Florida lawyer sues San Antonio Spurs for resting stars
You've Been Served
The San Antonio Spurs are being sued by a lawyer who is alleging the team violated the state’s deceptive and fair trade practices law.
On Monday, Larry McGuinness filed a class-action suit in Miami-Dade County, stating Spurs coach Gregg Popovich “intentionally and surreptitiously” sent their best players home without the knowledge of the league, the team and the fans attending the Nov. 29 game against the Miami Heat. McGuinness contends that he, as well as other fans, “suffered economic damages” as a result of paying a premium price for a ticket that shouldn’t cost more.
Before the game, Popovich sent Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green back to San Antonio, saying that he believed that resting his top players for their fourth game in five days was a smart decision.
Even though players aren’t guaranteed to play at any time, the lines are a little more blurred because teams charge fans more to attend games versus better teams. When asked how he thought the fans felt, Popovich admitted at the time that it wasn’t ideal.
“If I was taking my 6-year-old son and daughter to the game, I would want them to see everybody,” Popovich said. “And if they weren’t there, I’d be disappointed.”
It’s often assumed that fans might not see certain high-profile players because of injury, but McGuinness said this was different, given that all of the top players were not available to play.
“It was like going to Morton’s Steakhouse and paying $63 for porterhouse and they bring out cube steak,” said McGuinness, who said he bought his ticket on the resale market. “That’s exactly what happened here.”
NBA commissioner David Stern apologized to fans for Popovich’s decision at the time, calling it “unacceptable.” Days later, the NBA, which is not named as a defendant in this case, fined the team $250,000.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: David Stern
David Stern
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to NBA commissioner David Stern for creating rules on the fly and fining the San Antonio Spurs organization $250,000 after the team decided to send home four starters against the Miami Heat.
Tim Duncan & Tony Parker pretended to shoot Joey Crawford
Who's Laughing Now Joey
Back on Halloween the night the San Antonio Spurs players like most of the country took in a costume party. Forward Stephen Jackson released many of the team photos through his Instagram account however one of the pictures never saw the light of day until the team was fined by the NBA for removing it’s starters against the Miami Heat.
This photo magically appeared on reddit a day after commissioner David Stern levied a $250,000 against the organization. It’s of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker pretending to shoot an impersonation of NBA referee Joey Crawford in the head during that Halloween party.
David Stern Retiring In 2014
Man On His Way Out
David Stern will retire as NBA commissioner on Feb. 1, 2014 after 30 years on the job, the league announced announced on Thursday. Stern’s replacement: deputy commissioner Adam Silver, who was unanimously approved to take the position, according to multiple reports.
“I’d like to think I did an adequate job,” Stern said at his state-of-the-league press conference shortly after the news was announced. He added that he “could not be happier” knowing that Silver would take his place.
“Adam’s title will be the commissioner elect, but they’re still going to have me to kick around for the next 15 months,” Stern said.
Stern, 70, took over as commissioner on Feb. 1, 1984, as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were peaking, and Michael Jordan was set to enter the league. He presided over the NBA’s growth from a financially strapped sport to a global commercial powerhouse.
Dwight Howard’s Agent Confirms He Was Source Of Leak
Irony
David Stern the NBA commissioner confirmed that Dwight Howard’s agent Dan Fegan was responsible for leaking details of a meeting between the superstar and the Orlando Magic.
Fegan’s response is guilty as charged. He admits to revealing that Howard doesn’t want to be with the Magic to start the season and told general manager Rob Hennigan just that.
“On the morning prior to Wednesday’s supposedly confidential meeting between Dwight Howard and Rob Hennigan, there were media reports stating a meeting was taking place later that same day,” wrote Fegan of LaGardere Unlimited in an email. “Prior to the actual meeting, Dwight’s business manager and I met with Rob, reminded him that we had not requested the meeting, had been reluctant to take it and were concerned that the Magic had leaked that a meeting was taking place.
“Both during and after the meeting, we continued to get communications from the media telling us that they had confirmation that the meeting was occurring and/or had taken place. After the meeting, some media requested comments on information they allegedly already had on what had taken place in the meeting. I want to stress that none of the information the reporters had about the meeting at this point came from us.
“After receiving these media inquiries, I called Rob and left several messages expressing concern that what had occurred in the meeting was not going to be accurately reported — as had happened on previous occasions — and that we were going to respond to the media inquiries to make sure that reports were accurate. To a limited extent, that is what we did.”
Kobe Bryant Calls David Stern’s Olympic Idea Stupid
Help Me
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant clearly is embracing his role as outspoken veteran on Team USA.
NBA Commissioner David Stern recently floated a proposal to restrict NBA players over the age of 23 from participating in the Olympics. Kobe is not a fan of the idea.
“It’s a stupid idea,” Bryant told local news reporters at the reception to welcome them to Manchester in advance of Thursday night’s exhibition game against Team Great Britain. “It should be a (player’s) choice.”
Asked how much he and his Team USA teammates have talked about Stern’s proposal since getting together in Las Vegas on July 5, Bryant said: “Our discussion is this: Basically, it’s just a dumb idea and we (discuss) it that way.”
Stern’s proposal, similar to the system currently in place for Olympic men’s soccer, would establish an age cap and allow teams three over-age players.
Meanwhile, the FIBA World Championship would be open to all other NBA players. Unlike the Olympics, NBA owners would receive a share of the revenue when their players participate in the FIBA World Championship. Kobe’s response:
When asked if he understands the concerns of NBA owners, Bryant scoffed, saying such reservations are motivated by owners merely wanting “to protect their investments.”
If the proposal passes, 2012 could be the last time the NBA’s top talent comes together to represent the USA in the Olympics.
David Stern Says Flopping Is Legitimate Concern For NBA
Oscar Goes To
NBA commissioner David Stern, like coaches and players everywhere, recognizes that flopping has become a problem, and he vows to study the issue this offseason.
“It’s a legitimate concern,” Stern told ESPN’s Lisa Salters during the broadcast of Indiana Pacers-Miami Heat Game 1 on Sunday. “Some years ago, I told the competition committee that we were going to start fining people for flopping and then suspend them—and I think they almost threw me out of the room (and told me), ‘No, let it be.’
“But I think it’s time to look at it a more serious way, because it’s only designed to fool the referee—it’s not a legitimate play in my judgment,” Stern added. “… Some of this is acting. We should give out Oscars rather than MVP trophies.”
Salters’ question was in the context of the league fining Pacers coach Frank Vogel $15,000 for calling the Heat the “biggest flopping team in the NBA” and saying it will be “very interesting how the referees officiate the series and how much flopping they reward.”
“He didn’t have a beef, he was just manipulating the referees—or trying to,” Stern said. “I would have fined him much more than our office did.”
David Stern Hints That Future Olympic Squads Be 23 & Under
Man On His Way Out
NBA commissioner David Stern suggests that this summer’s London Games may be the last Olympics that will see the league’s top stars.
“My own view is that post-London, we should be thinking about what soccer does and make it 23 and under,” Stern told ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd.
Stern said that since the Olympics are of great importance to international players, the NBA was compelled to allow its players to compete in the Games.
Asked by Cowherd whether the league encourages its players to compete in the Olympics, Stern responded, “No, we stay out of it. The problem is that it’s so (ingrained) into the international players that they just always play. And so we were contemplating, even back in the day when we thought we maybe wouldn’t allow NBA players to go, that would have deprived us of Yao Ming because the Chinese government never would have let him come to play (in the NBA). And the international players were going anyway. So then it would apply only to American players? So we found ourselves in a bit of an interesting dilemma with the whole thing.”
Stern said the U.S. winning gold every four years is not the key variable in the decision, agreeing with Cowherd’s statement that he doesn’t have “a problem with Americans losing in the Olympics. … We don’t have to win everything for it to be great.”
One NBA figure who would be sure to support a change in the Olympic policy is Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who has long railed against allowing his players to compete for their countries for nothing in return.
“It’s just the epitome of stupidity that we would allow ourselves to be used so other corporations the Olympics can make tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars,” Cuban said earlier this year.
“There’s some guys sitting at the Olympic headquarters going, ‘Those dumb-asses, we’re taking all their best guys for nothing.”
David Stern Attacks NCAA For One & Done Rule
A Man On His Way Out
NBA commissioner David Stern took out his disdain for the one-and-done policy of college players leaving for the NBA in a recent interview.Stern makes it comically clear he hates it and he won’t be lifting a finger to change it.
“A college could always not have players who are one and done. They could do that. They could actually require the players to go to classes. Or they could get the players to agree that they stay in school, and ask for their scholarship money back if they didn’t fulfill their promises. There’s all kinds of things that, if a bunch of people got together and really wanted to do it, instead of talk about it …”
Stern says he can only hope the colleges change the rule. For the good of the NBA.
