Joe Bryant, "Jellybean", father of Lakers
star, Kobe Bryant, is having fun coaching
a Woman's Basketball team called the "Sparks"
and they are doing very well indeed. Kobe
himself has been toying with the idea of
going to Turkey to possibly play with the Besiktas.
Former Laker Sasha Vujacic has been making noises
along those same lines. Another former Laker
player, California's own, Jordan Farmar, has headed
to Israel playing with the Maccabi Tel Aviv team.
During the NBA lockout, these overseas offers have
been floating in enticing players to come & play.
The NBA has actually taken action to sue the players.
During the talks for compromise, it would appear that
part of the provocation is a feeling of unfair labor
practice that is being charged with the National
Labor Relations Board. More than two dozen threats
to dissolve their union under antitrust laws to
secure more favorable terms have been confirmed.
Derek Fisher has been instrumental in the N.Y. talks
to put other options on the table. NFL players de-
certified their union this year and ultimately
resolved a 41/2 mo. labor dispute with their owners
and NBA players are using their same lawyer to make
attempts for their own possible lawsuit. David Stern,
league commissioner, is not optimistic. It seems that
the players willingness to engage in agreements are
not serious since their last meeting on June 30th.
Union chief Billy Hunter, and players Theo Ratliff and
Derek Fisher, are pretty downcast right now after their
N.Y. meeting this past Monday. The players attorney,
Jeffrey Kessler, says this lawsuit is merely a pressure
tactic and that all parties must resign themselves to
reaching an agreement before the 2011-2012 season is in
real jeopardy. Everybody ought to come to the table and
read from the same page and arrive at their conclusions
from the same place. Finally, the leagues' lawsuit also
makes an attempt to secure support for the massive
salary reform, should the union dissolve. It is a sticky wicket.
Babs Wells
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