NAMES IN THE NEWS

     DON SHULA would neither confirm nor deny a report by ESPN
Sunday that he would be offered a job after this season by the
NFL as president of league operations overlooking the competition
committee and officiating.  Shula: "I've made it my practice not
to respond to any rumors or speculation by members of the media."
Shula signed a 3-year contract extension earlier this year that
gives him minority ownership in the Dolphins and a promise of the
position as the team's VP of Football Operations (MIAMI HERALD,
10/18). ....In St. Louis, Jim Thomas profiles super agent LEIGH
STEINBERG: "Steinberg's recent pet project has become franchise
preservation."  In baseball, he helped keep the Giants in the Bay
Area, and now in football, he is leading the Save the Rams group
in Anaheim (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/18)....The U.S. Figure
Skating Association promoted MATT PENSINER to Corporate Programs
and Events Manager and appointed HEATHER LINHART as
Communications Coordinator (USFSA)....DEION SANDERS was
interviewed at halftime during last night's game: "I'm not a
fighter.  I am an entertainer" ("Monday Night Football," ABC,
10/17).