Chapter 31: Unyielding Steel Cannot be Deterred from its Resolve

February 5th, the day before the official start of the All-Star Weekend in Chicago.

In the banquet hall of the Hyatt Hotel, a tense and significant meeting was about to be convened.

There were over 40 NBA All-Star game participants in attendance, including 23 representatives from the Players Union.

The meeting was chaired by the Players Union's head adviser, President of the Union and the Director, Larry Fleisher.

Also present were the Executive Vice President of the Union, Charlie Grantham, Union Legal Counsel Jim Quinn, Union labor law expert adviser George Cohen, and retired player, now Union Chairman, Ulysses Bridgeman.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was somewhat oppressive; the basketball stars, usually graceful and confident on the court, all had expressions of anxiety and unease.

Although they are stars, heroes in the eyes of the fans, at the end of the day, everyone is human, a member of society requiring work, needing to provide for their families.