Stern cautions move by players' union
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — NBA Commissioner David Stern says if NBA players decide to decertify their union, it could be very risky.
Speaking with reporters Wednesday before the Charlotte Bobcats-Memphis Grizzlies game, Stern said if the union decertifies it wouldn't just mean the end of the NBA players association, but also the labor contract itself.
That would allow players to challenge antitrust laws, the commissioner said, an opportunity they don't have with the collective bargaining agreement in place. But, he said, decertification is risky because there are $4 billion in guaranteed player contracts in effect for next season.
"It's a nuclear option," Stern said, "but I'm not sure whether it isn't the nuclear option that falls on the party that launches it."
Haywood expected to be new Pitt coach
PITTSBURGH — Pitt is expected to introduce Miami (Ohio) football coach Michael Haywood as Dave Wannstedt's successor at a news conference today.
Haywood, 10-15 in two seasons at the Mid-American Conference school, held a series of meetings on campus Wednesday with Pitt officials — some of which were spotted by students. Haywood is the only known candidate for the job, although Pitt also may have had interest in new Miami coach Al Golden and new West Virginia offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen before they took other jobs.
Formerly the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, Haywood was 1-11 in his first season at Miami in 2009 before going 9-4 this season and beating Northern Illinois in the MAC championship game.
Wannstedt resigned under pressure as Pitt's coach on Dec. 7 after going 7-5 during a season in which Pitt was picked to win the Big East.
—Deseret News staff and wire services