NBA cancels first 2 weeks of season

[Dr. Jack]

NEW YORK -- Saying he was sad and sorry, NBA commissioner David Stern canceled the first two weeks of the season Monday after players and owners were unable to reach a new labor deal to end the lockout.

"The gap is so significant that we just can't bridge it at this time," said Stern, who added it's doubtful a full 82-game season can be played.

"We certainly hoped it would never come to this," he said of the NBA's first work stoppage since the 1998-99 season was reduced to 50 games.

“

NBA The gap is so significant that we just can't bridge it at this time.
” -- NBA commissioner David Stern

"This is not where we choose to be," union president Derek Fisher said. "We're not at a place where a fair deal can be reached with the NBA."

With just three weeks remaining before the start of the season, top negotiators for both sides met for more than seven hours Monday but were unable to reach an agreement.

The two sides expect to remain in contact, but no additional formal talks have been scheduled.

Stern said both sides are "very far apart on virtually all issues. ... We just have a gulf that separates us."

Opening night was scheduled for Nov. 1, and the cancellation includes all games scheduled to be played through Nov. 14. Affected arenas have been authorized to release dates for those dates.

NBA Labor -- David Stern cancels first two weeks of NBA season - ESPN

[NightCap424]

good....NBA is the most boring/predictable professional sport IMO

[bdgear]

they can cancel the whole season for all i care.

[revnecro1273]

good

[Windy City Irish]

good. when these broke ass players who have spent all their money and not been smart with it are not getting paychecks anymore we will see who blinks...

[WildKat]

Originally Posted by bdgear

they can cancel the whole season for all i care.

amen

[Andre]

Gonna piss away all the momentum that they made the past few years, unreal

[Fanz]

Sad really, the first two weeks were really the only two weeks I cared about until the conference finals. Hopefully the NHL can take advantage of this situation.

[dave nz]

Very disappointing, but expected

[mrmarket]

Hopefully they can negotiate something so i can bet on these overpriced fools phoning it in during the regular season.

[grzftbl]

I know there's quite a few issues but money has to be one of the main ones. What I don't get is Kobe saying he'd play in Italy for $X. The last I heard he'd play only if the team he signed w/ shared the profits of him playing there w/ the other teams in the league.

And then Tony Parker says he'll play in France for $2,000/month.

With this thinking from the players, I say fukk 'em. They'll play somewhere else for $2,000/month then why the hell won't they play here for MILLIONS a year?

[Quiksilver]

What's really interesting is how little people seem to care about it compared to when the NFL was going through its labor issues.

[cali]

Originally Posted by grzftbl

I know there's quite a few issues but money has to be one of the main ones. What I don't get is Kobe saying he'd play in Italy for $X. The last I heard he'd play only if the team he signed w/ shared the profits of him playing there w/ the other teams in the league.

And then Tony Parker says he'll play in France for $2,000/month.

With this thinking from the players, I say fukk 'em. They'll play somewhere else for $2,000/month then why the hell won't they play here for MILLIONS a year?

Tony Parker is the owner or an owner of the team he is playing for in France. That is why he is willing to play for 2k a week.

[grzftbl]

He should play for free then.

[MightyMike]

I said before i did not think they could be that stupid but i guess i was wrong they can be that stupid