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The problem seems to be that the owners want a lopsided win on the split of revenue before even discussing changes in the money distribution system, in part because they underestimate player resolve. “If you’re expecting the players to collapse, I don’t see that as probable at all,” Bonner said. “Social media has helped us stick together and stay on the same page. There’s other leagues. A lot of guys will play elsewhere. “They should not expect the guys to cave, and that’s what scares me the most. Plus, everyone got their escrow check back. That helps us, too.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Here's one explanation of why the players rejected that 50/50 offer. Perhaps they never made it. Union vice president and Spurs forward Matt Bonner says "Kessler definitely didn't offer 50/50. There's no way." Bonner points out that it had been a "huge ordeal" to convince players to agree to take only 53 percent, after a dozen years of earning 57. "That was a huge point of contention. Talking to all these veterans and all-stars, they were upset we went down to 53. We had to sell them on that. I'm pretty certain Kessler didn't have the authority to offer 50, and nobody in the room would have agreed to that." ESPN.com

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

Bonner points out that it had been a "huge ordeal" to convince players to agree to take only 53 percent, after a dozen years of earning 57. "That was a huge point of contention. Talking to all these veterans and All-Stars, they were upset we went down to 53. We had to sell them on that. I'm pretty certain Kessler didn't have the authority to offer 50, and nobody in the room would have agreed to that." Another union official allows Kessler may have said something in the weeks prior that could have been misunderstood as offering 50, but "it's patently false," he says, that Kessler made anything like a proposal. "There's a lot of discussion back and forth that takes place, particularly in the small group meetings. It's a complete mischaracterization to say that whatever happened constituted any kind of formal proposal at that point." ESPN.com

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

And here's another wrinkle: Two sources in the room agree that the particular players present Tuesday (the list includes Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Theo Ratliff, Maurice Evans, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason Jr., etc.) were particularly strident, more strident than the average player. Garnett, in particular, has been mentioned as among the uncompromising. ESPN.com

Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, CBA, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, Theo Ratliff, NBPA, Kevin Garnett, Maurice Evans 

Mike Monroe: Matt Bonner on @nba lockout talks: 'some closing of gaps buit remember how large gaps were to begin with' Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

Chris Broussard: I asked Matt Bonner if the owners & players closed the gap today: "maybe a little but u have to remember how large the gap was." Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

Marc Berman: Broussard talked to Matt Bonner who said no meeting tomorrow and no big progress today. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

Mike Monroe: Next @nba lockout meeting to be held nxt wk; Bonner: 'both sides a little burned out' Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

David Aldridge: Matt Bonnet (exec comm) tells ESPN, SA Express News no meeting tomorrow, a little progress made today. Sides still far apart. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

Ken Berger: Breaking in from wedding coverage: players present today are Fisher, Evans, Mason, Ratliff, Bonner plus Afflalo and BDavis (who left). Twitter

Derek Fisher, CBA, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, Theo Ratliff, NBPA, Baron Davis, Arron Afflalo, Maurice Evans 

Jeff McDonald: Union VP Matt Bonner says owners still seeking BRI split in "mid-40s." "Their offer is way out in left field and they're sticking to it." Twitter

CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

Jeff McDonald: Bonner: "As players we've made hard sacrifices to try and make the owners profitable and reach a deal We're really just waiting for them to be more reasonable." Twitter

CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

If he feels like the owners are just posturing right now: Matt Bonner: “No, I mean obviously up until Tuesday everything has been posturing. I can’t really blame one side or another for the reason a deal hasn’t been reached because the calendar was on both sides side. There wasn’t really any pressure from the calendar on either side. Now with the recent drop dead date for training camp and preseason and approaching regular season stuff, there’s definitely a lot more pressure on each side. Through that natural pressure we saw a window, based on what we thought was indicated a week before, we saw a window to possibly get a deal done. We did everything we could to prepare ourselves for that. The owners just did not share that attitude.” Sports Radio Interviews

CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

Matt Bonner on what issues are holding up a deal getting done: “There’s two huge issues here. The system which means hard cap or soft cap. For the average fan that doesn’t know the difference if you move to a hard cap system it virtually eliminates guaranteed contracts and that kind of security is obviously important to a professional athlete who puts his body on the line every night. Aside from the system, the percentage of BRI which is basketball related income or revenue. If they want us to move off that percentage significantly which we understand the times and the economy and everything, we understand that both sides need to make sacrifices. We just want a fair deal. We’re willing to move off the economics a little bit thinking we can maintain our system and they’re just trying to stick it to us on both sides. If that’s the case we’re never going to reach a deal.” Sports Radio Interviews

CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

Ken Berger: Matt Bonner of exec committee: "Given the calendar, we saw a window here. Unfortunately I don't think the owners were willing." Twitter

CBA, Matt Bonner, Lockout, NBPA 

Canada has found it impossible — for reasons ranging from prior commitments to NBA contractual issues to the inability to rush through citizenship issues for ex-Raptor Matt Bonner — to field its best team. It was an issue that cost the squad dearly going against some other national team programs chock full of the country’s best. “We play against the best in the world … we compete with what we have,” said Rautins. Toronto Star

Matt Bonner, Canada, Leo Rautins 

Bonner was a fan favourite in his two seasons in Toronto (2004-'06), nicknamed the “Red Rocket” for his red hair and the fact Toronto public transit, which bears the same nickname, was his main means of transportation. The would-be Canadian said there couldn't be a better time to play for Canada, with the ongoing lockout threatening to ground the upcoming NBA season. “That would be sweet,” Bonner said of playing this week in Argentina. He'll be keeping a close eye on how Canada is faring. “Absolutely, I know all those guys, it's a great group of guys and they work hard,” said Bonner. Toronto Globe & Mail

San Antonio Spurs, Matt Bonner, Lockout, Canada 

More than two years into his quest for Canadian citizenship, Matt Bonner remains grounded by red tape. So the former Toronto Raptors forward will have to watch with fingers crossed as Canada's men's basketball team bids this week for a berth in the 2012 London Olympics. And then he can only hope he receives his passport in time to suit up next summer if the Canadians do qualify. “I'm just kind of waiting and hoping,” Bonner said in a phone interview. “It's just one of those things. It's hard to talk about because it's kind of a bummer for me. I just wish it would go through so I could represent the country.” Toronto Globe & Mail

Toronto Raptors, Matt Bonner, Canada 

Concord's Matt Bonner has been a player rep for the NBA Players Association for the last six years, dating back to the 2005-06 season when he was with Toronto, his second year in the league. This year, however, Bonner was voted in as one of the vice presidents of the NBPA Executive Committee, the group of nine players leading the union. "As a player rep you're basically responsible for reporting to your team and being able to get the general opinion of your team on certain issues and then report to the executive committee," Bonner said. "Once you're on the executive committee, you're part of the front line of all the processes. You go to the actual negotiation sessions, you can vote on by- laws within the union, it's just a much more involved role." Concord Monitor

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

"It's an amazing learning experience. It's kind of cool sitting across a table from guys like David Stern and Mark Cuban and arguing the business of basketball with them," Bonner said. "You get to these negotiation sessions and you're there all day and you leave exhausted and with a giant headache. It's mentally exhausting. The CBA is so complicated and has so many different facets and intricacies. But it's just a great experience being part of something that not only affects yourself and every player in the league, but also every player in the league for years to come." Concord Monitor

San Antonio Spurs, CBA, Matt Bonner, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA