[Mark Padgett]

An article in Parade magazine this morning said the NBE, as a league, will lose a total of $400,000,000 this season, which is about twice as much as they've ever lost before in a single season. They're blaming poor attendance caused by the recession.

The article, written by someone named Stephen Fried, give six suggestions (he calles them "saves" - maybe he thinks the NBA is a hockey league) to "improve pro basketball". The suggestions are made by player agents and one Sports Illustrated writer.

1 - change the foul rules so a player needs eight to foul out with numbers six and seven also resulting in technicals

2 - increase scoring by shortening the shot clock to 20 seconds or create a four point play

3 - raise the age limit to require a kid to be out of HS for at least three years before joining the NBE so players could establish a college fan base to carry with them into the pros

4 - encourage quirk - you can figure this one out yourselves

5 - change the trade rules - eliminate the rule that says traded players salaries have to match up

6 - shorten the season - too many regular season games decrease the importance of each individual game

I've got one more - play "real" basketball by "real" rules - and enforce them.