boutons_deux
02-18-2011, 06:45 AM
Before they can celebrate Derrick Rose’s ascendance, Kevin Durant’s dominance or Blake Griffin’s hang time, the N.B.A.’s brightest minds and brightest players will gather in a hotel conference room and beg one another not to ruin it all.
For the next three days in downtown Los Angeles, the N.B.A. will do what it does best — promote itself, in bold, boisterous strokes. This year’s All-Star party will be staged at Staples Center, home to a dunking virtuoso (Griffin) and the defending champions (the Lakers).
The show begins Friday night with the rookie-sophomore game. On Saturday, Griffin will be the top attraction, as the favorite in the dunk competition. The All-Star Game is Sunday. The Carmelo Anthony trade drama will be ever present.
One meeting may overshadow it all.
Early Friday afternoon, the lead negotiators for the N.B.A. and the players union will hold a bargaining session in Beverly Hills — the latest attempt to break a 12-month stalemate on a new labor deal.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking ever more loudly. The parties have until June 30 to reach a deal or risk a lockout — an eventuality that the union’s executive director, Billy Hunter, has called 99 percent certain.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/sports/basketball/18labor.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
For the next three days in downtown Los Angeles, the N.B.A. will do what it does best — promote itself, in bold, boisterous strokes. This year’s All-Star party will be staged at Staples Center, home to a dunking virtuoso (Griffin) and the defending champions (the Lakers).
The show begins Friday night with the rookie-sophomore game. On Saturday, Griffin will be the top attraction, as the favorite in the dunk competition. The All-Star Game is Sunday. The Carmelo Anthony trade drama will be ever present.
One meeting may overshadow it all.
Early Friday afternoon, the lead negotiators for the N.B.A. and the players union will hold a bargaining session in Beverly Hills — the latest attempt to break a 12-month stalemate on a new labor deal.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking ever more loudly. The parties have until June 30 to reach a deal or risk a lockout — an eventuality that the union’s executive director, Billy Hunter, has called 99 percent certain.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/sports/basketball/18labor.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print