Kori Ellis
02-11-2005, 03:15 AM
Players union opposed to hard salary cap
By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post Staff Writer
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~90~2705192,00.html
New York - NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter is behind schedule.
By this time in most seasons he has given a state of the union speech to every NBA team. And with talks ongoing for a new collective bargaining agreement, the players are eager to get his take on the upcoming negotiations. But following the Nov. 19 fight between Indiana Pacers and Detroit fans, Hunter spent most of his time trying to help his players. Even so, he is hopeful that there won't be a repeat of the 1999 NBA lockout next season.
Following is a recent question-and-answer session with Hunter about a wide variety of NBA issues.
Question: How do you think society views NBA players?
Answer: It's hard to say. What the league refers to is a bunch of surveys from The Sports Business Journal and ESPN. And according to those surveys, NBA players have the least positive image from the fans as compared to other professional sports. To what extent that is true or not or what questions were asked, I don't know.
I just saw the commissioner (say) attendance was up, TV ratings are up, the economics (of the league) are up. I don't know how you then contrast it with the polls that have been conducted.
Q: How concerned are you about the players' image?
A: I'm always concerned. I don't think we can ever do too much to promote a positive image of the players. This is our livelihood. My livelihood. The players' livelihood. Where else can the players be paid with the levels to which they're paid to do something they like? This is every player's dream.
Q: Where do the talks stand on a new collective bargaining agreement?
A: It's status quo. The talks are amicable. Not a lot of hostility. We are each somewhat adamant. We both indicated what we need and what we want. The question is now trying to find some common ground.
Q: Are you optimistic that next season will start on time?
A: Yeah, I'm optimistic. I know that the circumstances, the parameters in which we are negotiating, are not as dire or extreme as they were back in '98. It's just a question of how soon or how seriously anxious the owners are to make a deal.
Q: What is the difference between where you were at this point in 1998, before the lockout, and today?
A: I think the circumstances were much more extreme in '98. (Then) the (NBA) called for a hard (salary) cap. ... They thought the players were making too much and it resulted in a seven-month lockout.
Q: And today?
A: The deal is generally working. If anything, the players' share of revenue is up. The owners are making money. ... That having been said, the players granted such major concessions the last time out, that to expect any major concessions this time is irresponsible.
Q: What does the players' union want?
A: Eliminate the luxury tax. Greater flexibility of player movement. Maintain the success we've gotten through the litigation as it relates to action taken by the commissioner. Those are the biggies.
Q: Is there anything the NBA wants that you are opposed to?
A: When you consider the owners' proposal in general or total, we've indicated before that we are not willing to accept a hard (salary) cap.
Q: Can you reflect on the Nov. 19 incident when Detroit fans fought with Indiana Pacers players?
A: I view it as being unfortunate, as being obviously an incident I wish we could have avoided. I don't think it carries the weight of all the attention it got. Even on The Weather Channel they were playing snippets of the fight. I don't think it's going to be a lasting black eye.
Q: While Pacers Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson had their suspensions levied by the NBA reduced by an arbitrator, Ron Artest's season-long suspension stood. Your thoughts?
A: I still contend that the punishment imposed on Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson was just excessive. I think there were a series of events leading up to it that motivated the commissioner to take the action that he took. I think it was a rush to judgment. I think he kind of overreacted. I think he felt a need to reassure the vendors and those folk that pay all this money and have a relationship with the NBA to promote, sell and brand their products, the TV networks and the fan base that someone was in control. He was in control.
Q: Were you surprised the arbitrator did not reduce Ron Artest's suspension?
A: I was discouraged by the fact he didn't. The case cried for that kind of relief. I think the reason why he did what he did, he knew his decision was going to be reviewed by a court. The NBA was going to challenge it. He probably took the path of least resistance.
Q: How did you feel about the media coverage of the fight?
A: I think people get caught up in the whole black-white racial exchange. But if you do it lawyer-like and break it down and study it, you say, "Wow, wait a minute." Everyone got emotionally distraught. It looked like a wild melee. But in retrospect, it wasn't as bad as it appeared. The worst part is when Jermaine and the folks are leaving the court when people are throwing all kinds of missiles on them from up in the stands. ... Whatever happened to security? Can fans just do anything with impunity? What happens is the players get scapegoated.
Q: If something like this happened in a different sport, do you think the media coverage would have been the same?
A: No, I don't. It's just the nature of the beast. Sports are a microcosm of the system. When I read the papers, black celebrities, black athletes, black people of stature tend to get different treatment than other folks do.
Q: What do you think the players need to do more of to improve their image?
A: The players probably need to engage a little better with the fans. There should be a little more outreach by the players. More fan-friendly. It takes so little effort to sign an autograph, smile or wave or shake a fan's hand. You've got to do more than just come on the court and dribble.
Q: What do you think of having an age limit put into the collective bargaining agreement?
A: I've obviously been against the imposition of an age limit beyond the one we currently have that a kid has to graduate from high school. After that, they can fight in the war, go to work, go to college, they can get married. They can do whatever they want. So why can't they play basketball in the NBA?
Q: What do you think of the talent of the players in the NBA today?
A: I think the players are more athletic than ever. I think the one thing that I see that's different is we just don't have the abundance of shooters on these teams as in past years.
