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NBA Lockout Watch, Day 110: NBA, Union Meet With Federal Mediator Today In N.Y.

The NBA and NBPA will meet today in N.Y. with Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service Dir George Cohen, "a former outside counsel for the union, to help resolve" the ongoing labor dispute, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY. Cohen for several months "had informal talks with each side before meeting" with the two parties separately yesterday (USA TODAY, 10/18). Cohen and FMCS Deputy Dir Scot Beckenbaugh met with NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter and legal staff "for about 2 1-2 hours at the union's headquarters in Harlem." CBSSPORTS.com's Ken Berger cited sources as saying that league execs and lawyers "met with the mediators at NBA headquarters." One source said, "I really think David wants to go present his owners with something on Wednesday." The league's planning committee -- headed by Celtics Managing Partner & CEO Wyc Grousbeck -- tomorrow is "expected to present a revenue sharing plan" to the full NBA BOG. In addition, the league's labor relations committee, headed by Spurs Owner Peter Holt, will "report on the progress -- or lack thereof -- on negotiations with the players" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/17).

DIVISION OF ASSETS: In Milwaukee, Charles Gardner notes much attention "has been focused on the division of basketball revenues, with the players union agreeing to accept 53% of basketball related income (BRI) after being guaranteed 57%" under the last CBA. Bucks F and player rep Luc Richard Mbah a Moute said yesterday, "We made a lot of concessions to the owners. We went back from 57 to 53, and you're talking about huge money right there. We hope they will come back and negotiate in good faith." Mbah a Moute also "strongly disputed" Wizards F JaVale McGee's comments following Friday's regional meeting in L.A. McGee left the meeting early and told reporters, "There's definitely some guys in there saying they're ready to fold." But Mbah a Moute said yesterday, "There was no such thing. We've been united and been together for the last two years" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/18). Wizards G John Wall said, "It's a whole lot to talk about. A hard cap, an extra two years on the rookie contract. Those are things that a lot of people and fans don't understand." On the union's proposed BRI split, Wall said, "We [are] at 53 percent. That's the number we stand at. It's 53 percent with a good system" (WASHINGTONPOST.com 10/17).

THE PR BATTLE: YAHOO SPORTS' Adrian Wojnarowski noted the labor dispute "has grown nastier, more personal, in the past weeks." League sources said that "everything changed when the Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett walked into the negotiating room on Oct. 4." One league official said, "We were making progress, until Garnett (expletive) everything up" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/17). In Boston, Steve Bulpett writes with "just 30 teams and the ability to heavily fine those who speak out of turn, the league has better controlled its public face" during the lockout. The NBPA, however, "lives in fear each time one of its members hits the send button on a tweet." Bulpett: "And no matter how righteous their cause, the players have to know they never can win over the greater citizenry. ... The NBA still could get all it wants by waiting, but we believe McGee was telling the truth and that, without peer pressure, players would vote to come back" (BOSTON HERALD, 10/18). NBA.com's Shaun Powell wrote, "When all's said and done, the owners at the very least will get a 50-50 split or better of the basketball revenue. Because they can" (NBA.com, 10/13). The AP's Tim Dahlberg wrote, "This isn't a battle the players will end up winning, no matter how united they turn out to be." Hardline owners "have too much invested in the outcome, and know that there never will be a better time to take a stand." Dahlberg: "Players need to understand their leverage is slipping. Mostly, though, they need to understand this: America couldn’t live without the NFL. But America can live without the NBA" (AP, 10/17).

