Bears President Mike McCaskey on Sunday voiced his
displeasure with the Soldier Field turf and accused the Chicago
Park District of violating the Bears' lease.  On Saturday,
Jackson State played Alabama State at Soldier Field in a
downpour.  Following the game, the field was torn up and needed
to be resodded.  According to the terms of the Bears' lease, no
event can take place at Soldier Field less than 24 hours before a
Bears game.  McCaskey:  "We just wish the Park District would
live up to its word" (Terry Armour, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/10).  The
Park District's Director of Lakefront Services Bridget Reidy
argued that Sunday's field was "dry, playable and very level."
Reidy said that the new resodding should begin later this week
and the anticipated $20-30,000 cost will be billed to promoters
of Saturday's game (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/11).

     NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue reiterated Sunday that the
league hopes to develop a plan that would finance a new stadium
in Los Angeles.  But L.A. politicians over the past week have
responded "negatively' to the league's proposal (Will McDonough,
BOSTON GLOBE, 10/10).  Tagliabue maintained the idea has been
discussed for the past "three or four" months and was initiated
by L.A. city and county officials "who were very open to this
kind of idea."  But L.A. County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite
Burke said Sunday "she doesn't believe that a new stadium would
be in anyone's best interest" (AP/ST.LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/11).
     EAST COAST, TOO?  Even if the L.A. plan is successful,
Tagliabue said the NFL has no plans to back a similar facility
for the Jets, tenants at Giants Stadium.  Tagliabue: "I know it's
frustrating for (Jets owner) Leon Hess to get something done in
the city of New York.  The city has tremendous demands on it.
But Giants Stadium is a great facility" (Greg Logan, N.Y.
NEWSDAY, 10/10).
     FOXBORO, ONE YEAR LATER:  Tagliabue also commented on
conditions at Foxboro Stadium, supporting an "improvement
package, with a public-private partnership that can address those
needs."  Areas for improvement include stadium access, restrooms
and concession facilities.  Tagliabue suggested stadium
improvements could help "get [the team] in the Monday night
package" (Jim Greenidge, BOSTON GLOBE, 10/10).