NBA Notes of Interest

Staff members from the NBA and players'
association met and top negotiators from
both sides are huddled in talks.
A small group from each side took part
over a few hours on Wednesday. Today
commissioner David Stern, deputy commissioner
Adam Silver and other top negotiators
from the league will then meet with
executive director Derek Fisher of the Lakers
team. He will be flying to New York tonight for an
overnight and it is believed others will be with
him from the union. Players and owners are still
clashing over the salary-cap structure as the
lockout that began July 1st reaches an important
stage. Training camps are expected to be open
October 3rd but that could easily become postponed
with no deal this week.
Ron Artest (Laker) has now officially changed his
name to be Metta World Peace so it is rumored "Peace"
will be now showing on the back of his jersey.
Ron claims he picked that name to inspire and bring
youth together around the world. He also went on
the T.V. Show "Dancing with the Stars" and did not
do so well as he was eliminated from the show already.
Wrapping up regarding the NBA solution
of hard-line owners and the myopia of the players
union for an NBA collective bargaining agreement,
really is not all that complicated and ought to be
settled and tied up soon. (Just not too tightly).
For one thing, Derek Fisher has invited DeMaurice
Smith of the NFL players' Association to speak
during the meeting today (Thursday)
about the need for solidarity. Also, Fisher
pleaded for patience and unity in an email to
his fellow players. He told them it is the owners
that are divided and not the players - that they
are unified. He claimed also to continue to
reiterate that very point.
And so we listen carefully Re: our NBA Saga and hope for
positive results.
Babs Wells