WILL OWNERS TAKE THE BALL AND GO HOME?

The NBA player's association has until midnight tonight to strike a deal with the league or disband. Talks have been stalled since last Thursday, with no progress made towards a resolution of the league's just-implemented team "luxury tax," which the players oppose. A vocal group of players, led by Patrick Ewing and Michael Jordan, wants theunionto disband in order to press a federal anti-trust lawsuit against the league. Commissioner David Stern has said the league's management, which has locked out the players since July 1, is prepared to cancel next year's season if an agreement can't be worked out.