By Chris Sheridan NEW YORK — Today, we begin to find out if a neutral third party can end the NBA labor stalemate and save an 82-game season. George H. Cohen of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is scheduled to met separately with owners and players today, then will bring the sides together Tuesday to see if they can bridge their differences and come to an agreement to end the NBA lockout. Commissioner David Stern said last week that if a deal is
Nice pass, Rajon
Lockout Update: Beverly Hills edition
By Chris Sheridan What should have been a day for locked-out NBA players to display unity and strength turned into something quite different as reporters spoke to JaVale McGee of the Washington Wizards near the valet stand at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. some two hours into a three-hour meeting of union leaders and about 30 players. From Greg Beacham of the Associated Press: “There’s definitely some guys in there saying that they’re ready to fold, but … the majority of guys
Sheridan on lockout (with audio) – UPDATED
By Chris Sheridan Sometimes, I feel as though I am doing more media appearances than David Stern. Several NBA writers and broadcasters have taken a liking to this (still relatively new) Web site, and they are spreading the word over the airwaves. On Friday afternoon, I appeared on Sportsnet 590 The Game in Toronto with Eric Smith. Click here to listen to the interview. On Friday evening, I spoke with gomilehigh.com, which disregarded my instructions and sent me too big of an
Lockout update: Morning briefing – UPDATED
By Chris Sheridan Billy Hunter will be in Beverly Hills, Calif. today, expecting to brief about 50 players on the state of negotiations. David Stern will presumably be relatively dormant, because Mount Stern rarely erupts on consecutive days — and Stern went volcanic Thursday with his statement that his “gut” tells him there will be no NBA games by Christmas if a deal isn’t reached by next Tuesday. (UPDATE–Stern went on ESPN radio this morning and repeated his phrase from Monday night
Stern sounding desperate to make a deal
By Chris Sheridan See that headline up above? That is my take on commissioner David Stern’s comments Thursday insisting an NBA labor deal needs to get done next Tuesday, when owners and players meet with a federal mediator. The money quote from Stern, in my mind, was this: ” We’re ready to sit down and make a deal. I don’t believe that the union is. Hopefully by Tuesday, aided by the mediator, they’ll be ready to make a deal. Certainly, I’ll bring my owners ready
Bernucca column: Stupid is as stupid does
By Chris Bernucca This NBA lockout is a 12-inch stupid sandwich. The owners have been stupid in believing they could get back in one negotiation everything they have given away over the last 12 years. The players have been stupid in underestimating the backlash from a fickle fan base hit hard by a nationwide economic malaise. And both sides have been extremely stupid in coming close enough to shake hands, then refusing to with the childish insistence of “You first!” It is another in
President Obama on NBA Lockout
From Sam Gardner of FoxSports Florida.com (click on link for video): On Tuesday — one day after NBA commissioner David Stern announced the first two weeks of the season had been axed — Obama was at a fundraiser in Orlando, Fla., along with Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and president of basketball operations Otis Smith, when the commander in chief offered up a few thoughts on the work stoppage. “The reason I came here is because I’m trying to resolve the NBA lockout,”