This night when they try to save the start of the NBA regular season was supposed to be the first day of preseason games.
NBA and union began meeting at 6pm. Conflicting info about how it came together, but told it was not based on owners softening on 50-50.
My sources had sex with an NBA player and are all aglow about it. But to get back on topic (not back on an NBA player), I doubt anything gets done tonight. Somebody on Twitter said that this was probably so the owners could say "we tried!"
Stein........ In his latest letter to NBA players, union prez Derek Fisher urges all players to attend Monday afternoon meeting in LA "if at all possible"
Stein........ Fisher letter SUN night, obtained by ESPN.com, also reveals he and CP3 will on MON tweet same "LET US PLAY" mantra seen from NFL players
KBergCBS........ #NBA meetings has passed roughly the 2-hour mark. The last of the parties to arrive went up to meeting at 6:15, sources say
Stein........ Easier to get excited about call of all players to LA (implying big development) if union letter didn't go so big on "LET US PLAY"
daldridgetnt....... Representing union: Hunter, Fisher, union VP Mo Evans (Wizards), attorneys Jeff Kessler, Ron Klempner, Jared Alula. Could be a while, folks.
ChrisMannixSI....... Letter encourages players to tweet to show unity and remind the fans that they want to play.
And be paid like kings while doing so. Sigh. It won't work on the fans. The NBA has an image problem that the NFL doesn't have. Both have their fair share of "thugs", but the players in the NBA come off as more greedy and lazy imo. They don't play through nearly the kind of injuries NFL players do. People also know the contracts in the NBA are guaranteed, while in the NFL payers are cut when they don't produce(how it should be). It pretty much boils down to people think NFL players earn their money while NBA players sit out games with toothaches and miss whole seasons while still collecting their paycheck.
The fans don't give a shit either way. But there is one fact that the Players should (and do) continually point out: they are LOCKED OUT by the owners. The owners, any one of whom is richer than the ten richest players, and who have mostly "earned" their fortunes by various real estate shenanigans or dubious flukes of the market. Exactly how did Jerry Buss "earn" his millions? And don't even bring up Donald Sterling.
NEW YORK -- As top officials from the National Basketball Players' Association and NBA convene in New York for a last-ditch effort to preserve the full 2011-12 season, union president Derek Fisher issued a letter to all players urging them show their unity via social media and to attend another meeting out West. SI.com got a hold of Fisher's letter, which was set out one day before the NBA plans to cancel the first two weeks of the regular season if a new collective bargaining agreement has not been reached. Fisher encouraged all players to attend an NBPA meeting in Los Angeles on Monday, and to utilize "our personal social networking channels to show the fans and you all, that we are united and want to get back to work under a fair deal." Below is the full letter. The bold text was formatted by Fisher: All, I hope you all received Billy's letter regarding meetings on both coasts. You are all invited and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Los Angeles meeting taking place tomorrow, Monday, October 10th in the afternoon. I urge each of you to attend if at all possible. We find these meetings extremely productive and informative as we review the status and details of the CBA negotiations, answer questions and discuss next steps. Chris Paul and I will also be utilizing our personal social networking channels to show the fans and you all, that we are united and want to get back to work under a fair deal. On Monday, Chris and I will tweet and post "LET US PLAY." This was used by the NFL players and many will be joining us on Monday and retweeting the same message to show their support for our players. I will also be using the hash tag #StandUnited after all my messages until this lockout is over. We invite you each to do the same. To show our unity and to remind the fans that this is not our choice and we would like to go back to work and play the game they love to support. My twitter is @DerekFisher and Chris' is @OneandOnlyCP3. Please feel free to send me yours so we can support each other. Again, look forward to seeing any and all of you on Monday at the meeting. Contact me in the meantime if you need anything. Stand united. Derek
daldridgetnt......... A few things to keep in mind while we wait 4 white or black smoke: the sides are $120M apart (50% proposal from owners, 53% from players).
daldridgetnt.......... That is, from the owners' perspective, about $4 million/team/yr--or less than the first-year cost of one mid-level exception.
daldridgetnt....... They are already guaranteed at least $160M/year in salary givebacks, or more than $5M/team/year. And it will certainly be more than that.
Missing the first two weeks of the season will cost them more then they will make up in the new CBA. I think if they have to cancel games it will be a very long lockout because they will want even more from the players
What the hell are they talking about now at 10pm on a Sunday night that they couldn't have discussed during a decent hour last week?
