'We're anxious to negotiate'
Lockout at standstill pending arbitrator's decision, players say
Posted: Monday August 17, 1998 07:07 PM
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"I don't know if this meeting is about progress," said Boston Celtics forward Popeye Jones (right, with NBA Player Association Official Robert Gadson) AP |
DALLAS (AP) -- The future of negotiations in the NBA lockout is in the
hands of a referee of sorts, several players said Monday.
But while NBA players await a crucial arbitrator's ruling that could
determine who has the best bargaining position in new negotiations, the NBA
Player's Association continues to hold meetings with players throughout the
country.
About a dozen players attended a regional meeting characterized by
attendees as informational. Players are not expecting any forward motion in
lockout talks for at least a week.
"I don't know if this meeting is about progress," said Boston Celtics forward
Popeye Jones.
"It's basically what you're seeing in the paper -- we're just in a
situation where we need to see what [arbitrator John] Feerick says."
The next step in getting both sides back to the bargaining table hinges on
a decision by Feerick, the dean of the Fordham University law school, said
Billy Hunter, executive director of the NBA Player's Association.
Feerick will convene a meeting on August 24 to decide whether about 220
players with guaranteed contracts should be paid during the lockout, and
Hunter said he is expecting a decision by Labor Day.
"We're anxious to negotiate, but that won't occur until after August 24,"
Hunter said.
What Feerick says will probably decide who comes back to negotiations with
the stronger bargaining stance. Bargaining broke down in early August when
NBA commissioner David Stern and the owners abruptly left a meeting.
If Feerick rules that owners do not have to pay those players during the
lockout, then the owners could gamble that players will would soften their
stance under the threat of continued money loss.
Players adamantly oppose the hard salary cap pushed by owners, fearing
that superstars would use up most of the money available under the cap and
leave others short. Hunter said if that issue is resolved, he believes the
others will fall into place.
"Everything is going smoothly, and we feel like everybody's got to keep a
level head and find compromise," said Dallas Maverick Samaki Walker.
The issue of whether to include marijuana in the NBA's drug policy is
perhaps the only area of agreement between the players and owners. Both
have agreed to add marijuana to the list of banned substances, but the
player's association says that will only happen after other agreements are
released.
"We'll incorporate it if we get everything else," Hunter said.
Otherwise, most players at the meeting are intent on ending the lockout by
the time training camps are scheduled to start in early November.
"All the guys I've talked to want to play ball, but we don't want to be
part of something that will affect the guys coming into the league," said
Dallas Maverick Shawn Bradley.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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