Section B·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, October 23,1998
Meeting nears in NBA union talks
November games cancellation likely
The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — Pay-per-view exhibition games, $25,000 licensing checks, the feasibility of a new league and the whereabouts of Michael Jordan were the topics of discussion.
Salary caps, Larry B exceptions and luxury taxes took a back seat.
On the day before at least 170 NBA players are to convene here, their union and 19 player agents talked for three hours. The lockout that has shut down the league continued.
"We'll do whatever it takes to keep the players unified and to make a deal that's fair," agent David Falk said. "It's difficult to understand why there's economic distress in the
league when there are teams in small markets increasing coaches' salaries 300 to 400 percent while they're arguing that 20 percent raises in player salaries would break the bank."
No talks have been held in more than a week, and the league is expected to cancel the remainder of its November schedule. The first two weeks of the season were previously scrapped.
The union's director, Billy Hunter, its president, Patrick Ewing, and the 19 agents complained that the league, which is asking for a hard salary cap, an elimination of the Bird exception and other concessions, has not put forth a proposal worth considering.
"I think there's clearly a deal to be made, but the proposals don't reflect a willingness by the league to be reasonable at this point," Falk said.
The committee also heard from three players who dropped in
Kendall Gill, Malik Sealy and Michael Curry.
"All three of these guys would be
squeezed under the owners' proposed deal, and all three were talking about maintaining unity and resolve," agent Bill Duffy said.
Today, what will probably be the biggest one room assemblage of basketball talent in history, is expected to
assemble. About half the league's players, including Jordan, were convening for an update on the stale-taled talks.
"The message that's going to come loud and clear out of this session is that the players are prepared to hang as long as they have to hang." Hunter said. "As soon as that message arrives home, then I think the NBA owners will be prepared to sit down and engage in good-faith negotiations."
The 19-member agents' committee discussed three plans:
The owners' next move is expected to come out of a meeting Tuesday of the league's Board of Governors, with one representative from each ownership group.
A series of exhibition games to raise money for the union. Hunter said a game to be played today has sold out a 10,000-seat arena at the University of Houston. Another game with many high-profile players was being planned for Las Vegas, perhaps to be televised on pay-per-view, and a third game was being planned for
Japan.
Money for locked-out players. All players are due to receive $25,000 checks Nov. 15 as part of the league's group licensing agreement, and Ewing said many of the wealthiest players would forgo those checks for one year, with lower salaried players then getting an extra $25,000.
Lines of credit have been obtained from two banks and other professional sports unions have pledged loans.
Hunter said there were other options discussed that he did not want to disclose, but some agents said a subcommittee would be formed to explore the feasibility of starting a new league if the lockout forces the cancellation of the entire 1998-99 season.
Hunter added that he was making no predictions as to when talks might resume with commissioner David Stern.
Strawberry up to bat for cancer society
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Darryl Strawberry took a turn at bat for the American Cancer Society in his first public appearance since being released from the hospital after undergoing surgery for colon cancer.
The 36-year-old Yankee slugger was released from the hospital last Friday and had remained at home before he
turned up
Wednesday at a sporting goods store. The store is selling $3.99 "Darryl Strawberry towels," with $1 from each going to cancer research.
"Darryl] Strawberry has stepped up to the plate so many times over the years in critical situations, and today he steps up
Strawberry: Underwent surgery Oct. 3 for colon cancer.
on the plate on behalf of the American Cancer Society and its efforts to get people to learn about colon cancer, to learn about ways of early detection," said Ralph Destino, chairman of the New York City chapter.
On Oct. 3, doctors removed a tumor and a 16-inch section of Strawberry's large intestine. They said he must undergo chemotherapy after he returns next week to California, where he grew up.
Strawberry said that he had continued
to play baseball for two months despite not feeling well, thinking that "if it's not an injury I can see or feel, I'm not going to do anything about it."
He credited his wife, Charisse, with insisting that he get the checkup that revealed the cancer. The lanky slugger visibly lost weight on the hospital's liquid diet.
"I'm very fortunate. I was very lucky to get in at an early stage and realize the problem that I was having," said Strawberry, calling that a lesson for others.
"The best thing I can do is try to let people understand that things do happen, and it can happen to you," he said. "The doctors have educated me very well about this disease."
And since the Yankees swept the San Diego Padres with a 34 victory in Game 4 on Wednesday night, Strawberry was getting ready to celebrate with his teammates.
"The boss (Yankee's owner George Steinbrenner) called me yesterday to tell me to get ready for the parade," said Strawberry, referring to the ticker-tape parade that was tentatively scheduled for Friday.
About 150 people gathered on the sidewalk outside the store, drawn by word-of-mouth that the baseball star was inside. "Dar-ryl! Dar-ryl!" some chanted.
"I knew when he came up with the Mets in 1962 there was something different about him. And the way he comes back — it tells you he's a fighter," said 34-year-old Darrrell Phillips, of the Bronx.
Jaguars have extra incentive in trip to Mile High Stadium
The Associated Press
Doug Flutie might be the worst thing that happened to the Denver Broncos.
By pulling out a win for Buffalo over Jacksonville, Flutie spoiled what would have been a meeting of unbeaten teams at Mile High Stadium. But that provided more incentive for the Jaguars in what has become one of the AFC's most interesting rivalries.
Well, if you look at the schedule, this week is one of perhaps two or three remaining games that Denver might lose, which is favored by 71/2 points.
Is it too early to say the Broncos will remain undefeated?
The Broncos have every right to be wary.
Two seasons ago, they were the top seed in the AFC playoffs but lost their first playoff game to Jacksonville — at home— 30-27.
Last season, Denver got revenge, beating the Jays 42-17 and going on to win the Super Bowl. That playoff victory was the second in what is now an 11-game winning streak for the Broncos, who have outscored their opposition 203-109 this season.
The Jags, who expect to have Fred Taylor return at running back, were stung by last week's loss in Bufalo on the drive engineered by Flutie in the final 1:50.
But this could be close.
"To slip from a win to a loss like that is certainly a very uncomfortable feel." coach TOM Coughlin said. "I hope all our players will join with me in despair the feeling and wanting to do something about it."
Doing something in Denver isn't easy, particularly with the Broncos coming off a bye week in which John Elway's hamstring got better.
but Coughlin is a Bill Parcelsis discipline, and Parcels pulled off an upset Monday night.
BRONCOS,24-20
New England at Miami
A critical game for both teams.
DOLPHINS, 12:10
Pittsburgh at Kansas City (Monday night)
The Chiefs, who beat the Steelers 13-10 last year in a
Monday night game at home, have to recover from the loss in New England two weeks ago. CHIEFS, 16-13
Minnesota at Detroit
Baltimore at Green Bay
Who knows with the Lions? But they traditionally have played well at home against good teams. The Vikings are due.
LIONS 31-28
The Packers have lost in streaks the past few years — streak over at two. PACKERS.24-10
Atlanta at New York Jets
- Atlanta at New York Jets
Steve DeBerg probably will be Atlanta's quarterback.
Deal with the known.
JETS 24-14
San Francisco at St. Louis
San Francisco at St. Louis
After the close call against the Colts, the 'Niners will be ready.
49ERS 37-13
Seattle at San Diego
■ Seattle at San Diego
The Seahawks get back to the easy part of the schedule.
SEAHAWKS, 24-6
Chicago at Tennessee
The Bears always keep it close.
OILERS, 17.13
■ Buffalo at Carolina
Doug Flutie over Steve Beuerlein.
BILLS, 20:17
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
Tampa Bay at New Orleans How soon before Kerry Collins starts for the Saints? BUCS, 13-6
Cincinnati at Oakland Teams too schizophrenic to pick. Tie, 10-10
Oakland Raiders coach says he regrets drunk-driving incident
ALAMEDA, Calif. — A day after being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden expressed regret for the incident.
