Players to sue NBA over lockout

 

Allison Joyce/Reuters

More drama in the NBA world. Some players want to decertify the NBA so that they can sue the NBA for the lockout.

This was a long weekend of negoitations that didnt come to a conclusion. Today is day 128 of the NBA lockout, and players are beginning to push back According to the Los Angeles Times according to the Christian Science Monitor, players are considering an appeal to the National Labor Relations Boards to deceritify the National Basketball Players Association.  

This extreme legal step that could take months to sort out and would threaten to cancel the entire 2011-12 NBA season.

According to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, "If the union decertified, players could then sue the NBA under U.S. antitrust laws. They would be likely to claim the league conspired to deny their ability to market themselves by locking out players when the collective bargaining agreement expired July 1."

Adidas loses $200,000 due to NBA lockout

 

According to Reuters:

 

With the first two weeks of the basketball season canceled and more games under threat, German sporting goods maker Adidas faces losing half its licensed NBA apparel sales, analysts estimate.

The German group makes some $100 million in sales from licensed NBA products, with basketball products as a whole, including footwear, among its top five sporting categories.

Matt Powell, analyst at SportsOneSource, told Reuters licensed apparel sales could have, similar to the last lockout in the 1998/99 season, if the season were canceled.

"Overall, sales of NBA licensed products fell by 20 percent last week, and I view that as the beginning of the fall because of the lockout," he said.

14 Mayors tired of NBA lockout

The mayors of fourteen NBA cities have sent a letter to David Stern and Billy Hunter asking them to sort out their differences and save the season. WishTV8.com in Indianapolis obtained a copy of the letter and reported:

The mayors are worried about what a canceled season might do to their local economies.

And the first name on the letter is Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.

“We want them to get together and figure this thing out because its not just about them,” Ballard said. “Its about the people in the cities – the people who depend, their livelihoods depend, on them playing those games.”

The letter goes out as a message from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Ballard said the mayors are not taking sides in the dispute. Theyre just trying to make sure the league and the players consider what impact it will have on the teams’ cities if they dont reach a deal soon.

via With economic fears in mind, mayors plead for NBA deal.

Mayors from Indianapolis, Orlando, Sacramento, Memphis, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, Detroit, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and Denver. Not a whole lot of huge markets there, but a wide range.

It’s good to see public figures starting to speak up!

Channing Frye will stay in U.S.

Phoenix Suns player Channing Frye #8  is weathering the NBA lockout storm productively. Lately fans have been concerned if their favorite players will go play abroad. Frye has made his decision.

When Frye was asked via twitter if he was going overseas to play he responded, "Nah I just want to focus on my family and also my workouts n America."

Its nice to know that some players are concerned about things other than money. Frye has a charity called The Frye Family Foundation at The Giving Back Fund to focus on providing life-changing opportunities to underprivileged children and children with disabilities in the communities important to the Fryes, particularly Portland, Oregon and Phoenix, Arizona.

You can follow Channing on twitter @Channing_Frye  or visit The Frye Family Foundation here



Leaving the NBA to go overseas

With all of the frustrations of the lockout some NBA players are considering going overseas while a decision is made. Will they or will they not have an opt out clause? Does your favorite player want to go?

