NBA Labor Talks Turn To Mediation

by Jeff Clark on Oct 13, 2011 5:47 AM EDT in NBA Articles

The owners and players are going to meet with a mediator. I suppose this should be seen as a positive turn of events but it is important to note that mediation is not arbitration. The sides are not bound by anything the mediator says, but at least he can get the two talking in the right direction (lawyers, please feel free to clarify).

Our friend J.A. Sherman at Welcome to Loud City has some details on the mediator.

NBA Lockout: Owners, Players to Meet With Mediator - Welcome to Loud City

The independent federal mediator will be a man named George Cohen, who is the director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Cohen has already been in contact with each side, so he is familiar with the situation and it looks like the negotiation mediation is on an expedited schedule. Mr. Cohen comes with some high bona fides , as you can read on his bio page. Furthermore, Cohen is quite familiar with the collective bargaining front in pro sports. He was involved in helping the NFL settle its most recent lockout dispute this past summer, he assisted in the 2009 Major League Soccer dispute, and in 1994 he was a labor lawyer who argued on behalf of the MLB union and helped end the strike that wiped out the 1994 world series.

I wish him well. It seems both sides are dug in pretty well and it will take some quick thinking to get them on the same sheet of paper before more games are cancelled.

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Oh and, Happy Birthday Paul Pierce! (also to Doc Rivers and Jermaine O'Neal)

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from that picture

I like him already

reminds me of Master PO when grasshopper gets on his nerves

Faith and Sports - an essay by Jeff Clark

by Jeff Clark on Oct 13, 2011 5:55 AM EDT reply actions

from that picture

Mediator seems to be having “labor” pains

by Title 18 on Oct 13, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

why isn't the Mediator "Metta World Peace" ?

He could just punch some fans, dance, rap, color his hair, talk some crazy talk, pull down Paul Pierce’s pants and then settle the whole thing “Metta Style”

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Oct 14, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's get moving

Has Cohen talked to any of us yet? Jeff, I nominate you to address the mediator on behalf of NBA fans. Let him know that I am in talks to become a fan of Bennet Cantu, the italian Euroleague team and refuse to negotiate with the owners or the players association until we get some meaningful concessions. Thanks.

by Thruthelookingglass on Oct 13, 2011 8:37 AM EDT reply actions

Kudos to Zach Lowe in that luxury tax link...

It’s great to see someone from the Celtics fan community gathering sources and breaking stories.

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Oct 13, 2011 8:43 AM EDT reply actions

From the Cap's twitter:

It’s his birthday today? And Doc’s and Jermaine’s?

Well anyway, happy birthday to em! I wish you all nba games as soon as possible ;)

>>>>>
https://twitter.com/#!/paulpierce34

paulpierce34 Paul Pierce

Also Happy Birthday to Doc Rivers and Jermain Oneil

34 is my number special thing r gonna happen for me this year . Let’s get this lockout ova so I can show ya

by japsuki on Oct 13, 2011 10:31 AM EDT reply actions

My only question...

Why did it take so long to get to this if both sides so sincerely didn’t want to miss any games? Why not cut out the b.s. and cut right to this.

by action781 on Oct 13, 2011 11:37 AM EDT reply actions

The Numbers...

Hopefully the mediator will look at all the ridiculous billions in revenues that both sides are fighting over and bitch slap both sides for being greedy and not being able to resolve the issues quicker.

by yakyakyak on Oct 13, 2011 7:07 PM EDT reply actions