIntyre: "We haven't set a date yet
as to when we'd have to pull the plug. At a certain point,
if we're still negotiating with no end in sight, we'll have
to make a decision" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/25).
