By Mike Baldwin

NBA commissioner David Stern answered only one question during Thursday's 40-minute national teleconference that was designed to address referees' possible involvement in illegal gambling activities.

The one question?

Are you concerned the economy could negatively affect attendance during the upcoming NBA season?

"We except to see some softness in the composition of our ticket make-up," Stern said. "We don't know that attendance will be down. Based on early results there will be a lower component of season tickets and a higher component of partial season tickets, groups and day of game. But clearly as business gets affected by the slow down, then spending will get affected both personally and by business.

"Sports can't, I don't believe, be apart from that reality. The only thing that probably will increase will be television viewing as a low-priced alternative to spending money going to the movies, going out to eat or going to an event... But our network arrangements are strong. Our team's local arrangements are strong in respects to TV and sponsorships."