NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS - International Relations Organization

VICS XX
NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS
To the Board of Governors of the National Basketball Association,
First of all, thank you for your love toward the sport of basketball. I hope each of
you is ready to explore the intricacies of running a successful basketball team and a sports
league over the course of this weekend at VICS XX. I want to start by telling you guys a
little about myself. I went to a small high school and stood out like a sore thumb as a
lanky 5’11 freshman. My basketball coach, who was also my English teacher, recruited me
to try out for the team. I couldn’t dribble, shoot, or pass, but you know what they say - you
can’t teach height. Eventually, I worked my way to becoming the captain of the team in
my senior year. Throughout that process, I was a sponge for knowledge of the sport. I
studied the game in detail, learning all I could. As a result, I became a huge fan of the NBA
and have read a majority of the literature published about it.
Though Kyle lacks any measurable form of basketball talent, he is equally excited
for the committee. He believes it will give you all an unparalleled Model UN experience.
He has a variety of exciting crises that are sure to test both your knowledge of the NBA
and your ability to negotiate with other delegates to find solutions to multi-faceted issues.
We’re beyond excited to see what you guys will bring to the committee. We are
combining our passion for basketball with our love for policy, debate, and crises. We’re
excited to share our passion with all of you, and cannot wait to see what direction you
guys decide to take the league in the simulated year of this committee. We want you guys
to keep a couple of points in mind before coming to VICS. Firstly, it is important for you
all to realize that social media really began to get a foothold in American culture around
this time. Moreover, be prepared for anything we throw at you and keep on your toes at all
times. Our crisis staff has a wide assortment of surprises planned for you all. Also be sure
to assimilate yourself completely in your assigned role. Understand your team completely
- live for it. Know the demographic of the region it resides in and how it relates to its
geopolitical. Learn the finances of the team and the NBA. Know its best players and its
greatest triumphs and also know its worst defeats. You are responsible for writing your
franchise’s future. This committee will evolve from a weekend of challenging debate to a
completely immersive simulation.
Remember, this is where amazing happens. Anything is possible.
Hoyle Wang
Chair
[email protected]
Kyle Angelotti
Crisis Director
[email protected]
Structure of the Committee
This committee will simulate the events of the National Basketball Association,
starting on June 20, 2003. This means that any transfers in the real world enacted after
June 20, 2003, will be void for the purposes of our committee – though you can pursue
similar actions if you would like. The delegates of this Board of Governors will have a
limited amount of time to influence the policies that govern the NBA, and thus success is
contingent on time-sensitive progress. The primary objective of this committee is to repair
several areas of the NBA that are defective or broken, as well as to maintain a positive
overall opinion of the league. However, nothing prevents any councilman in this
committee from seeking the best possible finish for their club in the 2003-2004 season.
Policies enacted by the committee, as well as personal directives, can influence the
structure of the Board of Governors, the rules of the league, and of course, the team’s
performance in the league. This might include influencing tactics used throughout the
season, granting interviews for individuals within the organization, penning press
releases, and so on.
Delegates will receive their explicit portfolio powers upon arrival in committee. It is
recommended that delegates research possible portfolio powers they may have in
preparation for the committee. Please note, that as owners of teams as well as members of
the Board of Governors, delegates will be allowed to access the resources of their teams
and their own personal sources of wealth. An example could be Micky Arison, who owns
Miami Heat and is also the CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines.
Unless otherwise stated, the meeting will follow standard parliamentary procedure,
the strictness of which will be left to the chair’s discretion. Members of the committee are
required, whenever they are not speaking, to please remain seated and quiet. Delegates
are expected to be on time for each committee session and to participate in the flow of
debate in order to reach a consensus on the topics at hand. The use of tablets,
smartphones, cell phones, and laptops is prohibited during committee session.
History and Current Status of the NBA
The NBA Board of Governors is the governing body that oversees all executive
decisions made by the NBA as a whole. There are 30 teams currently in the NBA, which
means that there are 30 representatives on the Board of Governors. Each representative is
typically the owner of the team. However, the owner may sometimes send someone on his
behalf. Though a total of 58 NBA championships have been won, the Boston Celtics and
Los Angeles Lakers make up for a whopping 30 titles combined, more than half of all
championships won in the NBA (“Playoff”). 1The reigning champions are the San Antonio
Spurs, who defeated the New Jersey Nets 4-2 for the Larry O’Brien trophy.
The National Basketball Association was founded in 1946 and merged with the
American Basketball Association in 1976, creating the modern NBA we know today. The
end of the 1970s for the league was marred with declining TV ratings, low attendance, and
drug-related player issues. However, with the addition of the ABA’s three-point line and
the emergence of rookies Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the NBA experienced a period of
significant growth in fan base in the early 1980s. The next decade would be revered as the
golden age of basketball. With the emergence of superstars the likes of Michael Jordan,
Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, and John Stockton, the NBA soared in popularity. Entering
the 21st century, the NBA is just as competitive if not better than other major sports
leagues in America and has positioned itself as a premiere destination for live
entertainment.
1
1. "Playoff Index of the NBA and ABA | Basketball-Reference.com."
Growth of the NBA
As a result of the limited amount of players during a game at once and the heavy
focus that the media puts on individual players, the NBA relies on its charismatic stars
more than any other sports league to power its popularity and TV ratings. The NBA Finals
averaged Nielsen Ratings of 6.5 each game, in contrast to the Super Bowl, which received
a rating of 40.7. The Nielsen Ratings attempt to measure the percentage of TVs in
America that are tuned into a specific program. This past year, the NBA has seen the
lowest TV ratings of the NBA finals in over 20 years. The stark difference in viewership
alone is evidence enough just how far behind the NFL the NBA is in terms of popularity in
America.
It is important to examine why the NFL is so much more favored than the NBA and
the strategies they used to acquire such popularity. If the NBA can identify the specific
appeal of professional football and try to replicate it, professional basketball may one day
rival the breadth in popularity enjoyed by the NFL. The length of the season could be one
potential difference that heightens the drama of football and dilutes interest in any
specific game of regular season basketball. Star appeal is another key area that should be
examined, as it is the way that fans are able to connect most with the league. Building a
stronger fan base around stars who are appealing to fans could be made a priority in order
to increase popularity.
Furthermore, we must grow the hype about NBA domestically. The NFL has been
cemented as the center of the athletic universe for Americans as a result of the massive
amount of media coverage. The NFL has immense TV contracts as opposed to the NBA,
whose seem paltry in comparison. In the upcoming months, both of these leagues’ deals
with Time Warner Cable and other media outlets will expire, giving the NBA the
opportunity to renegotiate for a larger TV deal and hence acquire more media attention in
order to grow the league. It is the job of this Board to come up with a strategy to pitch
growth plans of the future to these media partners.
However, not all efforts should be focused on the growth of basketball in America.
Since the 1960s with Red Auerbach’s initial efforts, the NBA has been bringing basketball
to countries throughout the world.2 With a cadre of international players participating,
the worldwide appeal of the league has grown to great heights. From Yao Ming’s stardom
to Dirk Nowitzki’s patented fadeaway, international players are instrumental in the
success of many franchises. The NBA should explore ways to capitalize on the popularity
abroad and continue to promote the NBA brand. From international TV deals to
discussing an expansion team in a foreign country, the possibilities are nearly limitless for
international basketball.
Racial Tensions in the NBA
Even before the modern era of NBA began, African American players had
established themselves in professional basketball. In 1950, the Boston Celtics’ owner
Walter Brown made Chuck Cooper the first African American drafted by an NBA team. He
was widely criticized when he made the announcement but responded by saying “I don’t
give a damn if he’s striped, plaid, or polka dot. Boston takes Chuck Cooper of Dusquene!”3
It was still no easy road for African Americans playing in professional sports leagues, as
they were taunted by fans throughout the country, due to the widespread racism during
that era. Bill Russell was the most visible example of a star who had to deal with anti-
2
3
Zillgitt, Jeff. “Timeline to the 1998-1999 NBA Lockout,”
Howell, Dave. “Six Who Paved the Way”
African American sentiment. His house was broken into and he was repeatedly sent death
threats in the mail all while living in the segregated city of Boston.4 Though the situation
for black NBA players improved as the civil rights movement went forward, and rampant
racism was less common, there were still a number of struggles.
With the culmination of the civil rights movement in the late 1960s, tensions
between blacks and whites were at an all time high. People turned to sports as a venue to
bring them together. However, the NBA had been tainted by the image of a drugged out
league in which the majority of the players partook in cocaine. This view was not one that
was far off from the reality. In addition to this, the incident that occurred on December 9,
1977, where African-American player Kermit Washington punched white guard Rudy
Tomjanovich in the face with near-lethal force, sparked the worst period of public
relations for the NBA. People were scared to bring their families and children to games.
