Former Referee Powers Dies After Stroke at 67

Former NBA referee Richie Powers has died after a stroke. He was 67.

Powers, who worked in the NBA from 1956-79, became ill last Thursday at his home in Allentown, Pa., and died Saturday in Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Powers was born in New York City and played basketball and baseball at St. John’s University under Hall of Fame coach Frank McGuire.

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For the first time in 45 days, NBA owners and players will hold formal talks aimed at ending the lockout. It remains to be seen if today’s meeting in New York will produce more posturing or some real progress.

“Eventually you have to make a deal, and the only way you get there is to keep talking,” Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik said Wednesday. “I don’t think either party has any specific expectations, but we don’t think it’s a great idea to let months go by without sitting down and talking.”

Granik also said the owners aren’t as married to the concept of “cost certainty” as they earlier indicated.

“Cost certainty” has been trumpeted by Commissioner David Stern.

Players Assn. Director Billy Hunter, informed of Granik’s statement, sounded hopeful.

“My interpretation is that it indicates prudence is setting in, that maybe owners might be serious about sitting down and trying to work out some agreement,” Hunter said. “I’m anxious to see what they’ll be talking about.”