NEW YORK -- NBA players and owners will start negotiating again Saturday, and the unions leaders say theyre unified as they seek to resolve the lockout.
Irving Fryar Womens Jersey . President Derek Fisher, executive director Billy Hunter and executive committee members said after meeting for about three hours Thursday that there was no truth to reports of a rift among them. "Weve had no problems, and thats the reality," Hunter said. Hunter said they spent no more than 10-15 minutes total on a conference call earlier this week and during Thursdays gathering discussing the reports questioning Fishers allegiances. "The battle is not within our union," Bucks guard Keyon Dooling said. "Derek Fishers the best president our union has ever seen. Well stand as committee members -- Im the first vice-president and I stand behind him." Later Thursday came reports that a group of about 50 disgruntled players held a conference call with an antitrust lawyer about the possibility of pursuing decertification of the union. Yahoo Sports and The New York Times reported that the players would consider pursuing the tactic if union leaders made more concessions in negotiations. Thirty per cent of players would have to sign a petition, then a majority would have to vote in favour for decertification. Mere talk of decertification also could give the players side leverage in negotiations. Owners and players havent met since talks broke off last Friday. Hunter said federal mediator George Cohen contacted him earlier this week about possibly rejoining the negotiations. The conversation led to Hunter calling Commissioner David Stern on Wednesday about resuming talks, though it has yet to be determined whether Cohen will be involved. Hunter said union leaders had spent the last several days cautioning players that the two sides were still far apart on several system issues, so completing a deal was not as simple as a compromise on the revenue split. "Our guys are in a position of they still want us to negotiate a fair deal," Fisher said. "Theyve given us that power. Theyve given us that support. "Obviously, were going to have individual members in individual sets of circumstances that want to get back to play. We want to get back to play. But we realize the ramifications of agreeing to a bad deal at this moment. ... This particular collective bargaining agreement will forever impact the circumstances of NBA basketball players. We cant rush into a deal we feel is a bad deal just to save this season." The lockout, which began July 1, has already led to the cancellation of a month of regular-season games. The two sides met for three days last week, but again the talks stalled when they turned to the revenue split. Theyll get back at it Saturday, though neither side seems to be shifting its stance. "Its not wise or prudent for us to not meet or let huge gaps of time go by and let the clock run and not meet, because then we just become more entrenched in our respective positions," Hunter said. "At least if were around the table something might happen; I cant predict if anything will." Hunter said he told Fisher after negotiations broke down Friday: "You will see the kind of friend I have been and will continue to be."
Logan Mankins Womens Jersey . The former New York Jets quarterback was in the trainers room on Sept. 11, 2001, and had trouble making sense of the gaping, smoke-spewing hole in one of the Twin Towers.
Will Smith Womens Jersey . -- Salvador Perez has gone from cold to hot in three games.Many of the Blue Jays bright lights of the future are getting long looks at the teams Spring Training camp in Dunedin in the knowledge that more time in the minor leagues is needed before they make the jump to everyday duties in the Bigs. However, one Opening Day position remains unclaimed. The battle for Left Field remains heated through the third week of camp with Eric Thames and Travis Snider battling it out for the teams one available outfield job. Thames appeared to enter the spring with the edge, often taking the field and running drills with projected starters Jose Bautista and Colby Rasmus in the early going as well as suiting up with the pair to start the teams spring opener on Mar. 3. However, some believe Snider to have the higher ceiling in terms of projected major league talent. Just three years ago Snider was dubbed the sixth-best prospect in Baseball Americas annual Top 100 behind the likes of David Price, Jason Heyward and current teammate Colby Rasmus. However, his numbers over the past three seasons led to Thames establishing residency in left in 2011 from late June onward. But which player is the answer, long-term? Here are the raw numbers - Thames: (25 y/o, Hits: Left, Throws: Right, Ht/Wt: 61" – 205 lbs) 2011 stats: 95 GP, .262 BA, 12 HR, 37 RBI, .769 OPS, 2 SB, .987 Fielding %, 2 Assists Spring Training stats (as of 03/12): 17 AB, .294 BA, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .898 OPS, 0 SB, 1.000 F%, 0 Assists Snider: (24 y/o, Hits: Left, Throws: Left, Ht/Wt: 60" – 235 lbs) 2011 stats: 49 GP, .225 BA, 3 HR, 30 RBI, .616 OPS, 9 SB, .969 Fielding %, 4 Assists Spring Training stats (as of 03/12): 19 AB, .316 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1.223 OPS, 1 SB, 1.000 F%, 3 Assists Its no secret that Snider has struggled to find consistency as a major leaguer. In his fourth year with the Jays, Snider has seen his average drop from .301 (in 24 games in 2008) to last seasons low of .225. But Sniders problem doesnt seem to be hitting major league pitching, his problem seems to be stringing together a season of regular success at the plate. Snider was demoted to Las Vegas (AAA) at the end of April of last year. He returned to the Jays in July and promptly caught fire. In his first 13 games back with the club, he hit .357 and drove in 17 runs. However, 11 games and just six hits later, Snider was back in Vegas where he would finish the year. With Sniders demotion, TThames became the everyday left fielder.
Irving Fryar Jersey. However, his numbers down the stretch were not much better than Sniders. Thames hit .247 from August onward, including just .211 through September and October. However, he did seem to respond to hitting second in the order throughout his 95-game stint, doing much of his damage from that spot, including a .285 average with 11 homers and 31 runs batted-in in 71 games. Thames appears to have the confidence of Jays manager John Farrell at the plate, while Snider offers better speed, defence and versatility in the outfield. Thames had his best games with the Jays as the teams designated hitter last season. While only appearing in 14 games as the teams DH, Thames hit a whopping .354 when he didnt have to take the field, scoring 11 runs in the process. Snider, meanwhile, offers the kind of outfield hustle that saw him occasionally fill in as the Jays centrefielder and doubled Thames outfield assists total in just over half as many games. But the numbers at the plate – especially when the going gets tough – favour Thames in the head-to-head battle. While both players had better numbers against righties, Thames .216 average against left-handers looks sparkling when put alongside Sniders mark of .152 against south-paws. Another issue with Snider is patience and poise at the plate, seeing him hit just .127 in 63 at-bats that saw pitchers get ahead of him in the count. Thames mark of .203 – while unspectacular – at least puts him above the Mendoza Line. So the Jays are left to evaluate the pair with the weeks remaining in camp. The team has set itself up to allow possible future starters to develop slowly in the minors, with high-ceiling players like Travis dArnaud, Anthony Gose, Adeiny Hechevarria and Kyle Drabek patiently waiting for their shot. So the team is likely unconcerned at the prospect of sending one of the two talented young players to Las Vegas to start the year or even to play out the year in full. The teams patient approach to player development has been well documented and should one player cement his hold on the job, the team will then be left with the task of either reshaping or relocating whichever player loses out on the everyday gig. But with the pair seemingly getting an equal shot at the job in the early-going this spring, it seems that the team itself is still making up its mind. ' ' '