Photo by xenia_k via Flickr

After approximately six hours of discussions, the sides again failed to reach agreement on several key issues, most notably the division of basketball-related income (BRI). Shortly after talks ceased, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that NBA games scheduled through Nov. 30 would be canceled, and that losing the full month of November meant the end of any hope that the league would play a full 82-game slate.

Via “NBA cancels remaining November games, will not play a full 82-game season” by Dan Devine

The rollercoaster ride of negotiations once again tracked upward this past week. A ridiculous marathon session of 15 hours was conducted on Wednesday and into the wee hours of Thursday morning. Talks resumed late Thursday morning and broke that evening with hopes soaring high like a plastic grocery bag caught in an updraft.

The press conferences Thursday night were a scene of controlled joy and happiness. Both sides described that progress, a word that’s become vacuous in this charade, had been made on system issues. David Stern smiled from ear to ear like the cat from Alice in Wonderland. Billy Hunter giggled as he caught Stern’s eye from across the room. Love was in the air.

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Photo by L.Bö via Flicker

“Those responses are condescending, self-serving, one-sided, and generally full of the sort of “we-will-crush-you” self-satisfaction that has defined the league’s approach to the lockout. Apart from the fact that it’s ridiculous to suggest Stern is only doing interviews because the union has willfully lied — because, you know, Stern effectively gives an interview every time he makes a public appearance — it’s insulting for him to suggest that the rank-and-file members of the players’ union are too stupid or ignorant to know that their interests aren’t being protected. Even if that were true, it’s awful to condescend so egregiously.”

Via “David Stern Engages in Media Blitz, Pretends We’re Fools” by Eric Freeman

Well that delectable roasting of Commissioner David Stern was elicited from Eric Freeman by Stern’s pompous interview with Dan Patrick. In case you missed it, there have been several other interviews given by Stern in his whirlwind tour of the United States and surely more to come. So don’t you fret. He was on ESPN, CNBC, NBA TV, Fox News, the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, and a  special sitdown with Nick News’ Linda Ellerbee. Busy man, that Stern.

Little was accomplished except the spread of gloom and doom. Especially as he threatened to cancel Christmas if no deal is reached in the Tuesday meeting which will feature the newly-appointed federal mediator. As we all continue our collective facepalm…

Photo via badromance.com

Let us rejoice in knowing that Stern would never have been able to slip this bitter pill of a news blitz past the great James Brown. Soul Brother #1 would have called out his jive talk on the spot. David Stern has spent the entire week  (entire lockout?) acting like a dull knife that just ain’t cuttin’. He’s done a whole lot of talkin’ but said nothin’.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZkjo3mNmsA

Photo by HAROLDO FERRARY-HAROLDO FERRARI-HAROLDO COSTA FERR via Flickr

If the reports are true and the league set a negotiating point before agreeing to a meeting, players are right to be angry. But union director Billy Hunter is apparently flying to Los Angeles for a meeting with players, and isn’t planning to be in New York on Monday. That can only anger the league further, as it is likely meant to do.

Via “NBA Lockout Talks Devolve Into Last-Gasp Gun-Waving As League, Union Says There’ll Be No Monday Meeting” by Tom Ziller

Well, there you have it. The summation of this past week’s general inactivity. Inactivity that was only interrupted for roundabout public sparring. Oh and also supposed haughty demands from the NBA to players on pre-conditions to any negotiation session. It appears that all the bridges have been burned and we’re facing the cancellation of regular season games come Monday. Tim Donahue of 8pts9seconds said it best on Twitter  (@toothpicksray) about the current impasse:

It appears the last (and only serious) round of negotiations have failed to produce any harmony as the sides just can’t agree to a final split on basketball related income. Negotiations have seemingly reached a level where both sides need to have an intermediary step in and reasonably communicate what the other is proposing. Otherwise, I fear animosity may cloud the ability for both sides to hear the other out. Too many scars. Too much frustration. Too much anger.

To release our frustration, Marvin Gaye will serenade us with the song “Anger” from his Here, My Dear album. Hopefully, the two sides release the frustration soon and get back to business.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATAgDKco5Ac