Stern Less Optimistic Than Ever

Commissioner David Stern said Friday it is “virtually inevitable” there will be no NBA season, a belief he said was based on union chief Billy Hunter’s written analysis of the league’s latest proposal for a labor agreement.

In the analysis, which players received Friday, Hunter wrote that Stern was telling “only half the story” and that “the NBA’s proposal represents steps backwards from the freedom and benefits that NBA players have enjoyed under the last and even earlier collective bargaining agreements.”

“I think the players have been directed on a tragic course,” Stern said Friday from his New York office as he wrapped up work before leaving for a holiday vacation to Aspen, Colo. “[Hunter] continues to counsel an intransigent stance on the assumption the owners will hold the season at any cost. Sadly, he’s going to be wrong. . . . In light of Billy’s comments to his players and the position it represents make [cancellation] of the season virtually inevitable.”

Hunter responded to Stern’s dire outlook by calling for more negotiating and less rhetoric.

“It’s David Stern’s decision whether or not to cancel the season,” Hunter said through an aide. “David is well aware that the players’ association is ready and willing to compromise so long as there are meaningful negotiations. . . . I’m not interested in raising the level of rhetoric at this point. I’m interested in meaningful negotiations at this time.”

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Locked-out players tried to boost prospects for their exhibition tonight at Atlantic City, N.J., by billing it as a “gift to the fans.”

But this gift, in person or on TV, comes with a price.

“The Game on Showtime,” featuring 16 current or former all-stars, will tip off at the Atlantic City Convention Center. The telecast is available only on cable’s Showtime.

“This weekend is for giving back to the fans,” said Shawn Kemp of the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Hopefully people will tune in around the country because people miss professional basketball.”

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Tari Phillips scored a career-high 29 points and had nine rebounds at Denver as the last-place Colorado Xplosion routed the San Jose Lasers, 86-65, in an American Basketball League game before 2,001. . . . Laura Baker, signed to a three-game contract earlier in the day, scored 20 points as the Chicago Condors beat the Philadelphia Rage 78-75, before 4,695 at Chicago. Teresa Edwards had 26 points for the Rage.

Jurisprudence

Boxing promoter Don King filed a $110-million countersuit against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. The action, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, counters a $100-million suit filed by Tyson against King in March, alleging fraud during the past 10 years.

Police said former New York Giant star Lawrence Taylor cooperated with authorities when he was told he was wanted on drug charges. Taylor, on the Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, turned himself in to face charges of narcotics possession and possession of narcotics paraphernalia in connection with a September police search of his hotel room in New Jersey, police said.

Two former Northwestern football players pleaded not guilty to charges of lying to federal grand juries investigating sports betting. Dennis Lundy and Gregory Gill are among four former Wildcat players indicted Dec. 3 on federal perjury charges for allegedly lying about their gambling activities.

Suspended Michigan defensive back William Peterson pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on a misdemeanor accusing him of taking money from a stripper’s purse in a campus dorm.

Skiing

Norway’s Lasse Kjus beat the powerful Austrians at their favorite discipline of Alpine skiing, the downhill, at Val Gardena, Italy, winning a World Cup race for the second time in seven days.

Kjus defeated Werner Franz and Hermann Maier for his second downhill victory in two races this season.

Ehlias Louis, of Park City, Utah, suffered a torn ligament in his left knee in a high-speed spill. He will be sidelined the rest of the season.

Olympic slalom champion Hilde Gerg of Germany proved she is just as skilled in the speed events as the technical, winning her first World Cup downhill at Veysonnaz, Switzerland. Pernilla Wiberg of Sweden, seeking her first victory of the season, finished second.

Miscellany

Floyd Mayweather, the first boxer from the 1996 U.S. Olympic team to win a world title as a pro, makes the first defense of his 130-pound World Boxing Council title at Miami tonight against Angel Manfredy.

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Jenny Thompson of Stanford set a U.S. record in the 100-yard butterfly at Oklahoma City. Thompson swam the course in 51.07 seconds, breaking the mark of 51.75 set in 1992 by Crissy Ahman-Leighton.

The Galaxy announced its 1999 season-ticket policy, with prices from $8-$30 for its fourth Major League Soccer season. The club also will have a family section at the Rose Bowl.

Marwan Ass’ad, Cal State Northridge men’s soccer coach for 16 seasons, resigned. His record at Northridge was 192-102-26. The Matadors were 12-5 this season, winning 12 of their last 13 games.