Sports generally and the NBA specifically have always been pioneers, years ahead of society when it comes to racial issues. Black players entered the NFL in 1946, MLB in 1947 and the NBA in 1951, all more before Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954 and over a decade ahead of the pivotal civil rights events of the 1960s. The NBA has continued to be a leader with more African-American players, coaches, GMs and owners than any other league. Even the fans
NEW YORK — Owners and players will met again Friday, which is 30 days before Christmas. And since commissioner David Stern has said it will take approximately 30 days from the date a handshake agreement is reached until the season can start, Friday is going to be a pivotal day. But with that being said, if a handshake is reached Saturday or Sunday, 29 or 28 days will suffice. A couple of clarifications are in order, based on what I am hearing. _
Miss the NBA yet? Believe it or not, my wife does. She has a job with a long commute that usually gets her home around 9 p.m. By that time, my son and I have commandeered the TV and are bouncing back and forth on League Pass, trying to watch the fourth quarter of all the early games. Normally, she walks in while we are shouting at the TV about a great play or a blown defensive assignment or a missed call.
NEW YORK — He is a close-talker and a loud-talker whose voice can be the verbal equivalent of fingernails on a chalkboard. David Stern has called his behavior “routinely despicable,” and on more than one occasion he has commandeered the post-meeting news briefings to incessantly spew vitriol at the NBA owners with whom he has been butting heads. He is Jeffrey Kessler, the lead outside counsel for what used to be known as the National Basketball Players Association, and he is
NEW YORK — At a certain point, this game of telephone chicken has to end. I made that point yesterday on NBCSportsTalk in the video posted above, and I’ll make it again on Day 141 of the NBA lockout (or “boycott” if we use David Boies’ preferred term.) NBA commissioner David Stern spoke on the phone yesterday with the league’s Board of Governors, and Stern can wake up this morning patting himself on the back over the fact that no details of
NEW YORK — Good morning. Hope you got some sleep. I didn’t get much, and I imagine Jeffrey Kessler didn’t either. Kessler, the lead outside counsel for NBA players (he performs the same role for NFL players) was practically foaming at the mouth in the wee hours of the a.m. after David Stern and Derek Fisher had conducted their respective news conferences in the most diplomatic tones they could muster. The moment Fisher left the room, Kessler started venting. Loudly. And he didn’t let