Alexis Ajinca Toronto Raptors (free agent) NBA experience: 3 years	Report: Ajinca to Spain? »
LaMarcus AldridgePortland Trail Blazers NBA experience: 5 years	Playing overseas a possibility »
Louis AmundsonGolden State Warriors NBA experience: 5 years	Report: Negotiating with Maccabi Haifa? »
Carmelo AnthonyNew York Knicks NBA experience: 8 years	Melo tells crowd he'd consider China »
Trevor ArizaNew Orleans Hornets NBA experience: 7 years	Spain, China, Serbia options for Ariza »
Carlos ArroyoBoston Celtics (free agent) NBA experience: 9 years	Arroyo drawing interest from Italy »
Ron ArtestLos Angeles Lakers NBA experience: 12 years	Cheshire (Great Britain) Insurance issue for Artest? »
J.J. BareaDallas Mavericks (free agent) NBA experience: 5 years	Spain plan B for Mavs' Barea »
Andrea BargnaniToronto Raptors NBA experience: 5 years	Taking wait-and-see approach »
Shane BattierMemphis Grizzlies (free agent) NBA experience: 10 years	Battier would consider China »
Marco BelinelliNew Orleans Hornets (restricted FA) NBA experience: 4 years	Report: Close to deal with Italian club »
Andris BiedrinsGolden State Warriors NBA experience: 7 years	Stein: Biedrins waiting until Sept. »
Bismack BiyomboCharlotte Bobcats NBA experience: Rookie	Biyombo forced to stay in Spain? »
Andray BlatcheWashington Wizards NBA experience: 6 years	Agent exploring overseas opportunities »
Andrew BogutMilwaukee Bucks NBA experience: 6 years	Bogut won't play in Australia »
Carlos BoozerChicago Bulls NBA experience: 9 years	Planning on it if lockout continues »
Avery BradleyBoston Celtics NBA experience: 1 year	Bradley close to deal in Israel »
Elton BrandPhiladelphia 76ers NBA experience: 12 years	Hasn't ruled out playing overseas »
Corey BrewerDallas Mavericks NBA experience: 4 years	Report: Talking to two ACB teams »
Aaron BrooksPhoenix Suns NBA experience: 4 years	Considering playing in Israel? »
Kobe BryantLos Angeles Lakers NBA experience: 15 years	Report: Agrees with Virtus Bologna »
Chase BudingerHouston Rockets NBA experience: 2 years	Budinger considering overseas »
Will BynumDetroit Pistons NBA experience: 4 years	Bynum interested in rejoining Tel Aviv »
Omri CasspiSacramento Kings NBA experience: 2 years	Eyeing Tony Parker's French team »
Tyson ChandlerDallas Mavericks NBA experience: 10 years	Chandler would consider going abroad »
Brian CookLos Angeles Clippers NBA experience: 8 years	Cook looking into China »
Daequan CookOklahoma City Thunder (restricted FA) NBA experience: 4 years	Caja Laboral (Spain) Received offer from Spanish team »
DeMarcus CousinsSacramento Kings NBA experience: 1 year	Agent: Cousins in negotiations »
Jamal CrawfordAtlanta Hawks (free agent) NBA experience: 11 years	Besiktas interested in Crawford »
Stephen CurryGolden State Warriors NBA experience: 2 years	Curry: "China looks promising" »
Glen DavisBoston Celtics NBA experience: 4 years	Davis will consider overseas options »
Carlos DelfinoMilwaukee Bucks NBA experience: 6 years	Received offer from Siena (Italy) »
Luol DengChicago Bulls NBA experience: 7 years	Deng would like to play in Europe »
Boris DiawCharlotte Bobcats NBA experience: 8 years	JSA Bordeaux Basket (France) Will play for hometown team if lockout »
Ike DioguLos Angeles Clippers (free agent) NBA experience: 5 years	Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) Report: Tel Aviv targeting Diogu »
Keyon DoolingMilwaukee Bucks (free agent) NBA experience: 11 years	Efes (Turkey) Near deal with Turkish team »
Goran DragicHouston Rockets NBA experience: 3 years	Two teams interested in Dragic? »
Jared DudleyPhoenix Suns NBA experience: 4 years	Dudley eyes China if season canceled »
Kevin DurantOklahoma City Thunder NBA experience: 4 years	Besiktas (Turkey) Durant in early negotiations »
Maurice EvansWashington Wizards NBA experience: 8 years	Talking to Valencia Basket? »
Raymond FeltonPortland Trail Blazers NBA experience: 6 years	Playing overseas last resort »
Kyrylo FesenkoUtah Jazz (free agent) NBA experience: 4 years	Dnipro (Ukraine) Fesenko in talks with Dnipro »
Gary ForbesDenver Nuggets (restricted free agent) NBA experience: 1 year	Forbes considering overseas options »
T.J. FordIndiana Pacers NBA experience: 7 years	Would consider playing overseas »
Sundiata GainesNew Jersey Nets NBA experience: 2 years	Report: Gaines talked to Israeli club »
Pau GasolLos Angeles Lakers NBA experience: 10 years	If locked out, Gasol prefers Spain »
Rudy GayMemphis Grizzlies NBA experience: 5 years	Gay tweets he'd play overseas »
Manu GinobiliSan Antonio Spurs NBA experience: 9 years	Evaluating Virtus Bologna (Italy) option »
Donte GreeneSacramento Kings NBA experience: 3 years	Greene has offers from Israel, Italy »
Blake GriffinLos Angeles Clippers NBA experience: 1 year	Griffin not opposed to playing abroad »
Hamed HaddadiMemphis Grizzlies NBA experience: 3 years	Foshan (China) Report: Chinese club offers Haddadi »
Jordan HamiltonDenver Nuggets NBA experience: Rookie	Looking into overseas options »
Luke HarangodyCleveland Cavaliers NBA experience: 1 year	Weighing overseas option »
