ducks
09-25-2004, 12:42 AM
sports.espn.go.com/nba/co...id=1888291 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/colum...marc&id=1888291)
Referees to report to camp next weekend
NBA referees will report to their training camp in New Jersey next weekend as scheduled after voting Friday to approve the league's latest contract proposal, league sources told ESPN.com.
The vote in Chicago was not unanimous, sources said, but the referees ultimately followed the recommendation of lead negotiator Lamell McMorris to take the offer.
Sources said McMorris convinced his union that NBA commissioner David Stern was prepared to lock out the referees for several months if they did not accept this proposal.
Through his spokesperson, McMorris said he would defer comment until Monday.
"We're hopeful we can announce a deal early next week," NBA spokesman Tim Frank told ESPN.com.
A week ago, the talks verged on collapse after the referees accused the league of adding a handful of 11th-hour clauses to the contract. Among them is a stipulation that the league office can fine the referees' union $1 million and any individual referee $50,000 for "disruptions during the game."
This was the NBA's response to a protest last season when several referees turned their jerseys inside-out and scrawled No. 62 on the backs in support of colleague Michael Henderson, whose error in a Lakers-Nuggets game -- helping Los Angeles to a one-point victory -- was publicly acknowledged by the league.
The "disruptions" clause is a part of the referees' new contract.
If the referees refused the proposal, NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik was prepared to announce plans to hire replacement officials.
The NBA's exhibition season starts Oct. 10.
Referees to report to camp next weekend
NBA referees will report to their training camp in New Jersey next weekend as scheduled after voting Friday to approve the league's latest contract proposal, league sources told ESPN.com.
The vote in Chicago was not unanimous, sources said, but the referees ultimately followed the recommendation of lead negotiator Lamell McMorris to take the offer.
Sources said McMorris convinced his union that NBA commissioner David Stern was prepared to lock out the referees for several months if they did not accept this proposal.
Through his spokesperson, McMorris said he would defer comment until Monday.
"We're hopeful we can announce a deal early next week," NBA spokesman Tim Frank told ESPN.com.
A week ago, the talks verged on collapse after the referees accused the league of adding a handful of 11th-hour clauses to the contract. Among them is a stipulation that the league office can fine the referees' union $1 million and any individual referee $50,000 for "disruptions during the game."
This was the NBA's response to a protest last season when several referees turned their jerseys inside-out and scrawled No. 62 on the backs in support of colleague Michael Henderson, whose error in a Lakers-Nuggets game -- helping Los Angeles to a one-point victory -- was publicly acknowledged by the league.
The "disruptions" clause is a part of the referees' new contract.
If the referees refused the proposal, NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik was prepared to announce plans to hire replacement officials.
The NBA's exhibition season starts Oct. 10.