The day after the NBA's All-Star weekend came to a close, we're left with mere impressions of the events. None was compelling enough to cite in total so we get to remember snippets of action: the final few minutes of the actual All-Star game when defense and steals were practiced by some, missed dunks during a Slam Dunk contest, old guys dominating the youngsters in the skills contest (Steve Nash the victor) and the three-point shooting contest (Paul Pierce the winner) and Shakira in a cage, lip syncing her music.
The real meat and potatoes of the weekend, other than Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban being able to announce the 100,000+ attendance figure, actually happened behind closed doors. After they were opened we were treated to the news that the first proposal for new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) terms from the NBA to its players union asked for everything plus the kitchen sink.
Whether or not there is truth to the report that the proposal itself was physically ripped up by the owners after its rejection by the union, it might as well have been. The union blasted it so hard that the mild-mannered union president, Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers had this to say: "I think what we made clear today is that where they are is not relevant to where we are. We're not going to begin where they say begin."
At the last minute some of the game's biggest stars decided to crash the party to observe and lend support to their representatives. LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Carmelo Anthony made an appearance, which is in their best interest, of course, but shows that they understand what is at stake for them and their fellow players.
The players' union director, Billy Hunter, blasted the terms proposed by saying they would affect "every player at every level in the NBA" and included "everything that (management) could ever think of."
The AP was told by someone that saw the league's list of wants and desires that they included reducing the percentage of revenue paid to players from 57% to under 50%, installing a hard salary cap, guaranteeing only half the years under a player's deal, and reducing the maximum salary number, as well as the maximum number of years for any one contract.
Oh yeah, and my personal favorite, the fact that if the deal is done ahead of schedule and prior to the commencement of the 2010 season, the owners expect the new terms to cover contracts signed at that time. You know, the summer when LeBron James and Dwayne Wade are available for schmoozing? The owners proposed the terms kick in a season early, just to show their appreciation that the negotiations wouldn't end in a stalemate.
Well, I guess that about sums up where the owners are. But what about the players? We'll see what the proposal looks like when it gets lobbed across the table.
Read Paula's daily sports stories at examiner.com