The NBA season is increasingly at risk. The day before yesterday's meeting on the renewal of the collective agreement ended with yet another one black smoke. Indeed, before the summit, there was a good deal of optimism. Instead, after four hours of discussion, the negotiation finally broke off.
Commissioner David Stern and basketball representative Billy Hunter failed to work out a deal. A brief but eloquent statement then came from the players' association: “Next meeting in a month or two”. At this point the hypothesis that the entire championship is suspended becomes more and more concrete. Also because the latest offer formulated by the owners seemed to be able to represent a huge step forward: a 50% division of the revenues, while the previous collective agreement provided for only 43% for the athletes. However, the players expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal and answered with a resounding "no". Derek Fisher, president of the basketball players' association, explained. “We said we were willing to drop from 57% to 53% in the percentage of revenues owed to us. We cannot go below this figure. We are aware that this juxtaposition will produce a patchy vintage”.
This situation has triggered a real diaspora among the NBA stars. While waiting for the season to resume, almost all the leading athletes are landing in Europe. The championships of the Old Continent are preparing to experience the most exciting seasons in their history. At least while the lockout lasts. Tony Parker he has just formalized his return to Asvel Villeurbanne, of which he is also a shareholder and general manager. The French point guard will pay the very high cost of the insurance out of his own pocket in order to return to his homeland for a while. The Russian Andrei Kirilenko, a bulwark of the Utah Jazz for years, has signed a three-year contract for CSKA Moscow with the NBA escape if an offer from the United States should arrive within three months. According to rumors, however, the Russian seems inclined to end his career in his homeland. In Spain, his shots are raining down again and again. THE Gasol brothers have signed for Barcelona while Real Madrid, after finding the agreement with Rudy Fernandez, is trying to convince even Dirk Nowitzki.
Italy certainly does not want to stand by and watch this carousel of stars. Milan has guaranteed the temporary return of Gallinari, Montegranaro overtook Siena and Rome in the race to Bargnani. But it is undoubtedly the case that holds the court Bryant. Virtus Bologna seemed one step away from signing the champion until mid-November, then the situation got tangled. Numerous Italian teams have agreed to review the calendar, change venues and divide the proceeds to facilitate the operation. However, the clubs are not willing to anticipate the Bolognese patron, Claudius Sabatini, the amount needed to close the deal with the American. In the last few hours, the hypothesis of hosting Kobe in Italy for just one match, the advance on Wednesday 12 between Virtus and Benetton, has therefore become increasingly concrete. The cost of the operation would exceed 2 billion dollars, equal to about one and a half million euros. Spectators would have to pay one hundred euros to buy a ticket for the steps and one thousand for a seat in the parterre. Astronomical figures to participate in an unrepeatable night. A single match seems very little compared to the premises, but at this point it would at least be a good start.
