NO BIG RUSH FOR `GIFT' : NBA EXHIBITION GAME LAGGING IN SALE OF TICKETS.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Gathered in another gambling town and needy for publicity, locked-out NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= players tried to boost prospects for their exhibition game by billing it as a ``gift to the fans.'' But this gift, in person or on TV, comes with a price. ``The Game on Showtime,'' featuring 16 current or former All-Stars, will tip off at 6 p.m. (PST PST Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, see there ) tonight at the Atlantic City Convention Center The Atlantic City Convention Center is located in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Center was developed in part as an aspect of the city's ongoing attempt to recreate itself as a year-round destination rather than a mere summer resort — the same thought process that . The telecast is available only to cable customers who pay a premium to receive Showtime. ``This weekend is for giving back to the fans,'' said Shawn Kemp Shawn T. Kemp (born November 26, 1969, in Elkhart, Indiana) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He is widely regarded as one of the best slam dunkers of all-time. of the Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a 1970 expansion team and won their first Eastern Conference Championship in 2007. , ``and hopefully people will tune in around the country because people miss professional basketball.'' About 8,000 tickets have been sold or given away for the 12,500-seat arena, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. game director Curtis Polk, although a ticket agent was quoted in Friday's edition of The Press of Atlantic City Atlantic City, city (1990 pop. 37,986), Atlantic co., SE N.J., an Atlantic resort and convention center; settled c.1790, inc. 1854. Situated on Absecon Island, a barrier island 10 mi (16. as saying only 574 tickets, priced at $25, $50, $100, $200, $300 and $500, had been sold through his agency as of Thursday morning. Promoters historically have been wary of scheduling events in this city between Thanksgiving and Christmas - traditionally the slowest time of the year. Interest also has been kept down because of the nonparticipation of Michael Jordan This article is about the former basketball player. For other uses, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. . ``We have no expectations that Michael will attend,'' Polk said. The 16 players will be divided into two teams. The ``Red'' team, coached by Charles Barkley This article is about the basketball player. For the politican, see Charles E. Barkley Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. , will include Patrick Ewing Patrick Aloysius Ewing (born August 5, 1962) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played most of his career with the National Basketball Association's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic. , Tim Hardaway, Kemp, Dan Majerle, Karl Malone, Reggie Miller, Mitch Richmond and Dominique Wilkins. The ``White'' team will include Alonzo Mourning, Vin Baker, Tom Gugliotta, Allan Houston, Chris Webber, Glen Rice, Penny Hardaway and Gary Payton. ``We're going to have a little surprise on the `White' team coach,'' Polk said. For some of the players, this weekend will be the first time they've seen each other since more than 200 of them gathered in Las Vegas in late October for a union meeting. Some have criticized the players for using two gambling towns for their meetings. Polk explained that Atlantic City was chosen because it is close to Philadelphia, site of the now-canceled NBA All-Star Game, and because it is within 200 miles of several major cities. Since their caucus in Las Vegas, when an 82-game season remained a possibility, the first 2-1/2 months of the season have been wiped out by the owner-imposed lockout lockout, intentional closing up of a company, factory, or shop by an employer to prevent employees from working during a strike or labor dispute. The term lockout that threatens to cancel the entire season. Players have lost more than $400 million in salaries. Commissioner David Stern said he spoke with union director Billy Hunter by telephone Thursday but that no new negotiations are scheduled. ``This weekend, we're trying to get off the lockout topic and focus on this game,'' said Mourning, who refused to answer questions concerning the details of the work stoppage. ``At this time of year, our body clocks tell us we should be playing basketball. There should be some intensity out there because we're anxious to get going.'' Proceeds from the game will be donated to charities in the Atlantic City and Philadelphia areas. Organizers backed off an earlier plan to share some of the proceeds with ``needy' basketball players. ``It was met with tremendous criticism and the players admitted they made a mistake. We all admit we made a mistake,'' agent David Falk said. ``I think the league at some point should also admit that they made a mistake in depriving the fans of basketball simply so they could make more profits.'' THE GAME ON SHOWTIME Today, 6 p.m. Atlantic City Convention Center TV: Showtime LOCKOUT AT A GLANCE A look at the NBA lockout through Friday, Day 171: Total days of season missed: 46. Games lost Friday: 10. Total games missed: 322. Earliest estimated date season can start: Jan. 22. Negotiations: Nothing scheduled. Projected player salary losses (through Jan. 22): $480 million. Today's best canceled game: Utah at Toronto. You've got to get up pretty early in the morning to watch the Jazz play the Raptors. Quote of the day:``It was met with tremendous criticism and the players admitted they made a mistake. We all admit we made a mistake. I think the league at some point should also admit that they made a mistake in depriving the fans of basketball simply so they could make more profits'' - agent David Falk on tonight's exhibition game in Atlantic City, the proceeds of which were originally planned to be split between starving children and ``needy'' NBA players. CAPTION(S): Box BOX: LOCKOUT AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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