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Sports Outside the Beltway

NBA suspends training camps indefinitely

File this under not surprising news-

NEW YORK — The lockout has started doing real damage to the NBA’s calendar.

Players won’t report at the usual time. The preseason won’t start as scheduled.

And more cancellations could be necessary without a new labor deal soon.

Out of time to keep everything intact, the NBA postponed training camps indefinitely and canceled 43 preseason games Friday because it has not reached an agreement with players.

All games from Oct. 9-15 are off, the league said. Camps were expected to open Oct. 3.

“We have regretfully reached the point on the calendar where we are not able to open training camps on time and need to cancel the first week of preseason games,” deputy commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “We will make further decisions as warranted.”

The players’ association did not comment.

I don’t expect their to be another NBA game this year. This kind of labor conflict is usually protracted and nothing will get done till the season is on the verge of being lost. As NHL fans know from 2004-2005, even then the dispute can go over the cliff taking a whole season with it.

I have no sympathy for either owners or players. The players are rich and overindulged, the owners of small market NBA teams had to know when going in that they had little chance of making the franchise they were purchasing into NBA Championship contenders/moneymakers.

 

Fire alarm sounds during LA Clipper-Memphis game

The Clippers have certainly had some interesting experiences this season. First a thief stole over 20,000 while one of their exhibition games, then their announcers were suspended for one game due to offensive remarks they made, now this.

FedExForum in Memphis was evacuated during Tuesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies when a broken water main tripped a fire alarm during the third period.

Fans were told to exit the building by taking the stairs only.

Memphis went on to win the game 104-102 and deny the Clippers a chance to reach .500 for the season.

Maybe Clipper management can use this year’s happenings as a promotional tool. ‘Come see the Clippers play. You never know what will happen!’

 
 


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