COLUMN: NBA lockout hurting others

Kent Malmros, Commentary real life game of rotisserie basketball, or basically to watch a kids game. But, when the collective bargaining agreement expired, and the June 30th lockout commenced, a ripple effect towards the edge of the basketball waters brought parties towards the surface that a fan can be sympathetic for. It's not the NBA journeymen, who will undoubtedly be hurt by losing their lowly $500,000 monthly paychecks. Instead, it's the effect that the lockout almost has on the college players still playing for the love, and the fans themselves. Last week, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the status of the Sonny Hill summer league was in jeopardy because of Sonny Hill's involvement with the Philadelphia 76ers, as President Pat Croce's Special Executive Advisor. So now, kids in North Philadelphia can't walk into the confines of McGonigle Hall at Temple and watch their heroes for an unbeatable price of admission -- nothing. While it looks as though the report may be just an obstacle, and league will finish this summer, the fact that the NBA has the ability to impair on the community's best basketball man from teaching the youth is simply an atrocity. The league's Vice President Tee Shields has been quoted as saying that it is doubtful there will be a league at all this year. The Baker League is an NBA sanctioned organization, and lockout rules disallow player participation. And while officials of the league say that the league hasn't gone anywhere -- the players have -- it's a farce. The players are all here, sort of. So while Hill is going to call an executive meeting of the league to determine if they will play and not ignore the NBA lockout, the college kids playing Sonny Hill are trying to improve their game for one reason -- to be good. The ability to play in the summer with the some of the NBA's best players is an invaluable experience. Now, the only things the NBA can't stop the players from playing are pick-up games. Which they haven't, but that's the extent of it. The college kids don't get a minimum of 47 percent of the league revenue, or in this case their school's revenue. But the NBA doesn't want a league in existence right now that has their players being instructed by a community leader who happens to be affiliated in some sense with the Philadelphia 76ers. And who loses? This one's simple. The college kids and the fans. Of course the league will try to find a way around it, just as every other summer league has. Sonny Hill may take his name and association away from the league for the summer, and the league will continue for the pros. F or now, the chances of a pro summer league are scarce, and "officially" sanctioned workouts under the one of the area's premiere basketball men could put his relationship with Croce in jeopardy. And it is a manifestation of greed. Hill isn't threatening the labor agreement between the players and the owners. What such a disallowment does is hurt the NBA's product. Croce would want his prize players to be getting better when the gates finally open, even if it is in December. Moreover, the NBA is hurting its future products, in the college product, the to-be draft choices. The local hoopsters should be able to fully benefit from the knowledge of the pros. But they can't if they're not around. The NBA and its players want it both ways. The fans and the local college kids get the short end of the stick. Take Penn center Geoff Owens. He is not one of mega-agent David Falk's clients, for whom he is trying to get 20 million dollars. He is simply trying to be the best center in the Ivy League. So Sonny Hill workouts may be the most important part of his summer. Playing 1997 lottery choice Tony Battie gives Owens a chance to be the best center he can be. Battie has already made his millions, and is working out to be the best player he can be -- for more money to come his way when the chains are cut. Owens is still looking to fulfill simpler dreams. The pick-up games will continue for now, so the players will try to get as much out of it as they can. The workouts of these gargantuan men has nothing to do with gargantuan dollars. The lack of them later may. Still, fans don't always know where the pick-up games are. It's easier to see them at Temple. Sonny Hill has given kids the ability to play basketball and be the best players they can be. Guess what? Sonny Hill helping these kids isn't going to solve the labor agreement problems. Sonny Hill isn't going to rid the NBA of the Larry Bird clause, or, for that matter, ensure that the players are going to keep the Bird clause. Taking away the fans' enjoyment for the summer, and the pro summer league, is one of the repercussions of a situation that makes you cringe to begin with. Sonny Hill can make Croce's players better, and the state of basketball better, while the owners and players are trying to screw it up. It's a disgrace that no one will get what they deserve ... the fans, the college players or basketball.