Lacy Banks: Union's Mettle Put To Test

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

                        [Chicago Sun-Times Sports]
          
                        Owners put players' mettle to test   
                        October 21, 1998

                        BY LACY J. BANKS STAFF REPORTER

                        LAS VEGAS--What kind of union do the NBA players
                        really have?

                        That will be answered today and Thursday, when the
                        union holds perhaps its most crucial meeting to
                        decide whether to negotiate a new labor contract that
                        will slow the rise of player salaries and speed up
                        the increase in owner profits.

                        Since the owners locked them out July 1, players have
                        said they have a strong union. Many said they would
                        sit out the season rather than accept a deal that
                        excludes the Larry Bird exception, which allows
                        owners to go over the salary cap to re-sign their own
                        free agents.

                        But the owners got a big boost from arbitrator John
                        Feerick, who ruled Monday that they do not have to
                        pay more than $700 million worth of salaries to 226
                        veterans with guaranteed contracts until a new deal
                        is reached.

                        Feerick's ruling ensures that all players will miss
                        at least one paycheck because the owners canceled the
                        first two weeks of the regular season. More
                        cancellations will be announced next week, when the
                        owners meet in New York.

                        ``Those players who have seen the owners' proposal
                        and understand it are as committed as ever to the
                        idea that we can't take an unfair deal simply because
                        we lost this arbitration,'' union executive director
                        Billy Hunter said. ``I've talked to 50 or so players
                        since the ruling, and not one of them has flinched.
                        They are all supportive.''

                        ``So far, we have more than 120 players confirmed to
                        attend,'' union spokesman Dan Wasserman said. ``These
                        include top stars Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Karl
                        Malone, Shaquille O'Neal, Scottie Pippen, Hakeem
                        Olajuwon, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo.''

                        The agents' advisory committee will meet today with
                        Hunter, and the union negotiating team will discuss
                        options to present to players during the membership
                        meeting Thursday at Caesars Palace.

                        There is talk the union might vote to decertify,
                        opening the door for players with guaranteed
                        contracts to go outside arbitration and sue the
                        owners. But that would result in players missing more
                        paychecks. And for free agents without contracts,
                        especially those earning close to the league minimum
                        last season, an extended lockout aggravates their
                        economic agony.

                        ``The NBA made a decision a long time ago that they
                        really don't care about the fans being upset,'' agent
                        Mark Bartelstein said. ``They don't care about their
                        sponsors being upset. And they clearly don't care
                        about the players. They're going to try to extract
                        the very best deal they can get. And whatever they
                        lose this year, they are willing to lose because they
                        figure they'll make it back many, many times over in
                        the next few years if the players cave in.''

                        But owners aren't the players' only opponents. If the
                        TV networks hadn't bankrolled the owners by
                        guaranteeing payment on their new deal even with no
                        games to televise, the lockout would not have gotten
                        this far.

                        ``Things don't look too good,'' Chicago-based agent
                        Herb Rudoy said. ``My personal opinion is that this
                        thing could easily go into December. [Bulls guard]
                        Steve Kerr is right when he says that the players
                        have been negotiating against themselves.''

                        ``This is not a case where the players are coming in
                        demanding increases and trying to get a sweetheart of
                        a deal,'' Bartelstein said. ``This is a situation
                        where the owners are trying to reach into the
                        players' pockets and take back money they've already
                        put there. They struck a deal, gave players big
                        contracts, then turn around and say, `We don't like
                        the deal anymore. We want our money back.'

                        ``I think that when somebody does that and tries to
                        bully you, you do one of two things. You either back
                        down, let the aggressors take whatever they want and
                        walk home with your head between your legs. Or you
                        stand up for what you believe, fight to win and live
                        with the outcome. You may fight and lose some
                        battles. That's what the players face. But I think
                        they are stronger now than they've ever been.''