On the anniversary of the NFL's expansion award to the
Carolinas and JERRY RICHARDSON, Panthers owner Richardson reflects
on the year's events and progress in a CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
interview. Richardson credits the advice of former NFL
Commissioner PETE ROZELLE as an invaluable factor in Charlotte
gaining a franchise. Richardson says it's "amazing" that no other
expansion hopefuls contacted Rozelle (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER,
10/26)....A pre-trial hearing date of December 16 has been set in
BRYAN COX's lawsuit against the NFL, according to Cox's lawyer.
Cox is suing the league claiming it did not provide adequate
security in a game last season in which Bills' fans taunted Cox,
prompting him to respond with an obscene gesture. The lawsuit
does not ask for monetary damages, only for a permanent change in
league security policy (MIAMI HERALD, 10/26)....FORBES lists
Callaway Golf founder ELY CALLAWAY as No. 1 in their list of
highest paid bosses among their 200 Best Small Companies in
America (FORBES, 11/7 issue)....Saints Owner TOM BENSON is
reportedly interested in owning an NHL team. BRIAN BURKE, NHL
Senior VP & Dir of Hockey Ops, said the league "would smile" on
Benson owning an NHL team (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 10/23)....
Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT and Radio Talk Show host DON IMUS are
donating $4,000 a piece to help the family of a cancer-stricken 6-
year-old in Lowell, MA (AP/Mult., 10/25)....Tennis writer Josh
Young lists the eight most powerful people in tennis, in
descending order: IMG Chair MARK MCCORMACK, IMG Sr. VP ROBERT
KAIN, ATP Tour CEO MARK MILES, Nike Chair PHILIP KNIGHT, Agassi
Enterprises chair ANDRE AGASSI, ProServ Chair DONALD DELL,
Advantage Int'l Managing Dir PHIL de PICCIOTTO, ESPN/CBS
commentator MARY CARILLO (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/26)....Former Colt
and Hall of Famer ART DONOVAN, on with David Letterman last night:
"These quarterbacks today, they go back to throw the ball and
before they get hit, they get hurt. I was watching the Giants the
other day and I was watching the guy on the field, he got hurt and
he's laying on the ground, next thing you know they got 18 guys
around him. They got the chaplin, the equipment manager, they got
the doctor. The guy is laying on the field like he got shot.
Then after 15 minutes he jumps up and runs off the field. I am
saying to myself, 'What kind of bullshit is this!'" ("Late Show,"
CBS, 10/25).