Over the last three decades, the NBA has done a lot to change this view of the
league. Carried on the backs of superstars, the league has become a form of entertainment
that the entire family can enjoy. The game’s reaches extend far beyond the U.S, and
annually there are more and more players entering the NBA from overseas. However,
these problems are not all fixed. With the ownership and management of NBA teams
being mainly Caucasian men, there has been a strong consensus of culture disconnect
between the ownership and players of all teams across the NBA. In addition, the rise of
hip-hop as a relatively new genre of music that is sweeping the nation, NBA players have
rapidly adopted it as a part of their own culture. The popularized form of hip-hop,
however, is often filled with obscenities towards women and utterings of acts of violence.
The NBA must shed its label as a league of “thugs” in order to preserve its future.
4
May, Peter. “Auerbach, Pride of Celtics, Dies,”
Kobe Bryant Sexual Assault Allegations
Each NBA decade has been defined by one player and his dominance over his
peers. The 70s had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The 80s had Magic Johnson and the '90s
belonged to Michael Jordan. The new millennium has thus far belonged to Kobe Bryant.
In the past season alone, Kobe Bryant has scored 40 or more points in nine consecutive
games. Compare this to the scoring average of around 8 points per player over the course
of a game; it is easy to see that Kobe’s pure basketball ability transcends his peers.
However, in the same way his ferocity and will attract his most beloved fans, it also
serves as the same fuel for those who disdain him. Bryant is so polarizing because the only
thing more immense than Kobe Bryant’s basketball talent could quite possibly be his ego.
When he started in the league, he said “I don’t want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only
want to be Kobe Bryant,” implying that his skill was not comparable to any other player,
even the consensus “greatest of all time”.5 It is his steadfast belief that he is the only
person capable of leading his team to victory. Consequently, much of the criticism meted
out to Kobe concerns his inability to be a team player. This is what causes the animated
basketball debates when discussing his play.
It is because of Kobe’s polarizing image that the media and nation as a whole was
shocked over the events of the past month. Kobe Bryant allegedly committed adultery and
sexually assaulted a hotel employee while in Colorado to have knee surgery. A woman
working at the resort came forward claiming that Bryant raped her and threatened her
during an encounter in his hotel room. On the contrary, Bryant says that the sex, while
adulterous, was consensual, and that he never threatened or attempted to hurt the
5
Luke, Coolhand. “Sports: The Wisdom and Resilience of Bill Russell.”
woman.6 Being one of the most visible athletes in the NBA, not to mention one who is
married, Kobe Bryant’s alleged misconduct has resulted in a media firestorm. Headlines
have been filled with media outlets scrutinizing Kobe and publishing particularly graphic
details of the alleged assault.7 Currently, there are pending sexual assault charges on
Bryant that could result in him spending up to life in prison. The Board of Governors
must decide what actions, if any, it will take with regards to an incredibly popular and
crucial player who is currently accused of a heinous crime.
Team Operations
One of the more interesting things regarding the future of the NBA is the
possibility of a franchise changing cities. There are a variety of reasons a team may move
such as new ownership or low attendance. However, the most common reason in recent
years seems to be disagreements with cities over building new arenas. Most recently,
George Shinn moved the Charlotte Hornets to New Orleans, when a public referendum to
fund a new stadium in Charlotte failed.8 The issue of how much cities should contribute to
new stadiums is often a source of contention between city councils and a team’s owners,
and it also serves to alienate fans who pay large sums to attend games. The NBA is at a
crossroads where this very phenomenon may happen in Sacramento and Seattle. These
two teams having trouble securing funding for a new arena to replace their current
antiquated stadiums. While it is necessary to have a state-of-the-art arena to maximize
ticket sales and energize a fan base, it can also produce a great deal of upheaval for a
franchise if disagreement persists.
Emerick, Peter. “Kobe Bryant and the Most Out-of-Control Egos in the NBA.”
Johnston, Lauren. “Kobe Details Alleged Rape Night.”
8 Gittrich, Greg. “Brutal Rape Tale Kobe Accuser”
6
7
There are more issues that should be considered within team operations. The
current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in 2005. To avoid another
disastrous lockout like the one that was seen in 1999, a new collective bargaining
agreement will need to be reached. The 1999 lockout wiped out the majority of the season
and resulted in much fan apathy with regard to professional basketball.9 Though there has
been substantial recovery since this incident, another lockout would be extremely
problematic. Developing a plan for revenue sharing and new salary cap structures prior to
expiration of the current CBA is instrumental in ensuring the future of NBA seasons.
