Billy Hunter is making his move

(This pic has nothing to do with the post, but we had to do it. This title for the “Making of” doc just smacked us as appropriate for reasons that will be clear on the DVD.)

We talked a bit last week (or maybe this week – who knows) about how Players Association head Billy Hunter can tend to be a bit [insert word synonymous with inept], but that he was going on the offensive against David Stern.

His intention was to stand up to the man – make sure the NBA couldn’t keep instating rules without clearing it with the union.

Well, the war is on.

Yes, Billy Hunter has fired the first shot, and that shot is discounted protein shakes for NBA Players. The union has signed a deal with EAS, the nutritional supplement giant.

And yep – he did it (gasp!) without asking permission.

EAS signed a similar deal with the NFL and its players’ association in 2004. However, the deal to provide energy bars and protein shakes to NBA players did not involve the league.

“I didn’t really see there was a need to do that,” union director Billy Hunter told the Times.

“A lot of [the new rules have] been precipitated by the league, the moves that the commissioner has decided to make and implement – many we feel are beyond scope of the collective bargaining agreement,” Hunter said. “At a minimum, we should have been consulted. As a result, maybe I feel less compelled to consult them on things.”

Wow.

Never before has such a bold move been made, and we missed that second part of the deal.

Free protein shakes AND energy bars?

The man has gone mad with power. He’s out of control. Looks like David Stern has finally met his match, and that match will be fueled by synthetic nutrition purchased at a 50% discount.