Longtime agent Dick Moss will announce formation of his new
United League at a news conference in New York on Tuesday. Moss:
"A lot of people are involved. And, of course, they have a lot
of money. We need money. And players and stadiums and clout --
that's the American way." The CHICAGO TRIBUNE gives details of a
40-page prospectus sent to potential investors which states "the
league will open with 10-12 teams and include clubs in the US,
Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Taiwan, and South
Korea," and also expand to 16 teams in three years. It projects
team payrolls of $13M in the first season, increasing to $20M in
the 5th or 6th. But MLB owners do not view the new league as a
threat. One AL "mogul": "Moss has as much chance of putting
that across as I have going to the moon in nine minutes" (Jerome
Holtzman, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/30). Moss hinted the league, which
could start as early as spring '95, "may include a franchise in
DC." Former U.S. Rep. Bob Mrazek (D-NY) and economist/author
Andrew Zimbalist are reportedly involved in the organization of
the league (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 10/29).
MLB NEWS & NOTES: Will McDonough writes the Red Sox "are
looking at the possibility of playing a weekend series in
Ireland, most likely against the Mets in 1996." The Sox are
hoping to play the Mets on the 10th anniversary of their '86
World Series on St. Patrick's weekend in Dublin's Croake Park
(BOSTON GLOBE, 10/30)....BUSINESS WEEK profiles mediator William
Usery. "His method: wear down both sides with talk" (Aaron
Bernstein, BUSINESS WEEK, 11/7 issue).