During these deliberations the Board also need to secure a revenue stream without giving
up too much to the players. Combating ballooning player salaries is one way to
accomplish this. Keeping the spirit of negotiation positive and out of the public view are
strategies that must be employed to avoid the mistakes of the past.
Questions to Consider:
•
How should the Board of Governors respond to the serious allegations that have been
levied against Kobe Bryant?
•
What should the Board look for in a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and how can
another lockout be avoided?
•
As an NBA owner, how can you improve your team’s brand and optimize your
opportunities for revenue?
•
What specific solutions can address the racial tensions in the NBA currently?
Recommended Research Tools
● Your team’s website and nba.com
9
Foster, Mary. “Owners Approve Hornets’ Move to New Orleans,”
● Most sports related websites, like espn.com, cbssports.com, bleacherreport.com, among
others
● The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy by Bill Simmons
● Dream Team by Jack McCallum
● The Breaks of the Game by David Halberstam
● The Jordan Rules by Sam Smith
● Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made by David Halberstam
Dossier
Indiana Pacers—Herbert Simon
Going into the 2004-2005 season, the Indiana Pacers are poised for success. Coming off a
Central Division championship, and the best regular season record in the Eastern
Conference, the Pacers have a cadre of stars such as Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson,
Jermaine O’Neill, and Reggie Miller. Herb Simon was the co-founder of Simon Property
Group, which is one of the largest real estate corporations in the world. They own a
variety of malls and shopping centers worldwide.
New Jersey Nets—Bruce Ratner
The Nets are coming off a good season with a disappointing playoff performance. They
lost in seven games in the second round to the eventual NBA champion Detroit Pistons.
Bruce Ratner became a real estate developer in New York after a short stint as a lawyer
and a foray into politics. He was the Chairman of Forest City Enterprises, and is
responsible for the building of skyscrapers in cities across the United States.
Detroit Pistons—William Davidson
The Pistons are coming off an NBA championship season entering 2004, with talent like
Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, and Chauncey Billups. Davidson himself has been devoted
to the NBA for years, being one of the first individuals to promote globalization of the
sport, and making many innovations within his own team. He was also the CEO of
Guardian Industries, which is a major worldwide glass producer.
Miami Heat—Micky Arison
The Miami Heat just witnessed Dwayne Wade’s rookie season, and have high hopes
moving into his second year. Although they were defeated by the Pacers in the second
round of last year’s playoffs, they have confidence in the core around their young star,
especially in light of a summer trade for Shaquille O’Neil. Micky Arison was the CEO of
Carnival Corporation, which includes the famous Carnival Cruise Lines, along with other
various companies.
New Orleans Hornets—George Shinn
The second year after a controversial relocation from Charlotte to New Orleans, the
Hornets made the playoffs. The Miami Heat knocked them out in seven games. George
Shinn had moved the team after a controversial trial about a potential sexual assault
tarnished his public image. Additionally, local voters had refused to approve a new
stadium, earning the ire of the owner.
Milwaukee Bucks—Herb Kohl
The Bucks had a mediocre season in 2003-2004, making the playoffs with a .500 record,
and being trounced in the opening round by the eventual champion Detroit Pistons. Herb
Kohl is a longtime US Senator from Wisconsin, and is a relatively liberal democrat. He
made his fortune as the CEO of Kohl’s Corporation, which included the popular
department store that bears his name.
New York Knicks—James Dolan
The 2003 Knicks limped into the postseason 4 games under .500 and were promptly
swept by the New Jersey Nets. They went through three head coaches during the season,
leading many to continue to question James Dolan’s ownership. His tenure is
controversial because of what many see as poor business decisions. He is also the owner
of the New York Rangers as part of his duties as Chairman of the Madison Square Garden
Company.
Boston Celtics—Wycliffe Grousbeck
Though the 2003-04 Celtics made the playoffs, they were the 8 seed, had a regular season
record well below .500, and were easily defeated by the Pacers. They went through a
rebuilding phase after the season, with new GM Danny Ainge moving around many pieces
of the organization to try to turn them into a contender. Grousbeck’s primary job in his
life was running the Boston Celtics, after he and his father were the primary purchasers in
last year’s deal.
Cleveland Cavaliers—Gordon Gund
The Cavaliers are in the midst of a resurgence following last season. Highly touted rookie
LeBron James just completed his first year, and Cleveland is buzzing with excitement over
what the future held. Gund was the CEO of an investment banking firm and also owned
various sports teams over the years, with a main focus on hockey.