George HillIndiana Pacers NBA experience: 3 years	Agent: Hill listening to offers »
Dwight HowardOrlando Magic NBA experience: 7 years	Howard talks China, playing overseas »
Jarrett JackNew Orleans Hornets NBA experience: 6 years	Jack not ruling out abroad options »
Dahntay JonesIndiana Pacers NBA experience: 8 years	Jones open to going abroad »
Chris KamanLos Angeles Clippers NBA experience: 8 years	Kaman open to playing abroad »
Enes KanterUtah Jazz NBA experience: Rookie	Turkey an option for Kanter? »
Linas KleizaToronto Raptors NBA experience: 5 years	Lietuvos Rytas or Zalgiris (Lithuania) Kleiza doesn't say no to two clubs »
Jeremy LinGolden State Warriors NBA experience: 1 year	Will consider if lockout continues »
Kevin LoveMinnesota Timberwolves NBA experience: 3 years	Would play abroad if lockout continues »
Kyle LowryHouston Rockets NBA experience: 5 years	Lowry interested in going overseas »
Corey MaggetteCharlotte Bobcats NBA experience: 12 years	PAOK (Greece) Maggette in serious talks »
Ian MahinmiDallas Mavericks NBA experience: 3 years	Le Havre (France) Report: Agrees with French club »
Roger Mason Jr.New York Knicks (free agent) NBA experience: 7 years	Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel) Rejected offer from Valencia (Spain) »
Wesley MatthewsPortland Trail Blazers NBA experience: 2 years	Matthews open to leaving »
O.J. MayoMemphis Grizzlies NBA experience: 3 years	Texting M. Gasol about Spain »
Josh McRobertsIndiana Pacers NBA experience: 4 years (free agent)	Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) Report: McRoberts likely to Serbia »
Paul MillsapUtah Jazz NBA experience: 5 years	Millsap leaving his options open »
Greg MonroeDetroit Pistons NBA experience: 1 year	Monroe considering all options »
Marcus MorrisHouston Rockets NBA experience: Rookie	Open to idea of going abroad »
Markieff MorrisPhoenix Suns NBA experience: Rookie	Panathinaikos (Greece) Talks with teams in Europe, China »
Anthony MorrowNew Jersey Nets NBA experience: 3 years	Tweet: "I'd definitely go overseas" »
Donatas MotiejunasHouston Rockets NBA experience: Rookie	Benetton Treviso (Italy) Report: Rockets rook to Italy »
Byron MullensOklahoma City Thunder NBA experience: 2 years	Panionios (Greece) Report: Mullens signs in Greece »
Andres NocioniPhiladelphia 76ers NBA experience: 7 years	In wait-and-see mode »
Steve NovakSan Antonio Spurs (free agent) NBA experience: 5 years	Likely to head to Spain or Russia »
Chris PaulNew Orleans Hornets NBA experience: 6 years	Would CP3 make a move to China? »
Vladimir RadmanovicGolden State Warriors (free agent) NBA experience: 10 years	Radmanovic may stay in Serbia »
Nate RobinsonOklahoma City Thunder NBA experience: 6 years	Considering overseas, football »
Derrick RoseChicago Bulls NBA experience: 3 years	If season canceled, will look abroad »
Luis ScolaHouston Rockets NBA experience: 4 years	Shanghai (China) Report: China tops Europe »
Kevin SeraphinWashington Wizards NBA experience: 1 year	Cholet (France) Wants to play in France »
Garret SilerPhoenix Suns NBA experience: 1 year	If season stalled, Siler has options »
Tiago SplitterSan Antonio Spurs NBA experience: 1 year	Report: Splitter eying Brazil »
Lance StephensonIndiana Pacers NBA experience: 1 year	Considering China and Italy »
Amare StoudemireNew York Knicks NBA experience: 9 years	"Definitely should be considered" »
Sebastian TelfairMinnesota Timberwolves NBA experience: 7 years	Jiangsu Dragons (China) Report: Telfair to sign in China »
Etan ThomasAtlanta Hawks (free agent) NBA experience: 9 years	Murcia (Spain) Spanish deal off the table? »
Jason ThompsonSacramento Kings NBA experience: 3 years	Report: Joining team in Israel? »
Klay ThompsonGolden State Warriors NBA experience: Rookie	Agent exploring overseas opportunities »
Anthony TolliverMinnesota Timberwolves NBA experience: 3 years	Has overseas offer »
Ronny TuriafNew York Knicks NBA experience: 6 years	Report: Negotiating with Maccabi Haifa? »
Hedo TurkogluOrlando Magic NBA experience: 9 years	Anadolu Efes (Turkey) Report: Turkish club pursuing Turkoglu »
Greivis VasquezMemphis Grizzlies NBA experience: 1 year	Report: Not headed to Israel »
Jan VeselyWashington Wizards NBA experience: Rookie	Returning to Partizan Belgrade? »
Charlie VillanuevaDetroit Pistons NBA experience: 6 years	Villanueva likely to play in D.R. »
Dwyane WadeMiami Heat NBA experience: 8 years	Wade keeping options open »
C.J. WatsonChicago Bulls NBA experience: 4 years	Bulls' Watson exploring his options »
Earl WatsonUtah Jazz NBA experience: 10 years	Agent says overseas an option »
Damien WilkinsAtlanta Hawks (free agent) NBA experience: 7 years	Wilkins considered Chinese offer »
Shelden WilliamsNew York Knicks (free agent) NBA experience: 5 years	Report: Negotiating with Maccabi Haifa »
Dorell WrightGolden State Warriors NBA experience: 7 years	Wright open to China, other areas »
Nick YoungWashington Wizards NBA experience: 4 years	Young open to China move »
Thaddeus YoungPhiladelphia 76ers (restricted free agent) NBA experience: 4 years	Considering playing in China »