41.   It ended when the players voted to ratify a modified labor deal rather than decertify the union.

42.   Last summer, a three-month lockout ended when the players voted to ratify a modified labor deal rather than decertify the union.

43.   NBA commissioner David Stern urged owners and players to support the deal and had threatened to delay the start of the season if the union was decertified.

44.   NBA players vote for the second time Thursday on whether they will decertify their union and possibly delay the beginning of the upcoming season.

45.   The meeting came amid an effort by some players, including Ewing and Michael Jordan, to decertify the union, a step that would nullify any labor agreement.

46.   The league staged a player lockout for three months last summer, then lifted it after players voted overwhelmingly to approve a modified agreement rather than decertify the union.

47.   The players attended a National Labor Relations Board hearing Wednesday on whether an election should be held to decertify the union.

48.   They could vote to decertify their union or approve the labor agreement that union and league officials support.

49.   Votes on decertifying the union were to be counted publicly by National Labor Relations Board officials Tuesday.

50.   A group led by such marquee names as Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing have asked the National Labor Relations Board to decertify the union.