The Associated Press
"I've apologized to the team," Gruden said Wednesday. "I've apologized to the Raiders' organization. And I'd like to apologize to Raiders fans. I've learned something."
A blood test taken at the time of his arrest showed Gruden had a blood-alcohol level of 10, a spokeswoman for the Alameda County district attorney's office said Wednesday. The legal limit is .08.
Gruden, who could face up to six months in jail and a fine if convicted, was arrested while driving home a week ago from a party following his team's 7-6 victory against the San Diego Chargers.
and is due to appear for arraignment Nov. 6 in Alameda County Superior Court in Pleasanton on the misdemeanor charge. That is two days before the Raiders play the Rayens in Baltimore.
The California Highway Patrol said Gruden was speeding by about 15 or 20 mph and straddling lanes when he was arrested. He was held at the Santa Rita Jail for about three hours.
court records showed the arresting officer described him as "uncooperative."
The patrol initially reported Gru
Gruden was charged Tuesday
den was cooperative when he was arrested. However, the Contra Costa Times reported today that
Gruden failed
all five field sobriety tests and had
red, watery eyes and slurred his
speech. He initially denied he had
been drinking, then admitted he
had drunk three beers, the report said.
Gruden, who at 35 is the youngest coach in the NFL, also could face disciplinary action by the league.
"If an NFL employee is involved in an alcohol-related violation of the law, he or she could face possible disciplinary action by the commissioner," said Leslie Hammond, director of media services for the NFL. Such disciplinary action could include a fine.
Baseball at its best this year
By Ed Schuylor Jr.
The Associated Press
When the sports pages and the sportscasts are full of agents' extravagant demands and veiled threats, fans can think about the magnificent home-run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
Baseball fans will have something good to look back on this winter.
Making the memories especially savory is the fact that McGwire and Sosa acted like heroes and not like celebrities.
Fans can reminisce about the perfect game of the Yankees' David Wells or the 20 strikeouts by the Cubs' Kerry Wood.
In New York, where a lot of the off-season news will be about George Steinbrenner's threats to move the Yankees if he doesn't get a new stadium, fans can talk about the Mets' unsuccessful battle for the playoffs and the Yankees' super display of team play.
Of course, in the Big Apple, the future of the Yankees could somewhat dampen memories of the team's glorious year. With his team out of the news, Steinbrenner will make sure he's in it as he whines about how the Yankees should get a new $1 billion stadium in Manhattan.
Forget about Yankee Stadium being an historic site that rivals the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Steinbrenner talks about Yankees tradition, but when it's tradition vs. luxury boxes, tradition doesn't stand a chance.
But whatever the owners, the agents and the players do during the off-season, the past season will long be remembered as one when "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" was a swingin' tune again because The Game itself was the centerpiece.
McGwire and Sosa expanded the game to grab the attention of non-fans — heroes at a time when heroes are in short supply.
The Yankees' dominance helped rather than hindered the sport's popularity. It's just as much fun to root against a winner as to root for one.
And much remembered by Yankee lovers — and especially by Yankee haters — will be Chuck Knoblauch's high goof of arguing an umpire's call instead of going after the ball a few feet behind first base as a Cleveland runner circled the bases and scored. Plays such as that become threads in the rich tenstery of baseball.
Everything went right for The Game this year. The fight for the wild-card spot in the National League provided an exciting race right to the end of the season, and the playoffs provided the combination of good pitching and clutch hitting.
OK, so the television ratings were off for the World Series, but that's because the playoffs have made the World Series anticlimacytic — sort of how NFL playoffs sometimes make the SuperBowl anticlimacytic.
To sustain interest as long as it has in a season than runs too long and too deep into the football season is a tribute to just how special baseball was in 1998.
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