By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post Staff Writer
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~90~2705192,00.html
New York - NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter is behind schedule.
By this time in most seasons he has given a state of the union speech to every NBA team. And with talks ongoing for a new collective bargaining agreement, the players are eager to get his take on the upcoming negotiations. But following the Nov. 19 fight between Indiana Pacers and Detroit fans, Hunter spent most of his time trying to help his players. Even so, he is hopeful that there won't be a repeat of the 1999 NBA lockout next season.
Following is a recent question-and-answer session with Hunter about a wide variety of NBA issues.
Question: How do you think society views NBA players?
Answer: It's hard to say. What the league refers to is a bunch of surveys from The Sports Business Journal and ESPN. And according to those surveys, NBA players have the least positive image from the fans as compared to other professional sports. To what extent that is true or not or what questions were asked, I don't know.
I just saw the commissioner (say) attendance was up, TV ratings are up, the economics (of the league) are up. I don't know how you then contrast it with the polls that have been conducted.
Q: How concerned are you about the players' image?
A: I'm always concerned. I don't think we can ever do too much to promote a positive image of the players. This is our livelihood. My livelihood. The players' livelihood. Where else can the players be paid with the levels to which they're paid to do something they like? This is every player's dream.
Q: Where do the talks stand on a new collective bargaining agreement?
A: It's status quo. The talks are amicable. Not a lot of hostility. We are each somewhat adamant. We both indicated what we need and what we want. The question is now trying to find some common ground.
Q: Are you optimistic that next season will start on time?
A: Yeah, I'm optimistic. I know that the circumstances, the parameters in which we are negotiating, are not as dire or extreme as they were back in '98. It's just a question of how soon or how seriously anxious the owners are to make a deal.
Q: What is the difference between where you were at this point in 1998, before the lockout, and today?
A: I think the circumstances were much more extreme in '98. (Then) the (NBA) called for a hard (salary) cap. ... They thought the players were making too much and it resulted in a seven-month lockout.
Q: And today?
A: The deal is generally working. If anything, the players' share of revenue is up. The owners are making money. ... That having been said, the players granted such major concessions the last time out, that to expect any major concessions this time is irresponsible.
Q: What does the players' union want?
A: Eliminate the luxury tax. Greater flexibility of player movement. Maintain the success we've gotten through the litigation as it relates to action taken by the commissioner. Those are the biggies.
Q: Is there anything the NBA wants that you are opposed to?
A: When you consider the owners' proposal in general or total, we've indicated before that we are not willing to accept a hard (salary) cap.
Q: Can you reflect on the Nov. 19 incident when Detroit fans fought with Indiana Pacers players?
A: I view it as being unfortunate, as being obviously an incident I wish we could have avoided. I don't think it carries the weight of all the attention it got. Even on The Weather Channel they were playing snippets of the fight. I don't think it's going to be a lasting black eye.
Q: While Pacers Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson had their suspensions levied by the NBA reduced by an arbitrator, Ron Artest's season-long suspension stood. Your thoughts?
A: I still contend that the punishment imposed on Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson was just excessive. I think there were a series of events leading up to it that motivated the commissioner to take the action that he took. I think it was a rush to judgment. I think he kind of overreacted. I think he felt a need to reassure the vendors and those folk that pay all this money and have a relationship with the NBA to promote, sell and brand their products, the TV networks and the fan base that someone was in control. He was in control.
Q: Were you surprised the arbitrator did not reduce Ron Artest's suspension?
A: I was discouraged by the fact he didn't. The case cried for that kind of relief. I think the reason why he did what he did, he knew his decision was going to be reviewed by a court. The NBA was going to challenge it. He probably took the path of least resistance.
Q: How did you feel about the media coverage of the fight?
A: I think people get caught up in the whole black-white racial exchange. But if you do it lawyer-like and break it down and study it, you say, "Wow, wait a minute." Everyone got emotionally distraught. It looked like a wild melee. But in retrospect, it wasn't as bad as it appeared. The worst part is when Jermaine and the folks are leaving the court when people are throwing all kinds of missiles on them from up in the stands. ... Whatever happened to security? Can fans just do anything with impunity? What happens is the players get scapegoated.
Q: If something like this happened in a different sport, do you think the media coverage would have been the same?
A: No, I don't. It's just the nature of the beast. Sports are a microcosm of the system. When I read the papers, black celebrities, black athletes, black people of stature tend to get different treatment than other folks do.
Q: What do you think the players need to do more of to improve their image?
A: The players probably need to engage a little better with the fans. There should be a little more outreach by the players. More fan-friendly. It takes so little effort to sign an autograph, smile or wave or shake a fan's hand. You've got to do more than just come on the court and dribble.
Q: What do you think of having an age limit put into the collective bargaining agreement?
A: I've obviously been against the imposition of an age limit beyond the one we currently have that a kid has to graduate from high school. After that, they can fight in the war, go to work, go to college, they can get married. They can do whatever they want. So why can't they play basketball in the NBA?
Q: What do you think of the talent of the players in the NBA today?
A: I think the players are more athletic than ever. I think the one thing that I see that's different is we just don't have the abundance of shooters on these teams as in past years.