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He talked about the incredible international growth of the game, with the possibility of affiliation through a minor league system or an additional pro league in the very near future from Europe, Latin America or Asia. Stern all but bragged about the attendance of 2 million for the fledgling WNBA when it required 20 years for the NBA to reach such levels.

Most important, he continues to push, is the understanding of public responsibility for the young players, and the improving relationship between the league and the Players Association.

Stern even jokingly fended off any speculation he might soon retire as commissioner, chuckling to one reporter, "Have you seen my cholesterol report?" Instead, he issued this proclamation:

"I must say this has been our best annual meetings. I visited every group and we talked about where we are going. We are positive about where we are going with the game and how we're going to market the game."

Of course, marketing has been the key to what Stern has done for the league over the past two decades as commissioner. To that end, new rules, based primarily on the officials taking a lot of the physical contact out of the game, are being instituted to boost scoring. Stern used the development of the Sacramento Kings as an exciting, run-and-gun team last season as an example of where he wants the game to go.

"They are perhaps the prototype of the team of the new millennium," Stern said. "But I think you'll see a variety of teams develop under the new rules. It's a 100-year-old game and a 50-year-old league. I think we're entrusted as the conservators of the game, not the people to reinvent it."

But all was not golden as he extolled the virtues of everything that is new and encouraging in the league. The sale of the Vancouver Grizzlies from John McCaw to Bill Laurie of St. Louis has everybody hot and bothered around the NBA. Laurie, who recently purchased the St. Louis Blues and the Kiel Center in which they play, has purchased the team reportedly for $165 million and will pay another $45 million to McCaw if he moves the team to St. Louis.

No doubt, Stern will do everything he can to dissuade Laurie from moving the team. In fact, he may even attempt to coerce the Board of Governors to disapprove the sale.

Nevertheless, the prospects are grim for Vancouver. Despite pep talks from Stern, deputy commissioner Russ Granik and other NBA folks, there is a pall hanging over the offices of the Grizzlies. The local media has drained all the strength out of the city hosting the meetings, contemplating a move to St. Louis after the 2000-2001 season.

"I don't think that has been a fair assessment of the situation," Stern said.

Maybe not. Still, the analysis from the Board of Governors about Laurie will show billions of dollars, courtesy of the Wal-Mart Corporation owned by his wife's family. Both Stern and Granik conceded this is not like the situation in which the Board of Governors rejected the sale of the Minnesota Timberwolves to a group headed by Bob Arum, which planned to move the team to New Orleans. They did not like the actual money, nor where the money came from in Arum's group. There also was a lot less appeal in the New Orleans market as opposed to St. Louis.

David Stern could face a struggle regarding the sale of the Vancouver Grizzlies to Bill Laurie. (Allsport)

"I'd rather discuss this privately with the Board of Governors than make any statements through the media," Stern said.

His official stand will come at a later date. Instead, this was his time to dwell on the future. Despite the six-month lockout, there are not the concerns that have caused baseball to consider disbanding some franchises. There aren't franchises in dire straits as in hockey, which is why he is reluctant to even consider the Grizzlies moving. He talked instead about the new 24-hour NBA television network development through its internet property.

"All I know is we are going to continue to have the opportunity to grow, to motivate and have positive impact on the youth of this generation," Stern said. "That's a big part of my job to ensure that happens."

With that, he excused himself from a trio of reporters and made a videotape lauding reconstruction of the Philadelphia 76ers organization by team president Pat Croce, who suffered a horrible motorcycle accident a few months ago.

An exceptional legal mind, a marketing maven and a spin doctor extraordinaire is David Stern. As for his cholesterol level, that's a personal concern. The NBA is just fine.