Still got a month until the season would start anyway. Between deer hunting and baseball, my October dance card is full.
AP got a hold of Derek Fisher's letter to players...................... NEW YORK — Text of a letter players' association president Derek Fisher sent to NBA players Monday that was obtained by The Associated Press: Guys, I write to you from New York where we have had the most recent negotiating sessions, the latest one today. I wanted to keep everyone in the loop on the events of the past few days and since my last update. Before I update you though, I must comment on a letter that has been brought to my attention and drafted by a handful of agents representing you. The letter which I personally read this morning is to their players and had planned to release this afternoon/evening. Your agents represent you, there's a loyalty there and I can appreciate that. I'll never question it, the work they do for you, or the decisions you and they make together. The letter however includes misinformation and unsupported theories. As you would imagine, the agents are not aware of my seeing this ahead of its release. As a player myself, I know that each player should read everything we can. My emails, media reports, letters from their representation, to form an opinion on the situation. Educate yourself, ask questions, do it all. But not all of what you read is fact, you know this, I know this. One issue I need to again be very clear on...nothing can be accepted without a vote by the players. If and when there is a proposal that we feel is in the best interests of us as players, each of you WILL have the opportunity to vote in person. It's in the union bylaws, it's not up for negotiation. You will have the opportunity to see the full proposal before you agree, you will be able to challenge it, question it, anything you feel appropriate in order to know that this is the best deal for you and your fellow players. As far as the negotiations, quite a few guys came out for the meeting on Friday. We met as a group first where we updated the players on the league and owner's position which I have briefed you on previously. Everyone in the room was in agreement, we have been more than fair in our proposals. We then continued into the meeting with David Stern, Adam Silver and the Labor Negotiations Committee including: Jeanie Buss, Peter Holt, Clay Bennett, Jim Dolan, Larry Miller, Robert Sarver, Bob Vanderweide, Glen Taylor and Mickey Arison. It was there that we discussed details of proposals and continued to reiterate our position on several key economic and system issues. At the conclusion of the day's meetings, yet again, it was agreed by the players present, we will continue to negotiate in good faith but what we have offered thus far is fair and reasonable. Talks continued Saturday and again today in smaller groups. Tomorrow, as you may have read, will be another larger negotiating session. Everyone in the regional meetings, Friday's player meeting, and throughout this process has been in support of the position the NBPA has taken. We go into tomorrow's meeting strong, remaining steadfast on the issues we will not be able to move away from. Anyone saying different is not privy to the meetings and is uninformed. Keep the questions, comments and suggestions coming. Stand united. Derek
According to Metta World Peace, the lockout is over. Sadly if it were literally anyone else associated with the NBA saying that I would be excited. Him......not so much
KBergCBS: Amar'e Stoudemire leaves, but meetings still ongoing: "So far, we're making progress, which is great."
Amar'e: "Both sides are confident about getting something done. We're just trying to make sure we work it out."
Still could have a full season....... Both sides in the NBA labor negotiations agree that if the owners and players do not make significant progress in CBA talks soon, then logistics will dictate that the scheduled Nov. 1 start of the regular season will become impossible. The assumption is that, like in the 1998-99 lockout, a delayed start to the season would lead to games being canceled. Is it possible, however, that a full season could simply start later and run deeper into the summer? On Monday, commissioner David Stern did not rule this out. "As we said to the players, everything is negotiable," Stern said after the sides met in small groups Monday in New York for about five hours. Yet, Stern added, "we haven't ever discussed this; it would be really great if we could start the season on time." A shortened season has various drawbacks. Depending on how long it lasts, the loss of games can cut into ticket and corporate sponsorship revenues that the owners and players share. It can also affect TV revenues, which vary on both a national and local level, but are important to both the players and owners. It also is a stain on the league's brand. And if you ask the 1999 champion Spurs, it is also cause for rivals to question the meaning of short-season accomplishments. Shaquille O'Neal famously said the Spurs' title should be marked by an asterisk. While there is merit in finding a way to play a full season, Stern was clear, however, that starting one after Nov. 1 would pose challenges. "Given the building issues with our buildings now pressuring us to allow them to book dates [that are currently being held for NBA games under threat of cancellation], and given the schedule of our TV partners, and given the fact how much household viewing declines after our draft, I'm not sure, how easy that would be," the commissioner said Monday. Owners and players are holding a a full bargaining session Tuesday, knowing if they fail to produce results, there may not be enough time left to avoid canceling regular-season games. Union president Derek Fisher said Monday that a lot of signs pointed to Tuesday as "being a very huge day." His teammate Kobe Bryant was expected to take part, with Boston Celtics stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett among other players joining the union's executive committee. Henry Abbott is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com who founded TrueHoop. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