“I agree with the NCAA that it would be great for us — I’m not concerned about NCAA, and our rules are not social programs. We don’t think it’s appropriate for us to lecture kids as to whether they should or shouldn’t go to school. For our business purposes, the longer we can get to look at young men playing against first-rate competition, that’s a good thing. Because draft picks are very valuable things….
David Stern To Step Down After Two More Seasons
At Least He's Named A Successor
NBA commissioner David Stern plans to tell owners at the April board of governors meeting that he’ll step down as commissioner after two more seasons, according to the New York Daily News.
“At one point, he had talked about doing it for one more season, but it looks now like two more,” a league source told the Daily News.
At All-Star Weekend in Orlando, Stern, 70, said he wouldn’t be on the job in 2017, the earliest date either side can opt out of the CBA.
Asked then if he has discussed his future with the NBA’s Board of Governors, Stern said,
“I haven’t told them anything. I’ve told (the media) more,” adding that he will have that talk with the board “very soon.”
Stern also endorsed deputy commissioner Adam Silver as his successor.
“I guess what I would say is, one of the things that a good CEO does—and I try to be a good CEO—is provide his board with a spectacular choice for his successor,” Stern said. “I have done that, and that’s Adam. If I had the decision, if I were doing it myself, he would be the commissioner. But as I have said before, the board will make that decision.”
The board would ultimately decide on Stern’s replacement, though the Daily News reported that Silver is seen as a lock and has the support of almost 90 percent of the owners.
Sacramento Kings & NBA Close To Arena Financing Deal
Limbo
NBA commissioner David Stern and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announced a joint work plan Wednesday for the two sides to reach an agreement to finance a new arena by the March 1 deadline. Johnson, Stern and the Maloof family, which owns the Sacramento Kings, will meet during this weekend’s All-Star festivities in Orlando, Fla.
If the final details are resolved in time, a term sheet will be announced March 1 and the Sacramento City Council will vote on the plan at its March 6 meeting, possibly avoiding the relocation talk that surrounded the team last spring when it almost moved to Anaheim.
“I feel very confident that we as a city are going to be able to do our part,” Johnson said at a late afternoon news conference at City Hall with six council members standing behind him. “The city controls its own destiny.”
The major sticking point in negotiations remains how much the Kings will contribute. Under the proposed agreement, the city of Sacramento will raise about $190 million to $230 million by leasing out parking garages to private investors, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. Another $75 million to $100 million is expected from the Kings and $40 million to $60 million from arena operator AEG.
The remaining gap will be covered by some combination of a ticket surcharge, advertising around the arena, allocating a portion of the city’s existing transient occupancy tax or a sale of three or four parcels of city land.
The final price tag for AEG depends largely on the team’s contribution. The Kings portion would include upfront cash and donating back the land around the franchise’s current suburban Sacramento arena, estimated at about $25 million. AEG’s contribution will be impacted by the splits with the team in arena-related revenue.
Johnson and Stern still have some disagreement on how much, if any, of AEG’s portion is included in the Kings’ contribution. Major points for the city also include making sure rates don’t soar if the garages and street parking are sold to private investors, and getting Sacramento County’s agreement to use a parking garage near the arena site.
The two sides are making progress and hope to bridge the gap to finance the estimated $406 million arena, which would open for the 2015-16 season in the downtown Sacramento rail yards. The Kings nearly moved south to Anaheim last year, twice extending the relocation deadline and struggling to gain approval from league owners.
Johnson made a desperate pitch to the NBA Board of Governors last April to give the city a final chance to come up with an arena plan. He also bought time by presenting more than $10 million in commitments for new advertising, ticket purchases and other financial support from regional businesses for this season.
Despite attempts by Anaheim and Seattle to swoop in and lure the Kings, Stern said the league is making every attempt to keep the franchise in California’s capital.
“We appreciate the work of the City of Sacramento and (our) discussions have been constructive,” Stern said in a statement. “Our hope is that current momentum continues in a way that we’re able to reach a deal by March 1 that makes sense for all parties.”
Johnson described the discussions as having “great momentum,” but disagreed with Stern on a key point: the portion of the arena cost that should be counted as coming from the Maloofs.
Stern said in a TNT interview Tuesday that contributions from arena operator AEG should be included as part of the Maloofs’ share, but Johnson was adamant that the city hired AEG and the Maloofs’ contribution should be considered separately.
