http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/28154920

NEW YORK -- In another baby step in NBA labor talks, the league has furnished long-awaited financial data for the 2009-10 season to the National Basketball Players Association, which has begun a review of the documents, two people familiar with the situation told CBSSports.com Tuesday.

NBA 總部寄給 NBPA (球員工會) 2009 到 2010 年的財務報表

The data are crucial to both sides as they prepare for more heated negotiations that center on the financial health of the sport. Owners are seeking massive changes to the collective bargaining agreement, which expires June 30, based on their contention that the current model is not sustainable due to annual league-wide losses approaching $400 million. The NBPA, however, contends that the sport is healthier than the owners are willing to admit, citing last season's record revenues -- which are detailed in the documents furnished to the union in recent days.

老闆們說, 現在每年平均有 $400 million ($4 億美金) 的虧損.  而球員工會說, 他們最近看到的資料是去年有破紀錄的獲利.

Sources told CBSSports.com that high-ranking union officials have yet to analyze the documents, which will be added to a treasure trove of financial data the NBA has turned over to support its case for a massive reduction in player salaries and a hard salary cap to replace the current luxury tax-based system loaded with spending exceptions. Unlike the NFL in its labor fight with players, the NBA has been forthcoming with financial data, including audited tax returns from all 30 teams.

工會的高層在看完這份報表後, 會結合已經取得的資料來研究 NBA 提出的減低薪資, 調低薪資上限以及豪華稅機制.  跟 NFL 的封館不同的是, NBA早就已經準備好了 - 包括彙整了全部 30 隊的稅務資料.

While the 2009-10 data are expected to support the union's belief that revenues remain robust and at record levels, the owners' case hinges on their assertion that costs are too high. While the '09-'10 data have not been fully vetted, they are expected to reflect an approximately $100 million decline in gate receipts, which was offset by a $130 million increase in non-ticket revenues, according to a person familiar with the league's finances. The $30 million net increase in revenues represents approximately a 1 percent rise from 2008-09, during the depths of the economic recession. During the same period, negotiated player salaries have decreased $120 million, the person familiar with league finances said.

工會說 09-10 年的獲利很高, 但是老闆會說成本(cost)更高.  正當 09-10 年的報表還未完全(按: 報稅季節還沒過), 可預期的是會看到球票銷售減少了 $100 million ($1億美金), 相對應的是非球票的獲利約 $130 million ($1.3億美金).  這 $30 million ($3千萬美金) 相當於 08-09 球季金融風暴後以來的 1% 成長.  而在這同時期, 球員的薪資約減少了 $120 million ($1.2億美金).

While owners and league negotiators have long countered that a decrease in negotiated salaries is irrelevant because players are guaranteed 57 percent of basketball-related income (BRI), the players' association indicated in its July 1 proposal a willingness to negotiate a reduction in that guarantee. Nine months later, the owners have yet to come back to the table with a formal counterproposal.

聯盟和老闆覺得降低薪水根本沒差, 因為球員還是有 57% 的相關收入保障 (BRI 條例). 但是工會自從2010年7月1號提出的討論方案, 聯盟到現在為止都沒有給任何回應.

NBPA executive director Billy Hunter, who had been out of the office and was unaware the league had sent the '09-'10 financial data when he spoke recently with CBSSports.com on various labor issues, is said to be preparing for an April meeting with commissioner David Stern and deputy commissioner Adam Silver. Such a meeting, which has yet to be officially scheduled, could set the tone for negotiators on both sides as time begins to run out to achieve a compromise before a lockout would occur upon the expiration of the current agreement at midnight June 30. 

工會執行長 Billy Hunter (之前告假)最近才閱讀完這份報表, 並且會跟 David Stern 和 Adam Silver 在4月份會有一次會晤.  當6月30日的大限就快到了, 這次的會晤應該就會有更清楚的走向

It is unclear when the heavy hitters in the NBA's labor fight will have clarity about the success or failure of the NFL players' attempt to thwart a lockout by decertifying their union. A hearing in the NFL decertification case is scheduled for April 6 in federal court in Minneapolis, but a ruling could take several weeks, sources say.

即使在不確定的情況下, NBA 的薪資戰爭會跟 NFL 的薪資戰爭息息相關.  NFL 的官司會在 4 月 6 號於 Minneapolis 開庭審理, 而在幾週之後(不知道幾週...)就應該會看到結果

(翻譯並未字句全部, 幾乎是只翻大意)

沙發我來坐...

最近NBA勞資方面的問題越演越烈......公會方最近在反擊.....