Stern Hints at No Christmas NBA Games

After canceling the first two weeks of the regular NBA season earlier this week, Commissioner David Stern said that, if a labor agreement is not reached by Tuesday, there will be no NBA basketball on Christmas.  Stern said, his “gut” was telling him this, the AP reports.

Next Tuesday, owners and players are scheduled to meet with a federal mediator and Stern added, that day will be a “really big deal.”

However, in an interview on Thursday, Stern said, while he is delighted the federal mediator is now involved, he warned the offers will get worse as the economic damage to the teams mount, making a deal even more difficult.

Meanwhile, in an open letter yesterday to the NBA and NBA Players Union, eleven mayors, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, noted the overwhelming support that teams receive in their respective cities from residents who pack the arenas and the importance of the games to the survival of small businesses.

“No matter how you look at it, our NBA teams are a vital part of the economic and social fabric of our cities,” the letter stated. “Unfortunately, lost in the debate over a new NBA collective bargaining agreement, has been the perspective of those very residents and the negative impact a cancelled season might have on them, our cities and our local economies.

The letter urged the parties to find a way to compromise so that the remainder of the NBA seasion might be salvaged.