NLL season hanging on a thread
October 16, 2007
The National Lacrosse League's board of governors will hold a 10 a.m. conference call this morning to decide whether or not to cancel the 2008 season after failing to reach a new collective bargaining agreement last night with its players.
A Canadian Press story reported NLL commissioner Jim Jennings pulled the plug on the 2008 indoor box campaign after the league's midnight deadline to reach deal passed without both sides resuming talks. However, no official action has yet been taken, said Toronto Rock president Brad Watters.
"We haven't announced we've cancelled the season yet (so) I think that is a little premature at this point," Watters said this morning. "But at the same time, it doesn't look good. There will more clarity (later today)."
The sides broke off talks Sunday after a weekend bargaining session in New York and no further meetings were scheduled. However, Professional Lacrosse Players Association executive director Dave Succamore said Sunday he was optimistic a deal would be reached.
"We're not asking for the world, that's for sure; we're just asking for a fair deal," Succamore said.
The main stumbling blocks in talks have been salaries, defining revenue streams and the length of the CBA. The last deal, which was a three-year pact, expired July 31.
story by Mary Ormsby
Fanatics
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
NLL hanging by a thread...
This news is flying under the radar of the sports world but deserves a note or two:
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Additional Note from Terry:
The National Lacrosse League has canceled its 2008 season after the indoor league and its players union failed to agree on a new contract, The Canadian Press reported, citing an anonymous source close to the talks.
According to the report, the source forwarded the CP an e-mail sent at 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday -- a minute after the 14-team league's deadline for a new deal -- in which NLL commissioner Jim Jennings said a deal had not been reached. The season was scheduled to begin Dec. 27.
"This will confirm that we have not reached accord on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement," the e-mail read. "As such, the 2008 NLL season is canceled," the e-mail said, according to the CP.
"The league will have no further comment tonight and we expect to make a statement later on [Tuesday]," league spokesman Doug Fritts said Monday night, according to the report.
The previous contract between the league and the Professional Lacrosse Players Association expired July 31.
The league reportedly offered an across-the-board pay increase as part of a five-year deal. The union reportedly wanted a one-year deal, in which pay ceilings would be eliminated.
In the expired agreement, veterans earned a maximum of $21,294, with up to two "franchise players" on each team eligible to earn as much as $25,552. In the expired contract, rookies earned $6,880, the second-year minimum was $9,282 and the veteran minimum was $10,221.
Another note: The NLL reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement and will try to resurrect the season.
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