“This is where a feisty point guard and the commissioner get into a little bit of a spirited discussion,” said Johnson, a former All-Star with the Phoenix Suns. He said he last talked to Stern after the city council meeting Tuesday night.
Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof haven’t been involved in negotiations. The league is bargaining with Sacramento officials on the franchise’s behalf and will present the final proposal to the team.
The NBA could force the Maloofs into bringing in investment partners or even sell the team if the owners walk away from a plan that has the league’s approval.
Southern California billionaire Ron Burkle remains interested in buying the Kings. And Christopher Hansen, a hedge-fund manager based in San Francisco and a Seattle native, is also making proposals to bring an NBA team to Seattle.
The Maloofs insist they’re not selling the team. A Kings spokesman said the team is refraining from comment until the NBA and the city complete a proposed plan.
At the very least, the latest development shows progress. A year ago, Sacramento “needed to sink a full court shot” to keep the Kings from relocating to Anaheim, Johnson said.
“Now I think we’re on the free throw line,” he said. “Shaquille O’Neal is not shooting the free throws for us. We could go with Steve Nash.”
Kobe Bryant Rips Team In Post Game Tirade
Help Me
Kobe Bryant lashed out at Los Angeles Lakers management Sunday night for leaving teammate Pau Gasol wondering whether he’s about to be traded. In a postgame monologue punctuated by a couple of profanities, Bryant said the Lakers either need to trade Gasol or come out and say it won’t happen.
Bryant’s comments came in the aftermath of a 102-90 loss at Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. He said he doesn’t want Gasol to be traded but it’s unfair for his teammate to try to play when he doesn’t know if he’ll be somewhere else the following day.
As Bryant put it: “If they’re going to do something, I wish they would just … do it.”
“Listen, he’s been the consummate professional,” Bryant said. “He’s going out and he’s trying to do what he can. But let’s be real. If you didn’t know you were going to be here tomorrow, if your head’s on the chopping block and you feel like you’re just waiting, it’s tough to put all yourself in the game.”
Trade rumors about Gasol have circulated since the team thought it had shipped him to New Orleans Hornets in a three-team deal before the season that would have brought Chris Paul to the Lakers. But NBA Commissioner David Stern blocked the trade.
“It’s hard for Pau because of all this trade talk and stuff,” Bryant said, bringing up the subject even though no one asked him about it. “It’s hard for him to kind of invest himself completely or immerse himself completely into games when he’s hearing trade talk every other day. I wish management would either come out and either trade him or not trade him.”
“It obviously starts with myself and Pau and the emergency of Andrew Bynum,” Bryant said, “but you can’t have one of our pillars not knowing if he’s going to be here or not. Do something. One way or another, do something. If they trade him at least you have some type of closure, he gets some type of closure. I talked to him a little bit about it,” Bryant said. “It’s just tough for a player to give his all when you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow. So I’d rather them not trade him at all. If they were going to do something, I wish they would just … do it. If they’re not going to do it, come out and say you’re not going to do it. This way he can be comfortable, he can go out and perform and he can play and he can invest all of himself in the game.”
Flop So Hard
Apparently, NBA players be flopping so hard David Stern wanna fine them and Gregg Popovich wanna sign them.
That cray
Kobe Bryant Becomes 5th On NBA All-Time Scoring List
Got 5 On It
Philadelphia 76ers Lou Williams nailed the go-ahead 3-pointer, scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, and spoiled Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant’s record-setting night in leading his team to a 95-90 victory.
However Lakers Bryant passed former teammate Shaquille O’Neal to become fifth on the all-time scoring list as he scored 24 of his 28 points in the first half. He stumbled down the stretch though of the game and missed nine of his 10 shots in the fourth.
For the record setter, Bryant cut toward the top of the 3-point arc, and took a Matt Barnes pass to hit the 23-footer. Originally called a 3 but Bryant had his foot on the line, it still was enough to pass O’Neal.
The 76ers chose not to acknowledge the achievement.
The relationship between Philly fans and Bryant has been strained since the 2001 NBA finals against the 76ers, when he proclaimed he was “coming to Philly to cut their hearts out.” That began an unforgiving attitude from fans that continues to this day. When commissioner David Stern presented Bryant with the All-Star game MVP trophy in 2002 in Philadelphia, the boos were long and loud, and he later admitted he was hurt.
Dan Gilbert Calls Proposed Chris Paul Trade A Travesty In Email
Couldn't Find Bloggissist In Merriam Webster
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert sent an email to David Stern in which he explicitly urged the Commissioner to stop the proposed trade of New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Commissioner,
It would be a travesty to allow the Lakers to acquire Chris Paul in the apparent trade being discussed.
