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Leagues and Governing Bodies

NBA Lockout Watch, Day 32: Negotiations Resume Monday After Month-Long Break

The NBA and NBPA are scheduled to restart labor talks today in N.Y., the "first meeting since the work stoppage became official on July 1," according to Mark Medina of the L.A. TIMES. Lakers G and NBPA President Derek Fisher said, "I don't know if there's going to be any major movement. We've agreed maybe to table some of the economic issues and really focus on the system issues and non-economic items that are still extremely important to rounding out a collective bargaining agreement" (L.A. TIMES, 7/30). Fisher added of CBA talks since the lockout began, "It's been weirdly quiet. To push as hard as we did in the month of June to see if we could get a deal done prior to July 1, it's essentially been crickets since then." Fisher said that today's session "will focus on 'system issues' such as the feasibility of a hard cap, the length of guaranteed contracts and annual percentage increases of those contracts." He made it "clear that he didn't expect the laundry list of issues to be cleared up in a day." Fisher: "It's more about getting the process started again. Kind of rolling the sleeves back up and starting to do the hard work that it's going to take to try and get something done between now and October 1st or when the start of training camp would be" (ESPNLA.com, 7/29). Memphis Commercial Appeal NBA reporter Ronald Tillery said, "This meeting is an early step in a long slog. Remember, the NFL didn't get serious until there was a real threat to miss games. I expect the same game plan to unfold with NBA talks. There won't be serious negotiations/movement until the fall when training camp is in danger" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/31).

FULL-COURT PRESS: In Boston, Gary Washburn reported several agents "have privately encouraged" NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter "to decertify the union in hopes of using lawsuits to spark a settlement with the owners." This move is "primarily because many agents are pessimistic about the chances of a season." Some believe that "many owners are content to cancel the season as a means of completely restructuring the NBA’s financial model." Agents are "concerned that owners are relishing the opportunity to bring players to their figurative knees with missed paychecks" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/31).

ALL SYSTEMS GO: In Chicago, Lacy Banks reports Basketball HOF ceremonies "will go on as scheduled" later this month, despite the ongoing lockout. The three-day ceremonies will start Aug. 11, and Basketball HOF President & CEO John Doleva said, "We have been declared a ‘safe zone’ in terms of current players interacting with NBA team managers. ... NBA-TV cameras will be free to interview people, including current players." NBA VP/Basketball Communications Tim Frank said, "The lockout will have absolutely no effect on the Hall of Fame ceremonies." In addition, Frank said a report claiming Bobcats Owner Michael Jordan and Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro were threatened with a $1M fine for playing in a recent charity golf outing alongside active players was "false." Frank: "Both those men were cleared to participate in that outing" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/1).

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