FUBAR, Excruciating, Manipulated.
These were all terms that I used to describe the search for the new Executive Director of the NBPA. The process that was used to replace Billy Hunter was full of twists and turns, intrigue, and uncertainty. It lasted way too long and was managed clumsily.
There was a vote that wasn’t, then a do-over when word circulated about a seemingly forced outcome. At the end of the day the final vote was done hastily amid protest. Then, against all expectations, they hired a woman for the job.
Sounds like a pro sports reality show, which it was.
The new leader’s name is Michele Roberts and she will do a terrific job for the players. While she has the benefit of a low bar due to the actions of her predecessor, she won’t need any devices to show her stuff. Once you meet her, her quality is obvious.
Those of us who are player advocates can be optimistic that there is finally a union head in place who will put the players first and lead the organization from that point of view.
She is the anti-Billy. I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with her earlier this week discussing Association business and the Hunter years. I found her warm and engaging, desirous of learning all she can about the current state of affairs. But don’t be fooled, there were a couple of times where she demonstrated a real fire that served her well in her legal career. She thrived in that male-dominated field and will do so in this one.
She has quite a mess to clean up. She inherited a skeleton office that is severely undermanned with the remnants of the old staff. The good news is that those still left are re-energized as a positive vibe has returned for the first time in many years.
Her immediate challenges are many. She has to (in no particular order):
• Introduce herself to 450 players in 30 cities.
• Meet several hundred agents.
• Staff up her organization.
• Transform the culture of the Association
• Triage the current state of affairs.
That’s the small stuff. From the business side she needs to:
• Understand the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Group License Agreement and many other business documents.
• Move the union’s offices from Harlem to midtown Manhattan to be more efficiently located.
• Essentially rebuild the entire organization.
• Create an organization that is compelling for her clients, the players.
And in the middle of this the league drops into the mix a massive new TV deal that will change the league in many important ways not even considered yet.
Sounds like a job for Superman (just an expression).
Roberts plans on transforming the office so completely that comparisons to Hunter quickly become meaningless. She says that she will put an entire executive team in place. Billy held all of the control himself. She will be enrolling the players by getting their buy-in on the value of the Association. Recent events have shown widespread player apathy. She lists this as one of her most important priorities. A strong, unified, and committed player group will be the foundation needed to have the appropriate leverage for the next round of bargaining. If players don’t convince the owners that they have the resolve to stick together during a play stoppage, then her job is almost impossible. History has shown that staying power is more important than being right.
She will be fully prepared to take on the new CBA negotiations when the deal blows up. While she is someone who will make a strong partner in the league business to the benefit of the players, I’ll go ahead and say she is more than capable of holding her own in the trenches of CBA negotiations.
It’s amazing how in the short time since David Stern retired there has been Sterling, Ballmer, the Hawks, a new TV deal, and Michele Roberts. Soon on the heels of those developments may be a new CBA.
It’s a whole new ballgame, and for the first time in a long time the players side will be properly represented.
MORE COLUMNS FROM DANNY SCHAYES
Danny Schayes is a Director of Business Optimization at Intensity and a leader in the business of professional sports. Schayes frequently advises sports organizations in complex business matters that include contract negotiations, pricing strategy, marketing optimization, and executive leadership. Follow him on Twitter.