A group of APSE sports editors met in April in New York with commissioners from the four major sports leagues, plus the NHL and Major League Baseball players associations, NASCAR, U.S. Track and Field and the United States Olympic Committee. Here's what they had to say.

With labor problems in hockey apparently just around the corner and baseball still trying to find a permanent home for the Expos, Commissioner David Stern and the folks from the NBA had mostly positive news and views to share with sports editors:

Stern said it was a good year for the league, with attendance, revenues and cable TV ratings all up for the 2003-04 season. Regular-season ratings did slip on ABC.

The league would like to work out a new agreement with the union before the "gun of expiration," Stern said, and there's a window of opportunity before next season begins to have serious conversations. "The players would like to make an agreement, and we'd like to do it."

The NBA is trying to stay at the forefront of technology, launching NBA TV which is available currently in 66 million homes. Stern said nba.com is getting record hits and the league is negotiating to deliver highlights to cell phones. "People are beginning to absorb sports in different ways. ... Fans are going to experience our game away from the arena in a much more challenging way."

Games are now available in 200 counties and more than 40 languages, which has an impact on talent and who is drawn to the NBA, he said. "There is an enormous development of basketball on a global level, and we are looking at how to harness that for the NBA."

The NBA would like to set an entry age limit of 20, but a developmental league could be open to younger players. "My view is that it's not a great thing for the people who are not going to make it to have had their focus on the NBA," said Stern.

Deputy commissioner Russ Granik acknowledged the differences between the teams in the East and West this year. "We could have had a division where the winner was not in the top 8, but then Miami came on strong and even got home-court advantage (in the first round)."

Stern said the league has to be careful with increased access to players, coaches and officials during games. "We would be wise to be sensitive to the fact kids are listening — sensitive, but we don't want to overreact."

Granik said he doesn't see extending the use of replay beyond checking last-second shots. "I've seen some college games where you have huge delays."

The depth in women's college basketball is helping, according to WNBA President Val Ackerman. "The women's game is rapidly transforming," she said. "Our fans have really recognized that. The skill level is clearly expanding."

Ackerman said the growing commitment between women and sports, both on the participatory level and in supporting leagues like the NBA and NFL, should be of interest to us. "There are implications for the media in how you address this kind of fan — it's not just the box score. Women are coming to the sports pages in growing numbers."

— Richard Bush
Miami Herald