This trade should go to a vote of the 29 owners of the Hornets.
Over the next three seasons this deal would save the Lakers approximately $20 million in salaries and approximately $21 million in luxury taxes. That $21 million goes to non-taxpaying teams and to fund revenue sharing.
I cannot remember ever seeing a trade where a team got by far the best player in the trade and saved over $40 million in the process. And it doesn’t appear that they would give up any draft picks, which might allow to later make a trade for Dwight Howard. (They would also get a large trade exception that would help them improve their team and/or eventually trade for Howard.) When the Lakers got Pau Gasol (at the time considered an extremely lopsided trade) they took on tens of millions in additional salary and luxury tax and they gave up a number of prospects (one in Marc Gasol who may become a max-salary player).
I just don’t see how we can allow this trade to happen.
I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do.
When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?
Please advise….
Dan G.
*And, no, the email was not in the same comic sans font that Gilbert used to excoriate LeBron James after “The Decision.”
Danny Granger Calls Himself David Sterns Bitch
Bonafide
Danny Granger of the Indiana Pacers let David Stern know what he thought of the NBA blocking Chris Paul going to the Los Angeles Lakers on Twitter. Since New Orleans Hornets is a team that is owned by the league, the 29 owners of the team had the ability to veto the trade and did just that. Naturally, Paul is unhappy as evidence by his tweet that read “Wow” after it was announced that the deal is off. Granger took it personally as well.
“Due to the sabotaging of the LA/NO trade by David Stern,” Granger wrote on Twitter, “and following in the foosteps of my athlete brethern Metta World Peace and Chad Ochocinco, I’m changing my last name to ‘Stern’s Bi#&h’, effective immediately.”
There are appropriate ways to vent your frustration with a boss, this is not one of them.
Metta World Peace Offers Solution To NBA Lockout
Offering Up Solutions
Metta World Peace, the basketball player formerly known as Ron Artest, has issued an interesting, unrealistic, challenge that could end the NBA’s nearly five-month old lockout: a one-on-one game against Michael Jordan.
“Come on Jordan!!,” Metta World Peace tweeted. “Bring it. One on one. I win lockout over. I’ll beat u with my eyes closed and a in and out burger in my right hand!!”
Jordan, who owns the Charlotte Bobcats, has become an important figure during this labor impasse, since he was on the other side of the negotiating table during the 1998-99 lockout and is now a leader among hardline owners. Jordan famously told then-Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin 13 years ago, “If you can’t make a profit, you should sell your team.” Now, players are imploring Jordan to listen to his own advice.
Meanwhile, Artest offered another lockout challenge, tweeting, “Billy hunter and David stern should do face off on HBO with Max Kellerman. Fans want to see the debate!! We are confused! Lockout?;why?”
David Stern Song
The folks at 95.7 The Game have come up with a David Stern-inspired song to help get you through the NBA lockout.
Dave Checketts Says NBA Lockout Over But Isn’t
Wrong
Former New York Knicks president Dave Checketts has gained a share of fame for declaring the NBA lockout over, when it fact the league is still chained shut. Checketts, went on ESPN Radio in Salt Lake City yesterday and informed listeners the NBA had a 10-year labor deal in place.
“I’ve received a couple of phone calls from friends who are very close to the process who say, ‘We have a deal, and now it’s a matter of getting everything straightened out,’ ” Checketts said, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune.
Later in the interview, however, he had to backtrack.
“Obviously saying this publicly has created quite a stir,” Checketts said. “I’m being told now by some people there are some difficulties in the negotiation. I was told earlier today that they had reached a deal. Now, I’m getting people reaching out to me — one of whom’s involved in the process — who’s saying it’s not as close as he thought before.”
Checketts time with the Knicks gives him credibility, as does his friendship with NBA Commissioner David Stern. He also once was president and GM of the Utah Jazz, so his comments spread quickly via social media and had to be corrected by several news agencies.
Mayor Kevin Johnston Says Arena Efforts Not Slowed By NBA Lockout
Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says the ongoing NBA lockout will not deter the city from moving forward with a financing plan for a new Kings arena.
In a statement Thursday night, he said, “While like many others we hope that the NBA and the players are able to come to an agreement, our focus has always been that this facility is more than just a professional basketball arena but rather, similar to what has taken place in Kansas City, an entertainment and sports complex that will generate economic activity and create jobs.”
