Read it and weep, amigos... :,- ( "This is not where we choose to be," union president Derek Fisher said. "We're not at a place where a fair deal can be reached with the NBA." With just three weeks remaining before the start of the season, top negotiators for both sides met for more than seven hours Monday but were unable to reach an agreement. The two sides expect to remain in contact, but no additional formal talks have been scheduled. Stern said both sides are "very far apart on virtually all issues. ... We just have a gulf that separates us."