Memphis's prospective Arena Football League expansion
franchise "moved closer Friday to a lease for The Pyramid"   --
the final step before the team becomes official.  AFL
Commissioner Jim Drucker will attend a 2:30pm (CST) press
conference today to award the franchise conditional on an arena
lease.  The Memphis ownership group is headed by businessman
Kevin Hunter.  The franchise would be the AFL's 15th, joining St.
Louis, Des Moines and Hartford as new '95 members (David
Williams, Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 10/1).

     The two sides are far apart on a labor deal.  But, "there is
much agreement outside hockey, however, that Gary Bettman has a
bear of a job" (John Helyar, WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/3).
Bettman:  "I have no choice but to be a lightning rod.  I'd
rather not be.  But I have to be" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/1).  Gary Miles
writes, "Like him or hate him, they couldn't ruffle him" (PHILA.
INQUIRER, 10/2).
     CRITICS:  Ian O'Connor compares Bettman to his old boss, NBA
Commissioner David Stern:  "If such a crisis materialized when
the NBA was hot, when his sports revolution was just beginning to
bloom, Stern would've worked the back rooms, would've employed
his charm, would've been smart enough to let it all happen" (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 10/2).  In St. Louis, Bernie Miklasz writes, "Is
there a bigger knucklehead than Bud Selig?  Yes.  Gary Bettman"
(ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/1).  In Philadelphia, Bill Lyon
writes, "The owners and their mouthpiece have come off looking
petty and shortsighted and recalcitrant and just plain mule-
stubborn" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/1).
     BACKERS:  In Toronto, Marge Ormsby writes, "Bettman has been
publicly savaged and ridiculed for representing the owners in
brilliant, sometimes ruthless, style.  Throw in the thinly veiled
anti-Semitism, then this horrid treatment of one man is a sorry
comment on those who purport to love hockey" (TORONTO STAR,
10/2).  Roy Cummings writes, "Popular opinion aside, Bettman had
to do what he did on Friday" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 10/2).  In Winnipeg,
Kelly Taylor notes that Bettman is hated in Toronto:  "Out here
on the prairie ... there is some reason to believe Bettman was
not only telling the truth, but also representing the interests
of the Western Canadian franchises" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 10/1).
Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs:  "He's even better than we thought
he'd be" (Richard Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES, 10/1).
     A LITTLE OF BOTH:  In Toronto, Stephen Brunt writes, "Hate
him for not appreciating that of which he is a custodian, hate
him for being an aloof hockey Philistine who is messing with your
world.  He'll take it as a compliment for a job well done"
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/1).  "Admirers" say Bettman "has the
marketing savvy" of Stern.  But others feel Bettman "has
deficiencies as a solo act" (John Helyar, WALL STREET JOURNAL,
10/3).
     HIRED GUN?  In New York, Mark Everson speculates that
Bettman will "be around just long enough to get a CBA done, and
then he'll be gone -- just another 'sacrifice' that was part of
the game plan all along" (N.Y. POST, 10/1).
     CHELIOS BACKLASH:  Chris Chelios made a more public apology
for his comments threatening Bettman and his family.  ESPN's Karl
Ravetch: "Once the mind realized what the mouth had said, Chris
Chelios realized he had made a mistake" ("SportsCenter," ESPN,
9/30).  Bob Ryan: "He's a defenseman for God's sake."  Mike
Lupica: "He plays with one helmet, and I don't think that is
necessarily enough for him" ("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 10/2).  In
Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont writes, "Talk about sullying the game's
image."  Bruins President/GM Harry Sinden saw Chelios' comments
as union-driven and called it "well-orchestrated, heinous and
sinister behavior" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/2).

     In Atlanta, Len Pasquarelli reports some NFL owners are
complaining about the power of "The CEC" -- the executive
committee of the NFL's "all-powerful" Management Council.  CEC
Members:  NFL Exec VP/Labor Relations Harold Henderson, Rams
President John Shaw, and owners Pat Bowlen (Broncos), Mike Brown
(Bengals), Al Davis (Raiders), Wellington Mara (Giants) and Dan
Rooney (Steelers).  John Kent Cooke, son of Redskins owners Jack
Kent Cooke, is also a member.  One AFC GM on the generous
stocking plan awarded the two new franchises last week: "The
clubs didn't even to get to vote on it.  The executive committee
recommended it and that was that.  They could've saved us a lot
of time by just sending us a memo instead of making us come all
the way down here for this" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/2).
     REALIGNMENT:  Most weekend reports note the NFL is not
likely to realign, but instead slot the expansion teams in the
two 4-team divisions: the Jaguars to the AFC Central and the
Panthers to the NFC West (Mult., 10/1-3).  Tagliabue on
realignment: "I don't think there will be a major reshuffling.  I
think the feeling in the league now is, if it aint broke don't
fix it" ("NFL Sunday," Fox, 10/2).
     WORLD LEAGUE UPDATE:  World League of American Football
President/CEO Marc Lory has visited all six European cities
slated to begin play Spring '95 (Dusseldorf, Barcelona,
Frankfort, Edinburgh, London, Amsterdam).  Lory: "The tour was a
great opportunity to visit our offices and stadiums and get to
know the local media" (THE DAILY).

     The NBA Board of Governors meets tomorrow and Wednesday in
New York and -- according to the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION -- "the
whispers are becoming nastier and more persistent" about labor
issues.  A rundown of some items facing the board:  SALARY CAP --
 players say the cap is "obsolete" and only "limit[s] movement
and stifle[s] their ability to earn higher wages"; ROOKIE SALARY
CAP -- "Besides the strong sentiment toward retaining the cap,
owners are becoming increasingly enamored of a rookie salary
scale that would restrict wages until a player becomes a proven
commodity"; THE DRAFT -- owners say the two-round draft "ensures
the competitive balance within the league," while the union
argues it "restricts a player's right to work in a city of his
choosing"; FREE AGENCY -- "players hope to abolish the concept of
restricted free agency"; LICENSING/MERCHANDISING -- "many believe
that the players' desire to immediately claim a greater share of
licensing/merchandising revenues ultimately will prod the union
toward compromising on other issues" (Ailene Voisin, ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 10/2).
     ENDORSEMENTS, ENDORSEMENTS, ENDORSEMENTS:  In Boston, Steve
Bulpett writes that the Board of Governors "would do well to
recall that enlightenment is what got the league to its exalted
status.  And that the elevator also travels downward."  A lockout
would "be a largely senseless act," but so would a strike by the
players -- since "the wrath of the fans would rain on them in
financially injurious ways. ... One finds it hard to picture an
advertiser seeking a player roundly perceived as selfish to
endorse his or her product."  Celtics GM M.L. Carr:  "There is
only a certain amount of outside work available for professional
athletes and if a particular group of them falls out of favor
with the fans and the sponsors, then someone else will be there
to step and take over that spot.  And when you look at what's
happened in other sports, this is the perfect time for basketball
to ride in as the good guys with the fans" (Steve Bulpett, BOSTON
HERALD, 10/2).

     In Toronto, Damien Cox reports, "Aside from the production
of more evidence that both sides in the three-day-old NHL
shutdown believe themselves to be both united and on the high
moral ground, there was precious little progress" on Sunday
toward a new collective bargaining agreement.  NHL Commissioner
Gary Bettman and NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow spoke by phone, "and
bargaining is expected to resume tomorrow in New York" (TORONTO
STAR, 10/3).  One person from the league suggested a neutral site
(Murray Chass, N.Y. TIMES, 10/3).  NHL VP & General Counsel
Jeffrey Pash:  "There's room for negotiation on virtually every
issue" (Larry Brooks, N.Y. POST, 10/1).
     POSTPONEMENT:  Bettman, announcing Friday that the start of
the season will be postponed until October 15 in hopes of
beginning play with an agreement:  "We want a sensible system
because we need to make the product stronger.  If we have a
stronger product we think we can generate more revenues for the
benefit of everyone -- including, and especially, the players"
(ESPN, 9/30).
     BREAKING TRAINING:  Many players returned home after the
NHLPA announced that players would not take part in team-
sponsored training.  The union ran an ad in papers in NHL cities
across North America stating their case.
