NBA players are pushing for more money in the next collective bargaining agreement -- for the players who came before them. John Moore Jersey .Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, vice president of the NBPAs executive committee, told The Associated Press on Thursday the union has made getting aid for retired players a priority in their talks with NBA owners on a new deal.The NBA and its players have agreed that the next CBA will include new league-funded programs to help retired players with education and medical expenses, four people with knowledge of the situation told the AP. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing.In exchange for those programs, and pending full approval from both sides, the split of basketball-related income would remain the same 50-50 deal as it is in the current agreement.Deciding on how to divvy up the revenue pie was the biggest obstacle that led to the ugly lockout five years ago. But with that issue essentially taken care of this time around, negotiations have gone much smoother as both sides look to reach an agreement on a new deal before the Dec. 15 deadline to opt out.For James, NBPA President Chris Paul and the rest of the union, taking care of those who are no longer playing is a worthy compromise for trying to recoup any of the financial ground lost during the 2011 labor dispute.We got a group of guys that are in there that know the negotiations, so any way to give back and try to help our former teammates and help former players and things of that nature, James said. Because weve all built this league together. No matter how big of a guy you were or if you were the 15th guy on the bench, we all built this league into what it is today. But its not just my idea. Im not taking any credit for that. But its all part of the process.Mike Glenn, a 10-year NBA veteran and a member of the National Basketball Retired Players Associations board of directors, said the CBA has dominated conversations among retirees for more than a year.Were very thankful to Chris Paul, LeBron and others who have provided the leadership to include us in the negotiations, and have the foresight to see that theyll be us in a couple of years, said Glenn, currently an Atlanta Hawks analyst for Fox Sports Southeast. There are so many guys with medical issues, who have had hip and knee replacements. With the cost of health care going up, it would be the biggest thing thats happened for retirees in 10 years.That process will resume next week when the league and the union meet ahead of the NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York, which begins on Oct. 20. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and union head Michele Roberts met in Spain earlier this month when the league had a preseason game there and they -- along with other members of the negotiating committee -- are preparing to return to the bargaining table with both sides in deal-making mode.During the bitter negotiations of 2011 that resulted in the loss of 16 games for each team off of the schedule, the players ultimately accepted a decrease from 57 percent of basketball-related income to a band between 49 and 51 percent depending on a variety of economic factors for each particular season. After the league secured a new $24 billion television contract, franchise values skyrocketed. There was talk of the players opting out of the 10-year deal and seeking givebacks from the owners.But the talks between the owners and players this time around have been much more cordial. And there is a trust level that was absent from previous talks, a factor that was only strengthened when the owners agreed to the new programs that will help players after their careers come to an end.James stressed that the medical and education programs benefiting retirees were not his idea alone, but a collective decision from the union to seek help for the players that helped make the league what it is today. Now, with so much revenue flooding the system to the benefit of both sides, the dialogue appears to be centered on the greater good over dollars and cents.I just want to see the league continue to grow, thats all that matters to me, James said. The players are a huge, huge piece but we also know the owners have great minds as well, our commissioner is great, but our league, our logo, the Jerry West logo is probably the most well sought-out, admired logo in the world and weve got to figure out a way to keep it going, keep raising the bar. Thats my only concern.The new agreement is expected to include several other new elements as well, said the people with knowledge of the discussions.They said owners are pushing to give their teams more options to keep homegrown players in their organizations, a topic that came to the forefront after Kevin Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder to form a new super team in Golden State. One of the proposals, the people said, includes the possibility of adding a second five-year maximum contract. Currently, teams can only offer one five-year max contract, which can make it more difficult for teams to keep multiple stars happy.The people told AP new elements also include an increase in the rookie salary scale to fall more in line with the surging salary cap, which was first reported by Yahoo Sports. The people also say two-way contracts that would pay players less when they are in the NBDL and more when they are with their NBA teams -- a structure that has worked well in hockey for some time -- will be a part of the deal.---AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Independence, Ohio, contributed to this report. Andy Greene Devils Jersey . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). Pavel Zacha Devils Jersey . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. http://www.nhldevilshockeystore.com/martin-brodeur-jersey/ . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. DETROIT -- The way Justin Verlander has pitched since July, he rarely needs much offensive support from his teammates.On Friday night, the Detroit Tigers didnt score until the sixth inning, but four late runs were more than enough for Verlander to beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-2.He allowed a first-inning homer to Albert Pujols, then after holding the Angels hitless from the second into the eighth, he gave up a second run before Francisco Rodriguez got the final four outs.The Tigers have won five straight to move back into contention in both the AL Central and wild-card races.Verlander (14-7) allowed four hits and a walk while striking out eight in his ninth straight quality start. Since July 2, he is 7-1 with a 2.00 ERA while giving up 48 hits in 76 1/3 innings.This is what you work for, he said. You work so hard in the offseason so that you can be strong at the end of the year and continue to give your team a chance to win when it really counts.Mike Trout went 0 for 3 against Verlander, and is 1 for 15 against the Tigers ace in his career.That was obviously a tough night, Trout said. He was throwing near 100 (mph), he was working the corners, and he was keeping us off balance. That doesnt give you many chances.Justin Upton hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the sixth -- his fourth in five games.Upton was hitting .226 when Tigers manager Brad Ausmus held him out of the starting lineup for three days last week. Since returning on Saturday, hes batting .417 with seven extra-base hits and 11 RBI in six games.Hes been great since he came back off that three-day hiatus, Ausmus said. It was a mental reset, and it gave him a chance to work on some things. His history shows hes capable of going on sustained tears like this, and I hope he keeps it going for at least the next five weeks.Ricky Nolasco (4-12) held the Tigers scoreless for the first five innings, but ended up allowing four runs, nine hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings.I was putting up zeros and trying to give us a chance, but thats a stacked lineup, Nolasco said. I made the big pitches I needed until the sixth.Pujols gave the Angels a 1-0 lead in the first, hitting his 585th career homer. He came into the game hitting .360 against the Tigers, the best average in baseball since 2001. It was Pujols first regular-season homer off Verlander, though he did hit one off the Tigers ace in the 2006 World Series.Detroit broke through in the sixth, tying the game on consecutive doubles by Victor Martinez and J. Damon Severson Jersey. . Martinez, and Upton hit the next pitch into the stands in left field to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead.I hung two straight sliders, and it cost us the game, Nolasco said. J.D. hit the first one for a double and the next one was a home run.Cameron Maybin added a solo homer in the seventh. Verlander didnt allow a hit after the first inning until Kaleb Cowarts one-out single in the eighth. Cowart, though, scored on Kole Calhouns two-out double.That brought in Rodriguez, and he walked Trout to put the tying run on base. Pujols hit an 0-1 pitch deep down the line in left, but it hooked foul. Rodriguez uncorked a wild pitch to move the runners to second and third.Pujols, though, grounded out on the next pitch to end the threat.You knew that was going to be a battle with Frankie and Albert out there, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. Albert almost got him, but he just couldnt wrap it around the pole, and then Frankie made a great pitch. Thats what hes going to do.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: INF Jefry Marte returned to the Angels after missing the series in Toronto with tonsillitis. ... Reliever Cam Bedrosian is scheduled to see a vascular specialist early next week to determine if he needs season-ending surgery to remove a blood clot in his arm.Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (neck) started for Triple-A Toledo in the first of what is expected to be three rehab starts. Zimmermann allowed two hits in 3 2/3 shutout innings, throwing 39 pitches.ACHTER HONOREDVisiting relievers arent usually included in pre-game ceremonies, but the Tigers made an exception for Angels reliever A.J. Achter. Friday was Michigan State University Night at Comerica Park, and Achter is the only active major leaguer who played for the Spartans.GOLD MEDALIST COMES HOMESwimmer Allison Schmitt, who grew up about 30 miles west of Comerica Park, threw out the first pitch. Earlier this month, she won gold and silver in the Rio Olympics, giving her four career gold medals and eight total medals.UP NEXTThe teams continue their three-game series Saturday night, with Tigers rookie Michael Fulmer (10-4, 2.58) facing Brett Oberholtzer (3-2, 5.77). Oberholtzer is replacing Jhoulys Chacin in the rotation, with Chacin moving to the bullpen. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '