If the NBA Isn’t Careful, It Will Become Baseball

Since coming into the NBA in 1992, Sprewell has earned more than $10 million from his contracts. And while people have been made to suffer from one stupid mistake--see Marv Albert, Jimmy the Greek, Al Campanis or Ben Wright--there is no doubt Sprewell will be able to play basketball for big money again next season.

The issue is hardly Sprewell or his behavior or Carlesimo and how coaches deal with players.

It’s the big money and who gets it, and who will have the bargaining power when the real fight takes place next summer over the labor agreement. That’s why the union is so concerned about this player’s rights, and why the league is fighting so hard to be able to suppress this player.

The only problem that neither side is willing to acknowledge is that when you hate each other in this manner, you become baseball. And then it’s awfully hard to sell those posters and caps and jerseys and tickets.

And players.