The NBA's "top players are finalizing plans for a two-week exhibition tour during what would have been the first two weeks of the regular season," according to sources cited by Chris Broussard of ESPN. Sources said that "more than a dozen of the league's best players are working to join forces on what would be a two-week, six-game, four-continent blockbuster tour." Among the players expected to participate are Lakers G Kobe Bryant, Heat F LeBron James, Heat G Dwyane Wade, Bulls G Derrick Rose, Knicks F Carmelo Anthony, Hornets G Chris Paul, Knicks F Amar'e Stoudemire, Heat F Chris Bosh, Celtics G Rajon Rondo, Clippers F Blake Griffin, Thunder G Russell Westbrook, Bulls F Carlos Boozer, Celtics F Paul Pierce and T'Wolves F Kevin Love. Thunder F Kevin Durant and Celtics F Kevin Garnett, "among a few others, are also contemplating joining the tour." Atlanta businessman Calvin Darden, the former UPS Senior VP/U.S. Operations and current Target, Coca-Cola and Cardinal Health board member, has been "putting the tour together with the players' agents for nearly three months." He has "already obtained signed contracts from Bryant, Wade, Bosh, Griffin, Rondo and Pierce." Sources added that he his "hoping to complete the rest of the agreements, along with insurance requirements, over the next few days." Sources cautioned that the tour "has not yet been finalized and there's still a chance it could unravel." The tour is scheduled to begin Oct. 30 and end Nov. 9, and will "make stops in Puerto Rico, London, Macau, and Australia." Each game will be "staged in an arena that holds at least 15,000 fans," and two games each will be played at sites in London and Australia. Darden is "hoping to broadcast the games in as many international markets as possible and perhaps in the United States as well." Sources said that the players "will be paid, receiving salaries ranging from six figures up to $1 million" (ESPN.com, 10/19). The tour is "expected to have enough superstar player commitments to ensure two traveling teams." A source said, "It's just the start. This crop of players ... is not going to allow the owners to manhandle them" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/19).
STAYING IN SHAPE: In West Palm Beach, Ethan Skolnick wrote players taking a short playing trip overseas "makes sense for staying in shape," and it "makes sense for building their brands." Skolnick: "There aren’t likely to be similar barnstorming tours for the mid-level players, however, so it could contribute to a split in the union" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 10/19). In Miami, Joseph Goodman notes, "If the tour materializes, it could be a nice paycheck" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/20).
INJURED RESERVE: In Oklahoma City, Darnell Mayberry reports Griffin "cut his foot while swimming in the ocean in California" and "has pulled out of Sunday's exhibition game featuring," among others, Durant and James. Griffin "was a headliner along with Durant." The two "were scheduled to compete against each other in a Team Durant versus Team Griffin showdown that was billed as 'The Battle for Mr. Oklahoma.'" After tickets went on sale Monday at noon CT, "11,251 tickets had been sold" as of 4:30pm yesterday (THE OKLAHOMAN, 10/20).
OLYMPIC EFFECTS: Team USA men's coach Mike Krzyzewski said yesterday that if the lockout continues, "it will have a significant impact on preparations for the 2012 Olympics." Krzyzewski said, "If they have a season, will they extend it past the normal third week of June? That impacts on us because we start practice July 5 or 6 and then the gold medal game is Aug. 12. So what plan would we have for that?" In N.Y., Viv Bernstein writes, "That is assuming there is a season. If not, that will also affect team USA." Krzyzewski: "What if there is no season? Would you have a minicamp? What about insurance? Who would still want to play? How would you cover them?" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/20). USA TODAY's Zillgitt & Shuster note, "If the NBA is still in lockout mode by the summer, player contracts, which normally would be covered by insurance through the league while playing during the Olympics, would not be covered" (USA TODAY, 10/20).
