European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 05, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                V players stick to schedule immediate walkout re a Fec new York a Union chief Donald Fehr calmed angry players thursday and convinced them to stick to their aug. 12 strike Date rather than walk out immediately. Fehr said As Many As 10 teams too Straw polls following management s fail ure to make a pension payment of $7.8million and that most favored an immedi ate strike. He added there was considerable sentiment to move the strike to an earlier Date on some teams As Early As Tomor Row. Just because the owners Are behaving it an irresponsible and provocative manner does t mean the players have to do so Fehr said. The pension payment was due aug. 1and represented one seventh of the $57 million annual contribution under the Deal that expired March 19. Fehr after a conference Call with the Union s executive Board said players did t understand the owners actions. See Page 38 for wednesday s games see Page 39 for strike commentary Why in the world Are the owners try ing to do this Fehr asked. What Are the owners trying to accomplish i Don thave an answer to that unless it is to Force a strike As soon As possible.". Fehr said he was t sure the owner were interested in trying to Avert a strike. In fact he said we see quite the  he called the owners pension move highly irresponsible. It is very provocative and perhaps intentionally so. It simply flies in the face of any Rea son to believe the desire of management to reach an agreement without a strike he said. Fehr and owners spokesman Richard Ravitch were to resume talks later thurs Day. I m pleased the tempest in a Teapot has passed and we re Back to the bargain ing table to talk about the real issues Ravitch said. I understand the players May be sorry we did t make a payment we weren t obligated to  in Kansas City where the royals played the Oakland a s on thursday , player rep Jeff Montgomery ran onto the Field and gathered his team mates at first base to advise them of to Day s development. The players gathered around him shooing away the Media landholding an Impromptu team meeting. Even then fans leaned Over the railing and asked for autographs. David Glass chief executive officer of the royals was asked if he thought there would be a strike. It s a Little like the Guy facing the firing squad he said. He s got to wonder if there s real bulletin the gun or not. The owners and players will Settle this at. Some Point in time the Only question the stars and stripes ports augusts 1994 Page 40 is when. Why not do it before you have work stoppage Philadelphia player rep Darren Daul ton speaking before the Phillies played Pittsburgh said i believe there s a lot of Guys that do want to walk out today. We re still As of right now going to hold our strike Date. We re still trying to get this thing  dream ii set to prove it s Best in world by Harvey Arato the new York times Toronto they have come to proclaim themselves the new lords of the basketball uni verse masters of the collapsible rim their existential Credo being i Dunk therefore i am. Of and those celebrated Gold medallists who pioneered the National basketball association s penetration to the Interior of International com petition two Summers ago they May As Well accept their places in ancient history with Georg Mikan and the peach Basket that Shaquille o Neal would love to shatter. As for the dream team i think we d beat them easily o Neal crowed wednesday on the eve of the 1994 world basketball championships after he and some of his baby Boomer teammates tried to tear Down a few rims As prac Tice wound Down our legs Are a lot  by today s flaccid standards Young legs Andas yet undistinguished careers nonetheless Actu ate huge Bank accounts and enormous  Don Nelson was to Send dream team ii. As the marketing propagandists insist on calling it into Battle thursday night against Spain in the 16-team, 10-Day tournament. Whether or not dream ii is the equal of dream team i it is heavily favored for the Gold. Thursday update _ _ world basketball championship thursday s Early result Croatia 85, Cuba 65 puerto Rico 102, Egypt 74 thursday s major league baseball Pittsburgh 5, Philadelphia 1 Orange sugar fiesta picked Greensboro . A the Orange sugar and fiesta bowls were selected As hosts for the bowl Alliance games to decide a National College football Champion beginning after the 1995 season. Those bowls will alternate each year As the site of matchup Between  top two teams available. See earlier Story on Page 35 keeping Cool at Camp a new England patriots offensive linemen brute Arm Strong background and Bob Kratch Cool off during their team s training Camp in Smithfield r.i., wednes Day. The patriots will face the new Orleans saints for Are season game Friday night at Foxboro stadium. See Page 36 for More news from the nil Camps. 246850"00050411