Washington Wizards—Abe Pollin
The Wizards had a poor 2003-04 season in the aftermath of Abe Pollin’s firing of Michael
Jordan as executive/player for the franchise. The team has young talent in Larry Hughes
and point guard Gilbert Arenas. Pollin’s name is synonymous with Washington sports
because of his ownership of the Wizards, Capitals, and Mystics. He is dedicated to the city,
and using his knowledge from being a building contractor earlier in life, was able to help
revitalize downtown Washington through building the MCI Center as an arena for the
Wizards and Capitals.
Chicago Bulls—Jerry Reinsdorf
The Bulls have been rebuilding ever since Michael Jordan’s final retirement in 1999.
However, things look more promising heading into the 2004-05 season with the addition
of two highly touted rookies: Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. Reinsdorf was a tax accountant
and made most of his money in the real estate business utilizing his knowledge of tax law.
He is also owner of the Chicago White Sox.
Orlando Magic—Richard DeVos
The Magic are coming off a league worst record in 2003-04, and just traded their star,
Tracy McGrady to the Rockets. However, with the number one pick they took Dwight
Howard, this coupled with offseason moves shows that they are taking the right steps in
rebuilding. DeVos was the co-founder of Amway, an American marketing company that
sells goods throughout the world.
Minnesota Timberwolves—Glen Taylor
The Timberwolves finished the 2003-2004 season as the best team in the Western
Conference. With Kevin Garnett leading the way, they are poised to build upon the
success of the previous year. Glen Taylor made his money by building up a small printing
company into a multinational corporation. He was also formerly one of the US Senators
from Minnesota.
LA Lakers—Jerry Buss
Despite the fact that the Lakers are coming off an NBA title run in the 2003-2004 season,
the offseason has featured plenty of changes. Coach Phil Jackson left the team, and star
Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat. Jerry Buss made his living as a real estate
investor, but also had a passion for chemistry due to his teaching background.
San Antonio Spurs—Peter Holt
The 2003-2004 Spurs failed to live up to expectations of their team that had won two
NBA finals. The retirement of some key veterans, including David Robinson, left them
ending their season in the second round of the playoffs. Peter Holt was originally a
member of the US Army, but was most successful after joining business with his father,
and becoming leaders in selling heavy building machinery.
Sacramento Kings—Joe Maloof
The powerful Kings team that had existed in 2002 is on the downswing, and in the
summer of 2004, many personnel changes just came to the team to attempt to remain
competitive after losing in the playoffs to the Timberwolves. The Maloof family made their
fortune in a variety of areas. Aside from filmmaking, and their ownership of the Palms
casino resorts, they are major distributors for Coors.
Dallas Mavericks—Mark Cuban
The Mavericks had attempted to be successful in the 2003-2004 season by making trades
for waning stars. After an early playoff exit, they are trying to build a team that will play
together better, despite the fact that Steve Nash left in free agency. Mark Cuban made his
fortune through software development and his own broadcast.com company. He is now
seen as an active investor in venture capital, and is one of the most controversial owners
in the NBA because of his active style, and frequent complaints about officiating.
Memphis Grizzlies—Michael Heisley
The Grizzlies are coming of their best season in franchise history, after making the
playoffs for the first time ever in 2003-2004. They have reason for hope with Coach Hubie
Brown leading a team featuring Jason Williams and Pau Gasol. Michael Heisley originally
made his money selling computers. He is well known for moving the Grizzlies from
Vancouver to Memphis after purchasing them in 2000.
Houston Rockets—Leslie Alexander
After the 2003-2004 season, the Rockets were able to acquire Orlando Magic superstar
Tracy McGrady to come in and complement Yao Ming. This addition to an already
established team, which was able to make the previous year’s playoffs, is very exciting.
Leslie Alexander was a very successful investment banker who purchased the Houston
Rockets in 1993, and has owned them since.
Denver Nuggets—Stan Kroenke
With rookie Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets completed a radical turnaround in
2003-2004. They made the playoffs despite winning less than 20 games the previous
year. Stan Kroenke made his money through real estate development of strip malls and
apartment buildings. This development often occurred in the suburbs near new Wal-Mart
stores. Additionally, he has been a large investor in many sports teams across the world.
Utah Jazz—Larry Miller
The 2003-2004 season saw the Jazz deal well with losing their franchise players in John
Stockton and Karl Malone. They managed to still have a winning record, and added Carlos
Boozer as a key player going into the 2004 season. Larry Miller is well known as being a
critical player in Utah sports markets, owning the triple-A Salt Lake City minor league
baseball team, a local sports TV station, and the Utah Jazz. He acquired his wealth from
Toyota dealerships in Utah and the rest of the Mountain region that were owned by him.
