NBA Negotiators Agree Deal Would Come Swiftly

Rather than speaking to each other, NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik and union chief Billy Hunter stated their cases separately Tuesday in New York with The Associated Press and discussed the details of the NBA lockout, agreeing on one thing--a deal can be reached in less than 24 hours.

“They’re not going to blow up the season. We’re too close,” Hunter said. “They’d have to be deranged.”

Granik, however, was pessimistic.

“They’re speaking Chinese, we’re speaking Greek,” he said.

Both, however, admitted they are closer than previously disclosed on the main snag--the percentage of revenues devoted to salaries. The owners, who have asked that it be cut to 52%, are now willing to go higher. The players, who previously said they’d never drop below 57%, now say they’ll go to 56.5%.

Another key snag is maximum salaries.

The league wants an absolute maximum salary for all players based upon years of service, and the union has offered such a limit--but only for players with less than seven years of experience.

Each side appears to want one more major move from the other, since most other points of contention are considered no problem.

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Avondre Jones, the starting center for the Fresno State basketball team last season, was acquitted of the most serious charges stemming from an alleged attack on an acquaintance with a Samurai sword last March, but convicted of one other felony and two misdemeanors.

Fresno Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Kane found Jones guilty of possessing a firearm while on probation, a felony, and of misdemeanor counts of brandishing a deadly weapon in a rude and offensive manner against Colin DeForrest, and marijuana possession.

Jones was acquitted of six charges, among them theft, extortion and assault with a deadly weapon.

Sentencing was set for Feb. 3.

Jones was a prep All-American in 1993 at Artesia High in Lakewood and played two seasons at USC.

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Arbitration was chosen to resolve a contract dispute in which the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority claims the Golden State Warriors owe it $11 million.

Miscellany

Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams and Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch are among 11 finalists for the Sullivan Award, given annually to the nation’s top amateur athlete by the Amateur Athletic Union. Golfers Matt Kuchar and Jenny Chuasiriporn are also finalists. The others are Duke basketball player Elton Brand, Miami baseball player Pat Burrell, wrestler Sammie Henson, Tennessee basketball player Chamique Holdsclaw, gymnast Kristen Maloney, diver Mark Ruiz, and Georgia Tech track star Angelo Taylor. The name of the winner will be announced in February.

James W. Ancel, a Baltimore memorabilia collector, recently bid $35,650 for what he thought was the original lineup card used in the Baltimore Oriole-Angel game Sept. 6, 1995, in which Cal Ripken Jr. broke the consecutive-games streak. But it turns out the original is in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. What Ancel bid on was one of five carbon copies made by former Oriole manager Phil Regan and the collector is reconsidering.