PHILADELPHIA -- Richie Phillips, a tough-talking Philly lawyer who became a negotiator for Major League Baseball umpires and NBA referees, has died. He was 72. Phillips death was reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, which said he died Friday of cardiac arrest at his second home in Cape May, N.J. His death was confirmed by the DAnjolell Memorial Home in Broomall, where a viewing is scheduled Thursday. "We got so much because of Richie -- pensions, vacations, better salaries," former umpire and board member Don Denkinger told The Associated Press by telephone on Tuesday. Phillips represented NBA referees in the 1970s and 80s and led MLB umps from 1978 until 1999, when a failed tactic of mass resignations cost 22 umpires their jobs. The setback prompted umpires to abandon Phillips Major League Umpires Association and form a new union, the World Umpires Association. Phillips liked to tell the story of how, at age 13 while growing up in the Philadelphia area, he led a strike of altar boys at his parish over a dispute about their tips. In years to come, his work stoppages involved a lot more money. Under Phillips, big league umpires held a seven-week strike in 1979, another walkout at the start of the 1984 playoffs and a brief interruption on opening day in 1991. There were other work stoppages, too. "He had his feet on the ground and knew what he wanted," Denkinger said. "Hed keep talking until 6 a.m. if thats what it took." A little more than that, sometimes. "Every once in a while, hed stage a breakdown. Throw something through a wall or something to get attention," Denkinger said. "But he wanted baseball to know that we were important, that we were valuable and worth it." When Phillips became the umpires negotiator in 1978, rookie umpires made $17,500. By 2000, they earned at least $95,000. Denkinger, who started as an umpire in 1969 and retired in 1998, credited Phillips with getting umpires their first pensions and vacations. Phillips often came across as loud and brash. Many umpires praised him over the years, saying his personality was what it took to deal with MLB hierarchy. But Phillips reign came to a sudden end in 1999. Trying to press his negotiating points, he convinced umpires to turn in their resignations all at once, hoping to force MLB into a corner. Many of the umps followed Phillips advice. Instead, MLB accepted 22 of them and minor league umpires took their place in early September on a permanent basis. By the end of the year, Phillips also was out of a job. "Richie would always tell the guys to stick together and wed get things hammered out, and thats what they did," Denkinger said. "When it all came apart in 1999, he didnt have everybody, he didnt have 100 per cent." Umpire Brian Gorman, the crew chief at Yankee Stadium for Tuesday nights game between Cleveland and New York, said Phillips won a lot of benefits for the umpires. "Sadly, hell probably be remembered for the resignation strategy," Gorman said. "Its too bad, because he did a lot for us. A lot of the things he did for us 20 years ago are still helping us now." Phillips graduated from law school at Villanova and later worked in the Philadelphia public defenders office and the district attorneys office. He also worked with trade unions in the city. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Cheap San Diego Padres Jerseys . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. 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Stanley Kroenke briefly chatted with The Associated Press about his football team the Los Angeles Rams (were competitive, he said), his Barclays Premier League soccer squad Arsenal (Im there every month) and what occupies his time these days (How do I spend my time? I spend my time on my businesses and my family).In 2010, the NFL approved Kroenkes bid to become principal owner of the Rams. In 2014, he became sole owner.And after last season, the team moved to Los Angeles.Asked what he would say to Rams fans after relocating the franchise from St. Louis to L.A., he responded: Were building a team and were excited for the future of the Rams. The response in receiving the team back to Los Angeles was absolutely fantastic. Its been a great experience.The Rams are 3-2 heading into their game this weekend in Detroit (2-3). After that, theyll take off for London to face the New York Giants.Were young, Kroenke said. I think its the fifth year in a row were the youngest team in the NFL. Weve been building this team.On the new stadium front, Kroenke said that developers appear on pace to open the 70,000-seat, clear-roofed football stadium in Inglewood, California, in August 2019. The stadium will serve as the main attraction of a sprawling campus thaat includes a 6,000-seat theater, about 2,500 residential units, 895,000 square feet of retail space, a 300-room hotel and office space.dddddddddddd There will also be at least 25 acres of parks, playgrounds and green space.Were building a small city to the centerpiece of which is a great, big stadium, said Kroenke, whose name, E. Stanley, is an ode to baseball icons Enos Slaughter and Stan Musial.In addition to the Rams, hes the majority shareholder of Arsenal and also owns the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, along with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League. His son, Josh, oversees the Nuggets as well as the Avalanche.Hopefully, theyre going to have some great teams this year, Kroenke said. Weve got some exciting players. Were looking forward to it.Kroenkes Denver-based company, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, runs the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. His subsidiary companies oversee cable channels such as The Outdoor Channel and the World Fishing Network. Hes also served on boards for companies such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame.Theres always a lot going on, Kroenke said, before hopping on the elevator with his dog.---AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham contributed.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '