David Stern

[Yogi]

David Stern:  “There’s really nothing left to negotiate about. This is best attempt by NBA to address concerns the players expressed.”
"We are giving PA time to review proposal. After their board meeting, if no agreement, we will reset offer to 47% BRI & flex cap"
David Stern:  "We haven't seen Mr. Boies complaint yet but it's a shame that the players have chosen to litigate instead of negotiate. They warned us from the early days of these negotiations that they would sue us if we didn't satisfy them at the bargaining table and they appear to have followed through on their threats."

[Q_FBE]

David Stern needs to be replaced as NBA commissioner. David Stern is all about David Stern instead of solving the NBA problems.

Bill Hunter needs to be taken in the back alley and shot.

This lockout is an epic fail in labor negotiations, people skills and whatnot.

This is a TRAVESTY!

[PosImpos]

Bill Hunter needs to be taken in the back alley and shot.

Woah there.  Woah.


Let's at least be subtle about our violently exaggerated angry proclamations . . . let's say, instead, that it looks like maybe Bill Hunter, at least as far as representing the union in these negotiations is concerned, needs to go the way of Old Yeller.

[manl_lui]

I don't blame Stern at all, I think hes doing a good job representing the owners...

This guy is a great businessman

[Bankshot]

I'm so sick of Stern!   I wish they would replace him.

[Eja117]

Bill Hunter needs to be taken in the back alley and shot.

Woah there.  Woah.


Let's at least be subtle about our violently exaggerated angry proclamations . . . let's say, instead, that it looks like maybe Bill Hunter, at least as far as representing the union in these negotiations is concerned, needs to go the way of Old Yeller.

Yeah, but nobody actually wanted to take out Old Yeller and we all cried. This is totally different.

[Celtics4ever]

I hate Stern because of the closed door lottery and his dirty refs.   I respect him as a businessman though.  He is a marketing genius.   I think he is doing the best he can do given the situation.  Greedy owners on one side and Greedy players on the other, it's a no win for both sides too.

[Roy H.]

I hate Stern because of the closed door lottery and his dirty refs. 

Is there a better way to do the lottery, though?  When it was done "live", but with envelopes, there were conspiracy theories.  Now, with the ping pong balls -- where the process is watched behind closed doors by auditors and team representatives -- there are conspiracy theories.

The only reason the lottery is done how it is now is because of drama.  Seeing the teams counted down in reverse order of finish, all the way down to the #1 pick, is more dramatic than the alternative. 

I mean, here's how the current system works:  four machines each pop out a ping pong ball, numbered 0 to 9.  That generates four numbers, which results in 1001 different combinations of numbers (the order of the numbers as drawn doesn't matter).  That four number combination is then matched up against the combinations that each team holds; the worst team is given 250 combinations of numbers, etc.  The drawing is done first for the #1 pick, then the #2, then the #3.

That's just not an exciting process.  It can be long, boring, and confusing for fans.  The decision to go with something simpler, while trusting auditors and team officials, is a decision by Stern that I agree with.

[mgent]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRDV7ltMhuM
*

[Celtics4ever]

Do the balls out in public.   There is no reason to have them behind closed doors.  Of course, the team with a new arena might not get the draw then but it would be in the open.   I am a big fan of transparency.

[Roy H.]

Do the balls out in public.   There is no reason to have them behind closed doors.  Of course, the team with a new arena might not get the draw then but it would be in the open.   I am a big fan of transparency.

Again, though, it's a tedious, boring process that lacks any drama, and is confusing for viewers at home.  Plus, due to combinations that are eliminated depending upon who gets the #1 pick, the drawings for the 2nd and 3rd pick might have to be repeated several times.

The only reason they'd have the ball drawing in public would be to quiet down a very small number of conspiracy theorists.  That's not worth the television dollars they'd lose by going to a less television friendly selection process.

Do you honestly think the NBA has bought off both the auditors and the team execs who witness the lottery?  We had people in the room for the Durant / Oden lottery; what incentive would the Celts' employees have to cover up a rigged lottery?

[Chris]

Do the balls out in public.   There is no reason to have them behind closed doors.  Of course, the team with a new arena might not get the draw then but it would be in the open.   I am a big fan of transparency.

So, do you think it is a conspiracy that every team in the NBA is in on?  Because they all have representatives in the room for the lottery. 

To me, that is plenty of transparency, because I can say with 100% certainty that if Wyc Grosbeck was in that room, and saw the something the slightest bit sketchy, and cost his team a top 3 pick, we would hear about it, and it would not be tolerated, since it would be taking money out of his pocket.

[Celtics4ever]

I would much rather the balls be drawn in the open.  People who work for the NBA ( like it's commentators) are rarely critical of it.  In front of millions on TV is more transparent than the representatives of the teams.

[LB3533]

If Penn State can cover up their shady dealings, I seriously doubt that the NBA can't have their own conspiracies (closed room or public) regarding the draft lottery.

Nothing surprises me anymore.

[StartOrien]

If Penn State can cover up their shady dealings, I seriously doubt that the NBA can't have their own conspiracies (closed room or public) regarding the draft lottery.

Nothing surprises me anymore.

I understand what you're trying to say, but I think that's a really drastic way of making a point that could be made a lot of other ways.