In N.Y., Jonathan Abrams reported NBA teams are "conducting business knowing that change, in some form, is coming" with a new CBA. It appears that teams are "viewing the issue through two types of prescriptions." One view is that the Heat, Lakers and other luxury-tax teams "will not be broken up through the implementation of a hard salary cap and the long-term contracts signed the last few years will not be burdensome under a new deal." In that view, teams "can gamble that contracts will be reduced in the next agreement and they will not have to pay them in full." The cautious teams "believe fresh, long-term contracts will have major ramifications later." If a hard cap is used, teams "would have to waive players to wiggle under it," and in that case, "each team that has already committed two long-term contracts could be exposed under rules that have not even been set yet" (NYTIMES.com, 12/6).
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FIFA Not Changing Dates For '22 World Cup
In Qatar Despite Health Concerns Due To Heat |
THE HEAT IS ON: The AP's Jerome Pugmire reported FIFA is "not considering changing the dates of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar despite fears the intense heat poses a serious health risk if the tournament is played in summer." FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke yesterday said "worries about the heat are legitimate," but the intention remains "to play this World Cup in June." Before the World Cup vote, FIFA's technical report labeled Qatar's heat a "potential health risk." Average summer temperatures in Qatar range from 105-115 degrees, but Valcke said that Qatar "has huge financial means to ensure a state-of-the art cooling system in stadiums and training grounds" (AP, 12/6).
STICKING TOGETHER: Minor League Baseball President Pat O'Conner yesterday said the organization is working toward an extension of its Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA) with MLB to 2020. The current deal expires in '14. MiLB is planning a Jan. 3 mail vote on the extension, with MLB likely to vote around the same time. "I am excited about the message that sends to the sports world and the stability it offers to our membership," O'Conner said during his opening address at the Winter Meetings. "This is a historical agreement in many respects." The extension is not expected to contain any significant changes to the current accord. The PBA guides the overall relationship between MiLB and MLB (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).