The Kings were on the verge of leaving for Anaheim this summer. Instead, NBA Commissioner David Stern and Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof gave the city until March 1 to approve a plan to help finance a new arena or the team could leave.
NBA Cancels First Two Weeks Of Season
Est. 1946
NBA Commissioner David Stern erased the first two weeks of the season after negotiations failed to produce a new labor deal and warned that more games were in jeopardy of being cut. The cancellations mark the NBA’s first work stoppage since the 1998-99 season was reduced to 50 games.
“With every day that goes by, I think we need to look at further reductions in what’s left of the season,” Stern said. “The gap is so significant that we just can’t bridge it at this time,” Stern said. “We certainly hoped it would never come to this.”
Union president Derek Fisher agreed, emphasizing that missing any games puts the season in jeopardy.
“This is not where we choose to be,” he said. “We’re not at a place where a fair deal can be reached with the NBA.”
Stern said last week he would cancel the first two weeks of the season Monday without a new collective bargaining agreement. Top negotiators for both sides met for more than seven hours Monday, the longest session to date, after bargaining for more than five hours Sunday. The two sides expect to remain in contact, but no additional formal talks have been scheduled.
Stern said both sides are “very far apart on virtually all issues. … We just have a gulf that separates us.”
Opening night was scheduled for Nov. 1, and the cancellation includes all games scheduled to be played through Nov. 14 – exactly 100 games. Based on last year’s average announced attendance leaguewide those now-canceled 100 games represent nearly $83 million in lost ticket sales before the first concession or souvenir is sold.
Stern said the players still proposed they get 53 percent of revenues, whereas the league proposed they get 47 percent. The two sides had discussed a 50-50 split last week but only in informal discussions. Both sides stressed it was the system issues, not the revenue split, that turned out to be the larger obstacle Monday.
Dan Gilbert Says ‘Bloggissists’ Made Up Story About His Role In NBA Negotiations
Couldn't Find Bloggissist In Merriam Webster
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert responded to a report that said he impeded progress in NBA labor talks this week. Gilbert denied the claim and invented a word to describe the targets of his wrath.
“Some of these NBA ‘bloggissists’ flat-out make stuff up and then try to dupe readers into believing their fiction is real. Sad & pathetic,” Gilbert said via Twitter.
ESPN.com reported that Gilbert and Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver strongly objected to a potential breakthrough during Tuesday’s negotiating session.
Players association president Derek Fisher, in a letter to the players said there was a “fundamental divide between owners” that led to the talks breaking down.
ESPN’s report also said that Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss and New York Knicks owner James Dolan were “visibly annoyed” with Gilbert and Sarver.
NBA commissioner David Stern echoed Gilbert’s response; he said the report was “so wrong and incorrect and fictional” and “absolutely untrue.”
David Stern Says NBA Won’t Discuss Contraction Until Deal Done
i said, no, no, no
NBA commissioner David Stern said owners and locked-out players have expressed support for eliminating teams, but contraction will be discussed only after a new labor agreement is in place. Stern said in an online podcast that owners could “buy in” needy teams with the television, international licensing and revenue sharing dollars due to them. The commissioner also said that the players have not dismissed the idea of cutting down from 30 teams.
“The players actually have been heard to suggest that as well, which was interesting because that means they are suggesting that we eliminate 30 jobs, or the potential for 30 jobs,” Stern said.”
The New Orleans Hornets, Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Bobcats are considered three of the top candidates for contraction.
No Pay For David Stern During NBA lockout
i said, no, no, no
NBA commissioner David Stern will not be paid as long as the league and players union remain mired in a lockout. While Stern’s compensation is not known publicly, it is estimated at $15-16 million roughly about $500,000 annually per franchise. However the The New York Daily News in February cited sources who hint that Stern made $23 million the previous season while Yahoo! Sport reported that many NBA owners don’t even know what Stern makes.
Earlier this week Philadelphia 76ers center Spencer Hawes called out Stern for being paid during the lockout by tweeting
“23 million a year for stern huh. Weird no rumblings about a pay cut for the commish while he asks every single player to do so. “commish wants his annual compensation to trump new max salary by nearly double. Interesting thought.”
But Stern did say during All-Star Weekend in February that he would not be paid during a lockout. When asked whether he, like NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, would reduce his salary to $1, Stern said,
“Well, I would say that last time (during the NBA’s 1998-99 lockout) I didn’t take a salary. I think a dollar would be too high in the event of a work stoppage.”
