David Stern's Threats Continue: If There's No Deal by Tuesday, Forget About the NBA on Christmas Day
By Jason McIntyre
"“Right now, Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday, just before my owners come into town, having brought in the labor relations committee and Billy (Hunter) having brought in his executive committee, it’s time to make the deal,” Stern said Thursday. “If we don’t make it on Tuesday, my gut—this is not in my official capacity of canceling games—but my gut is that we won’t be playing on Christmas Day.”"
Games you’ll be missing:
Boston at New York – Rematch of the playoff series! At the Garden!
Miami at Dallas – NBA Finals rematch! It gets loud in Dallas!
Chicago at LA Lakers – Derrick Rose! Kobe! Two enormous TV markets!
Bad, bad news for the NBA. I hope this mediator works his magic Tuesday. The games on Christmas last year were a ratings bonanza:
"The NBA announced Monday that ABC and ESPN posted their highest cumulative audience ever for their Christmas Day coverage. ABC’s double-header averaged a 5.5 Nielsen fast national rating, and ESPN’s three broadcasts raked in a 1.8 household rating. Compared with last year’s five televised games on Christmas, household ratings increased 45% on ABC and 20% on ESPN. The Lakers’ 96-80 loss to the Miami Heat drew ABC’s highest rating (6.4) for an NBA regular-season game since the Lakers’ 2004 Christmas game against Miami."
Guess I’ll have to fire up the music channels on the tube on Christmas Day. I do love my Christmas music.