A proposal to end the NBA strike

[STRAUSS@WCUVAX1.WCU.EDU]

NBA Solution:

1. Players get 56.8% of generated revenues. (Owners have to show some profit
from gross negotiations.)

2. Use of "Society's Rules". Marijuana deemed as illegal as in society. Any player 
partaking of actions that would get him fired from a normal job (smoking grass, 
choking boss) can be fired and even banned from league. Due Process would, 
of course, apply.

3. Any player money >56.8% goes to an owner's fund to be used to help in "Anti-Bird"
rule.

4. Anti-Bird rule states that any team that loses a star player to a higher bidder, 
can use these monies either to (1) sign another free agent or (2) sign own free 
agent later, when/if he becomes free again. In other words, this money will allow 
poorer teams to exceed their normal cap limits. They could offer former stars a 
lower amount, and "players excess" used to generate a higher result for player. 
Result? Both team and player win.

5. Create a salary scale tied to some normal economic indicator, mutually agreed 
upon. Thus, top salaries might be $22 million this year, or whatever. Base would 
need to be established. Perhaps average of top 5, or ten current highest annual 
average salaries.

6. As someone on Celtics list mentioned, create extended contracts: HS or Freshman 
is under contract for 7 years; soph for 6 years, junior, 5 years, senior or 
grad 4 years. Unless "released" by team. Problem would be allowing teams to "raid" 
HS for star potential. Solution might be to allow team only one such player 
in a 3-year period, or perhaps just one at a time.

7. Current season begins January 10th, extends 5 months, for 72 games. Final 
month consists of round-robin elimination to create 2 teams that would play 
for championship, June 15-July1. 72 games over 5 months averages 1 game every 
other day. This would be hard on players, but they would realize 72/82 (88%) 
of their salary.

Bob Strauss
strauss@wcu.edu
flames to (a) stern@nba.com, (b) hunter@nba.com

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Bob Strauss                                      Cataloger
Hunter Library                                   Western Carolina U.
strauss@wcu.edu
Class home page:    http://www3.wcu.edu/~strauss
Personal home page: http://www3.wcu.edu/~strauss/personal
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