ekansekans's blog: "df"

NEW YORK -- The NBA asked a Manhattan judge on Thursday to side with the league in a legal battle with origins in the bygone era of short shorts, low-top sneakers and big Afros. The dispute stems from a sweetheart deal thats enjoyed by the former owners of a defunct American Basketball Association team -- and despised by current owners of four NBA franchises. It all began in 1970, when future legends like Oscar Robertson, John Havlicek and Bill Bradley filed an antitrust lawsuit challenging the NBAs then-proposed merger with the ABA. As part of a settlement reached in 1976, the St. Louis Spirits of the ABA agreed to fold. In exchange, the NBA was required starting in 1980 to pay Spirits owners Ozzie and Dan Silna a portion of the television revenue earned by the four ABA teams that survived the merger: the Indiana Pacers, now Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs. Because the four teams must share with the Silnas as long as the NBA exists, the brothers have quietly made a killing off leagues explosion in popularity in recent decades -- by some estimates, around $240 million so far. "Every year, when it came down to take a look at the budgeting process we would all just shake our heads," a former Nuggets executive once told the Los Angeles Times. But the brothers have now called a technical foul: Last year, they asked the court to reopen the old antitrust case, claiming that the league has unfairly cut them out of revenue from international broadcasts and cable packages. The judge who had originally presided over the case in federal court in Manhattan died last year. But a current judge, Loretta Preska, agreed to take a look. NBA lawyer Jeff Mishkin argued on Thursday that the revenue-sharing provision applied only to national broadcasts by traditional TV networks. Mishkin said the agreement makes clear that, "You get network television revenues -- and thats all you get." The NBA, he added, "has never not met its obligation." The brothers attorney, Michael Carroll, countered that wording in the settlement referring to revenue from "all broadcasts" should be interpreted to include more modern TV offerings like NBA League Pass, which allows viewers to see out-of-market games. Preska told the parties she would review their court filings before making any ruling. In the meantime, she suggested they should try to find a way to share the wealth without one. "I think you people ought to sit down and talk about this," she said. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale . -- Phil Varone scored the winning goal and the Rochester Americans spoiled Hamiltons first home game in 29 days with a 3-1 win over the Bulldogs in American Hockey League action Saturday. Cheap NFL Jerseys Paypal . -- After four years of futility, the Jacksonville Jaguars are heading in a different direction. http://www.bwjerseys.com/ . Garnett scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and remained unbeaten against his former team as the Boston Celtics beat the Timberwolves 104-94 on Wednesday night in Rajon Rondos return from a two-game suspension.ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Locked-out NHL players hit the ice Saturday night to raise money for Superstorm Sandy victims. New York Rangers star Henrik Lundqvist made 57 saves in the Operation Hat Trick charity game at Boardwalk Hall to help Team New York beat Team New Jersey 10-6. "(Youd) think hed have a little rust on him (after not) playing for five or six months," said Philadelphia Flyers left wing Scott Hartnell, who captained Team New Jersey. Pittsburgh Penguins left wing James Neal scored four goals for Team New York. Hartnell and New York Rangers centre Brad Richards organized the game. Tickets ranged from $20 to $100, and the players equipment will be autographed and auctioned off. The proceeds are earmarked for the American Red Cross, Empire State Relief Fund and the New Jersey Hurricane Relief Fund. The NHLPA also donated $20,000 to the charities. "A lot of people were affected by Sandy. Its great to do sttuff like this," Rangers defenceman Dan Girardi said.dddddddddddd. "A lot of people here lost their homes are fans. We had some people who lost everything." The sellout crowd of 10,792 hockey-starved fans chanted "We want hockey! We want hockey!" and also called for NHL Commissioner Gary Bettmans firing. "We hear that," Girardi said. "(The New York), New Jersey and Philadelphia fans are very passionate. Its hilarious, but we dont feel that way." A group of 25 players met with NHLPA executive director Don Fehr earlier in the day for an update on the negotiations. "When you make a move towards them, if youre (going to) have an agreement, somebody has to say yes and now I can do this. Instead they said more or less, Yes and what else can you do for me?" Fehr said. "Everybody understands that negotiation is a process. So far, we seem to be doing all the negotiating." ' ' '