Hunter sharing some leadership responsibilities,
spotlight with union president
HUNTERS & FISHERS: In Orange County, Kevin Ding writes it is "obvious the owners didn't have any real intent to compromise, willing all along to carry the lockout into the season," and the players "are the ones really out of touch now." Ding: "If you want to be uninformed and united, fine, but don't act all militant about it. That's only leading people to believe the stereotype that NBA players are all fast-twitch muscle and slow-moving brain." Ding writes going into today's mediation, his "least valuable player in the farce so far is [the] man who is supposed to be leading all those players, union head Billy Hunter." Ding: "All he has proved is that he's the one exception to Larry David's rule from 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' about white people giving everything to a black man who wears glasses and looks smart. Hunter might as well let union president Derek Fisher wear the glasses in the next meeting. He's already letting Fish wear the pants in the family" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/18). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes few "could have forseen just how visible" Fisher would become as the lockout progressed. Hunter has said that he "has willingly stepped back to share power with Fisher." Hunter said Friday, "I told him, ‘I think I’m going to let you take the lead on a lot of this. Over a year ago, well before the lockout, I pushed him forward. I’d say, 'Rather than you stand around, you should be the one out in front'" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/18). YAHOO SPORTS' Wojnarowski wrote Fisher has to "walk the finest of lines in this debate, and he's done it well." The "public fight matters in this debate" and Hunter will be "left to answer questions on why he's hired DEK Media out of suburban New Jersey to help with the union's message." Wojnarowski: "Billions of dollars are [at] stake, and somehow Hunter has enlisted a powerhouse public relations firm with a website that includes a perforated, cut-out coupon for a one-hour free consultation." Hunter is "throwing money at a former sportswriter and magazine editor who decided not long ago that he is now a PR executive." Wojnarowski wrote, "The Players Association has to make the best of its financial limitations. This is a big-time fight, and Hunter should be surrounding himself with the best of the best. The NBPA shouldn't be an ATM for his cronies" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/17).

MEET IN THE MIDDLE: CBSSPORTS.com's Berger wrote there is "a middle ground on basketball-related income -- it's between 51 and 52 percent for the players, and should have been agreed to already -- so, too, is there a fairly simple way to solve the bargaining impasse over how to more fairly distribute team payrolls to mute the competitive advantage of big-spending teams." Sources indicated that the two sides "have discussed" that proposal already, but "nobody has yet referred to the key to ending the lockout using this term: the 'flex tax.'" Berger: "It's a magical name for a sublimely simple compromise -- an intersection of the owners' bid to flatten payroll disparity and the players' desire to maintain some degree of choice in spending rather than have that choice imposed on teams by the system." But in order for the league "to fully achieve a flattening of the payroll disparity, the teams at the bottom must be incentivized to spend -- through properly allocated tax money and massively enhanced revenue sharing." Berger noted some of the teams, "indeed, need to be forced to spend," which means the previous "minimum payroll (75 percent of the cap, which is exactly where Sacramento came in) has to be increased to at least 85 percent" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/17).

SCHEDULING WOES: In L.A., Lance Pugmire notes if a new CBA is reached, some believe that the NBA season "could be extended and playoffs perhaps stretched into July to accommodate a full 82-game schedule." But finding places to play "might be more difficult." Staples Center GM Lee Zeidman said, "I've heard talk that the players and owners would look to add games past the drop-dead date of the NBA Finals, June 21 -- I know they are tinkering with that." But he added, "It can never happen here." Zeidman said, "On June 22, 23 and 24, I have tentative concert holds, and at 4 a.m. on June 25, I'm contractually obligated to allow ESPN to start loading (the arena) for the X Games, that start June 30. Then, right after that, I have Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus coming in July 9-15." Zeidman also said the arena is "trying to create things" to potentially fill the dates lost if more Lakers and Clippers home games are cancelled. He said, "We're mining the concert field, considering beach volleyball, roller derby, a concert series with new bands. We don't need sellouts at this point, but we'd like to bring in 4,000 to 7,000 people on these nights we're losing" (L.A. TIMES, 10/18). Meanwhile, SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Don Muret notes some teams and buildings "are being as proactive as possible to create events to accommodate their premium seat holders and arena partners." TD Garden officials are "organizing an ice skating event for Celtics' sponsors on the night of one of the three NBA games canceled to date." TD Banknorth Garden President John Wentzell said that in a "busy arena, it is a rare opportunity for 'open ice'" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/17 issue).

AROUND THE RIM: In N.Y., Marc Berman reports Knicks C Ronny Turiaf may be headed "overseas to France to play for Villeurbanne" during the lockout. The French League team announced the agreement on its website yesterday, but Marc Bartlestein, Turiaf's agent, said that the "deal isn't done." Bartlestein said, "There's definitely a lot of insurance things that have to be worked out." Bartlestein also said that if a deal is reached, Turiaf "will have an opt-out to rejoin the Knicks if the lockout ends" (N.Y. POST, 10/18). Meanwhile, free agent F Thaddeus Young said that he "turned down a $3 million offer to play in China this season." In Memphis, Ronald Tillery notes one reason "few players have signed in China is because the teams there do not offer an out clause that would allow for a return to the NBA if the lockout ends." Young said, "I weighed it heavily for the simple fact that it would have been a great level of competition. But I thought long term instead of short term. It was just a one-year deal. I don't just want to play someplace for one year" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 10/18).

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