Junae Benne
Multimedia Journalist
Stern: The Grinch who stole Christmas basketball
It could be months before the Chicago fans get to see their MVP in action. (US PRESSWIRE)
By: Junae Bennett
CSNChicago.com
Director Billy Hunter heard the league will most likely cancel games through Christmas if a deal isn't met by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
All I want for Christmas is the two sides to agree. Even if they do reach an agreement this week, it would take a Christmas miracle to make the regular season games happen promptly.
According to ProBasketballTalk.com the Christmas game is a big deal, being the first game broadcast on national television.
I thought Jim Carrey was the best Grinch until David Stern came along.
The players rejected Stern's ultimatum and they could ignore the deadline and set up another negotiation in the next day.
“We’re open-minded about potential compromises on our (basketball related income) number, but there are things in the system that we have to have,” said union president Derek Fisher.
Fisher is referring to mid-level exception, sign-and-trade for tax payers and the luxury tax itself rather than just the split of revenue as necessities.
The union will not accept salary rollbacks, a smaller revenue share to players and a hard salary cap.
Sources say the players felt there was an aggressive tone in the room and refused to return. There wasn't any talk of decertification of the union, to give the players leverage.
If both sides don't get it together for the Christmas games they will lose all extra revenue, which is what they are fighting to keep.