     SHOW THE NUMBERS:  Gare Joyce writes that Bettman and the
NHL "have provided little in the way of material backup for their
claims" that they are losing money.  Goodenow claims the union
has not received "profit and loss information" (Toronto GLOBE &
MAIL, 10/1).
     BEHIND THE SCENES:  Larry Brooks reports that Goodenow told
the N.Y. POST that Bettman acknowledged in a negotiating session
last week that the NHL was seeking a salary cap.  Goodenow: "Gary
admitted to me that the league's payroll taxation proposal was a
cap on salaries."  Bettman, who has consistently contended that
the league's plan is not a salary cap, was unavailable for
comment.  But the report notes that NHL ownership is willing to
negotiate a CBA that includes revenue-sharing and guarantees
players a percentage of all new income -- including pay-per-view
-- if the players accept the luxury tax concept (N.Y. POST,
10/3).  This morning's TORONTO SUN reports on a memo given to all
owners detailing actions clubs "must take during the
'postponement'" in terms of P.R., cost-cutting, contract
negotiations, roster moves, front-office operations, third-party
contracts, picketing, etc. (TORONTO SUN, 10/3).
     WHAT'S AT STAKE?  In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont doubts the
"conventional wisdom" that a lockout would do the NHL
"irreparable harm":  "Chances are, hockey would survive (people
forget), and the game has a far better chance of thriving if the
owners can put themselves into healthier financial positions"
(BOSTON GLOBE, 10/2).  Sports marketer Brandon Steiner: "There
are so many new corporate sponsors and advertisers just stepping
into the game.  You just can't have this setback.  Because that
money, in such a competitive market place, will get funneled
somewhere else real quick" ("Sports Weekly," ESPN, 10/2).  Mike
Lupica:  "We are going to know something in six months that we
don't know now.  And that's whether there's going to be a salary
cap in sports or not" ("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 10/2).
     FROM THE PLAYERS:  Wayne Gretzky: "I don't see us playing
hockey at Christmas time" ("Moneyline," CNN, 9/30).  Gretzky:
"The problem we're facing here is much bigger than hockey.  It's
a problem that faces sports in general" (ESPN, 9/30).  Flyers
Player Rep Mark Recchi:  "We did everything possible to make the
season go.  It's obvious that Bettman had something else on his
agenda.  Basically, he's been lying to the association.  He's got
to take the blame if this goes a long time" (PHILA. INQUIRER,
10/1).  NHLPA VP Kelly Miller:  "If you have a McDonald's
franchise and put it on the wrong street corner or manage it
badly, it's not going to make a profit. ... I don't go along with
the argument that sports is special" (WASH. POST, 10/1).
     FROM THE OWNERS:  Flyers Owner Ed Snider: "They should come
to the table willing, and say let's make a deal.  They don't want
to."  Blues GM/coach Mike Keenan: "The solution is there.  We are
bright enough people to find a solution."  Lightning GM Phil
Esposito: "Sit in a room, lock the doors, slap each other, I
don't care.  Get it done" ("Sports Tonight," CNN, 9/30).  Later,
Keenan called on Bettman and Goodenow to "stop the nonsense, set
aside their egos, get on with the business at hand and get the
job done" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/2).  Flames Governor
Harley Hotchkiss:  "What's really at issue here is whether a city
like Calgary can have an NHL team" (CALGARY HERALD, 10/1).
Panthers President Bill Torrey:  "No matter what everybody says
about this being the wrong time, the cold, hard facts are the
bottom line continues to get worse" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/1).
     CANADIAN ECONOMIC IMPACT:  In Manitoba alone, a protracted
lockout would kill C$705,000 a month in Sports Select bets, says
Wester Canada Lottery Corp. spokesperson Marlene Gockel (WINNIPEG
FREE PRESS, 10/1).  Meanwhile, Canadian broadcasters "could be
frozen out" of C$100M if there is prolonged NHL work stoppage.
CBC officials are not "divulging estimates of the financial
damage," but one CBC spokesperson said "it is going to be a
serious number, no doubt" (Marina Strauss, Toronto GLOBE & MAIL,
10/1).