<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When the Jazz's NBA season ended two months or so ago, co-captain Raja Bell anticipated that a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players union could be reached before the current one expires June 30. He realized a lockout of the workforce by management could occur if no deal was reached before July 1, but did not necessarily fear the 2005-06 season would be adversely impacted even if it came to that. "I think we'll play," Bell said at the time. "I think they'll get it resolved. I hope they get it resolved." Bell uttered what he did then knowing full-well what, when all was sliced and diced, really was at the heart of the divide between the mostly millionaire players and their even-richer team owners. "Money is a corrupting thing sometimes," he said. "It really influences people in bad ways. And haggling over what's pennies to some of these guys, I don't think is really productive. I think we should find a middle ground, and say, 'Let's go.' " Flashing forward, Bell remains hopeful. Late last week, on the eve of an intensive weekend negotiating session that began with 10-plus hours' worth of talk Friday, the soon-to-be free agent addressed the labor dispute during an in-studio appearance on ESPNEWS. "I'm optimistic," he said, "but I'm also a realist. I understand that there are some issues that need to be ironed out."</div> <div align="center">Source</div>