Portland Trailblazers—Paul Allen
The Trailblazers are in the midst of rebranding, trying to alter the general perception that
the players don’t connect with fans. This is occurring because of criminal allegations for
many players, along with comments made by some players to the media and constant
fighting within the team. Paul Allen was the co-founder of Microsoft, and also owns the
Seattle Seahawks. He has been involved in extensive philanthropic work since no longer
working in the day-to-day operations of Microsoft.
Golden State Warriors—Christopher Cohan
The Warriors are in a state of mediocrity following the 2003-2004 season, having missed
out on the playoffs and lacking the ability to retain critical players, such as Gilbert Arenas.
Christopher Cohan made money in the cable sector through his company: Sonic
Communications. He has been widely criticized during his ownership tenure because of a
perceived inability to build a team or stick with a coach for more than a season.
Seattle Supersonics—Howard Schultz
The Supersonics are floundering, without a solid team since the trade of Gary Payton last
year. The trade came as a result of conflict between Payton and owner Howard Schultz.
Schultz was the founder of Starbucks, and purchased the team in 2001, and is a very
effective businessman. His feuding with the city of Seattle over building a new arena
began almost as soon as he bought the team.
Phoenix Suns—Robert Sarver
In this offseason, there have been major changes for the Suns. They finished last year with
an atrocious 29-53 record, and dealt both Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway
midseason. However, Robert Sarver just bought the team, and Steve Nash was signed in
the offseason, bringing new excitement to the team. Sarver made his money in the
Banking industry in the Tucson area, and is the CEO of Western Alliance Bank.
LA Clippers—Donald Sterling
The 2003-2004 season was just like most of the other seasons that the Clippers had
endured since the beginning of Donald Sterling’s ownership. Despite having Elton Brand
as a cornerstone player, along with a solid supporting cast, they were unable to entice
Kobe Bryant to sign with them, even though many thought he would. Sterling made his
money through real estate ownership, but was often criticized as spending too little
money on the Clippers, allowing them to become a consistently poor performing team.
Charlotte Bobcats—Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson helped reestablish basketball in Charlotte when the Bobcats were
founded. They play their first season this year, looking to build off of the market that had
embraced the Hornets until they moved. Though they will face difficulties as an expansion
team without franchise players, the city of Charlotte is thrilled to have an NBA team once
more. Johnson is the founder of Black Entertainment Television, which led the group who
purchased the Bobcats.
Bibliography
1. "Playoff Index of the NBA and ABA | Basketball-Reference.com." BasketballReference.com. http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/
2. Zillgitt, Jeff. “Timeline to the 1998-1999 NBA Lockout,” last modified October 12, 2011,
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/story/2011-10-12/Timeline-tothe-1998-99-NBA-lockout/50747980/1.
3. Howell, Dave. “Six Who Paved the Way”
http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/bhm_sixwhopavedtheway.html
4. May, Peter. “Auerbach, Pride of Celtics, Dies,” lst modified October 29, 2006,
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2006/10/29/auerbach_pride
_of_celtics_dies/.
5. Luke, Coolhand. “Sports: The Wisdom and Resilience of Bill Russell,” last modified
October 20, 2011, http://www.38thnotes.com/2011/10/20/sports-the-wisdom-andresilience-of-bill-russell/.
6. Emerick, Peter. “Kobe Bryant and the Most Out-of-Control Egos in the NBA,” last
modified December 17, 2011, ttp://bleacherreport.com/articles/986754-kobe-bryantand-the-most-out-of-control-egos-in-the-nba.
7. Johnston, Lauren. “Kobe Details Alleged Rape Night,” lst modified October 1, 2004,
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kobe-details-alleged-rape-night/.
8. Gittrich, Greg. “Brutal Rape Tale Kobe Accuser: He Grabbed Me and Bent Me Over a
Chair,” last modified October 10, 2003.
http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/brutal-rape-tale-kobe-accuser-grabbedbent-chair-article-1.527408
9. Foster, Mary. “Owners Approve Hornets’ Move to New Orleans,” last modified May 10,
2002, http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/nba/hornets/2002-05-10-ownersrelocation.htm.
Virginia International Crisis Simulation
Hosted at the University of Virginia
March 26 to 29, 2015
International Relations Organization
P.O. Box 400435
Newcomb Hall Station
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4435
If you have any questions, please email VICS XX Secretary General Emma Myers at [email protected].