NBA ACTION -- IT'S FANTASTICO!

     "The talk of NBA expansion to Tampa has quieted down, even
by those pursuing the matter, and for good reason.  The NBA
brought exhibition basketball to Mexico City Friday and Saturday
night and did huge business."  In Tampa, Bill Fay notes NBA
Commissioner David Stern "has said several times he thinks the
domestic market is saturated, but likes the potential in Canada
and south of the border."  NBA Expansion Committee Chair/Suns
owner Jerry Colangelo: "Mexico City makes sense for a lot of
reasons, but mainly because it's an untapped market in one of the
world's largest cities.  It's not a done deal, but we are down
here exploring, and the response to our game has been phenomenal"
(TAMPA TRIBUNE, 10/30).  In Houston, Fran Blinebury previewing
the Mexico City exhibitions: "So the world becomes smaller and
the NBA continues to make inroads in every corner that has the
inclination to hang up rims and begin selling sneakers and
replica jerseys" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/28).