NBA chief sees nothing but Net
David Stern has his own definition of "convergence." The Internet, TV . . . and basketball. Sitting in his wood-paneled office above the lights of Fifth Avenue, the NBA commissioner is looking at the future of the league, and what he sees is all Net. If you_re on the Web, the New Age NBA wants you. Stern wants you surfing his NBA.com and WNBA.com sites. Stern wants you watching his new NBA.com TV network. Stern wants you shopping for NBA merchandise at his online store. Stern might even float his interactive operation on the stock market to get you to buy in. His ultimate goal: to deliver live, full-motion NBA games right to your computer or laptop. "That_ what convergence is all about," Stern says. "The Internet and broadband will ultimately redefine the fan experience in all of sports." What he does have, though, is head-to-head competition to be the dominant player in pro sports_ new cyber-arena.