Backers of the United Baseball League, a new league to rival
MLB, "unveiled their plans yesterday and said they were on track
to start their ambitious and expensive project in 1996.  But
despite the optimism" of two of co-founders Dick Moss and Andrew
Zimbalist, the UBL "faces major hurdles before getting to its
first season, including signing quality players and finding
first-rate stadiums" (Mark Hyman, Baltimore SUN, 11/2).  At a
news conference in New York, UBL founders stated that they would
start with 10 teams in '96 -- eight from the U.S. and one each
from Canada and Mexico.  The long-term plans are to grow to 20
teams by '99 with franchises in Venezuela, South Korea and Japan.
UBL co-founder/former U.S. Rep. Bob Mrazek said there are 20
cities "capable of supporting a team" and each is larger than
Cincinnati and Milwaukee (WASHINGTON POST, 11/2).  Moss:  "We're
not here to prod the establishment and we're not here to replace
it.  We're here to coexist with it" (Mult., 11/2).  Former U.S.
Rep./UBL co-founder Tom McMillen:  "We have competition in
everything in America, so why not baseball?" ("SportsCenter,"
ESPN, 11/1).
     CRUNCHIN' NUMBERS:  UBL founders "say partnerships among
owners, players, fans and cities would avoid the labor troubles
that plague the major leagues" (Simon Gonzalez, FT. WORTH STAR-
TELEGRAM, 11/2).  Projected starting costs for the UBL "are
modest":  Avg. salary: $520,000; Avg. crowd: 17,500; Avg. ticket
price: $8.  Franchises would be offered for $5M and player
payrolls are expected not to exceed $13M per team.  The players
would split 35% of the equity of each teams' pretax profit.
Franchise cities, in exchange for helping with facilities, would
receive 15% of the pretax profit.  League founders estimate that
clubs could generate $31M in their first season (Thomas Stinson,
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/2).  Jerome Holtzman notes that the UBL
plans a salary cap on management salaries to "put a lid on
excessive owner compensation" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/2).
     MINORITY INVOLVEMENT:  Eric Vinson, VP/U.S. Trust Company
and a UBL co-founder: "Minorities in the [UBL] will be able to
step from the batter's box to the owner's box."  Former
ballplayer Curt Flood: "We need an alternative league.  America
deserves an alternative league. ... I need an alternative league.
Baseball's owners have shut me out for 25 years" (Murray Chass,
N.Y. TIMES, 11/2).
     POSSIBLE CITIES: In the U.S.: D.C., Phoenix, Charlotte, Long
Island, Riverside/San Bernadino, Indianapolis, Orlando,
Sacramento, Tampa/St. Pete, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Buffalo,
Portland, Salt Lake, Northern NJ, San Antonio, Fresno, Columbus,
Hartford, Raleigh/Durham and Louisville.  Foreign cities:  Mexico
City, San Juan, Caracas, Vancouver, Monterrey, plus any cities in
Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China and Cuba (Mult., 11/2).  Since
the UBL says it "could fetch" a $49M national broadcasting
contract, it will try for franchises in L.A. and NYC (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 11/2).  Moss called that "imperative" (L.A. TIMES,
11/2).
      WHAT ARE THEIR CHANCES?  MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr:
"Obviously, you hope it will be a success" (SAN JOSE MERCURY
NEWS, 11/2).  Acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig: "We'll just wait
and see what happens to it" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/2).  Agent Ron
Shapiro: "It's more viable than I originally thought -- because
they're not trying to shoot out of the box and play this year.
They're trying to do this right" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/2).
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner: "Donald Trump tried a league
that didn't work, and he's a very successful guy" (USA TODAY,
11/2).  USFL Founder David Dixon, on their projected figures:
"You just can't make it with that kind of arithmetic. ... I think
they have a tough road."  FINANCIAL WORLD's Michael Ozanian said
"the key thing to this league, besides keeping the salary
structure down, is to have good stadiums to play in. ... I'm
talking about a lot of skyboxes and luxury suites and in-stadium
advertising" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/1).  Tom Boswell calls the
UBL "all facade with nothing behind it" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/2).

     Members of MLB's Expansion Committee heard presentations
from two groups from Northern VA, and one each from Tampa/St.
Petersburg and Phoenix, all vying for a possible expansion
franchise.  The Arizona group "was the first to makes its pitch.
Next was Tampa-St. Pete.  Coincidence or not, these are the two
front-runners for expansion" (Bob Cohn, ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/2)
     PHOENIX:  NBA Suns Owner Jerry Colangelo led the AZ
contingent in making its first formal presentation, which
included a scale model of the proposed stadium, with a working
retractable roof that "reportedly wowed members of the
committee."  Colangelo said the committee was interested in his
investment partnership, which includes Phil Knight of Nike, and
some wanted assurances that it would not be fragmented and that
Colangelo would "be in control of things."  Colangelo: "They
threw a couple of hooks out there, and I didn't bite. ... We will
be one of the most successful franchises in baseball, if given an
equal playing field, because we know how to market" (Bob Cohn,
ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/2).  Colangelo also said construction
requirements on a $273M stadium would make '98 the earliest
possible start time (Joe Henderson, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 11/01).
"Colangelo's group made the most impressive presentation" (Paul
Sullivan, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/2).
     TAMPA BAY:  Tampa Bay Baseball introduced two new investors
in their bid: Florida Progress, a diversified utility holding
company, and P.J. Benton, a minority businesswoman from St.
Petersburg.  Tampa Bay's managing general partner, Vince Naimoli,
said the group was "delighted to have her (Benton), not because
she is a woman or African-American, but because of her business
acumen."  The group delivered a video and oral presentation on
what the area had to offer, "such as market, stadium [Thunder
Dome] and ownership."  Naimoli:  "Everything we were asked we
were 100% prepared for. ... We can be ready in 100 days."  AL
President Gene Budig said the presentation went "very well," and
NL President Len Coleman said, "Tampa was great" (Mark Topkin,
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 11/2).
     VIRGINIA:  The "competition" between two Northern VA groups
vying for an expansion franchise "took a surprising turn" when
Washington attorney Bart Fisher, head of
Capital Baseball, Inc., said a "syndicate of African-American
investors would be the team's largest shareholder" if they were
awarded a team.  That group is led by venture capitalist Robert
Johnson.  Fisher and William Collins, head of Virginia Baseball
Club, both made presentations.  Sources said, of the two groups,
Collins "received higher marks from the expansion committee."
But Fisher's announcement "may place considerable pressure on
baseball, which often has been criticized for its lack of
minority interest" (Maske & Lipton, WASHINGTON POST, 11/2).
Fisher: "We have laid down a challenge to major league baseball"
(Thom Loverro, WASHINGTON TIMES, 11/2).  Officials "familiar with
the presentations questioned the strength of the Fisher group."
One anonymous official on the Fisher plan: "It was heavy on
demographics but short on specifics.  The difference between the
two groups was like night and day" (Maske & Lipton, WASHINGTON
POST, 11/2).  Phillies owner Bill Giles, without specifying which
group he was referring to:  "The most surprising thing was that
Northern Virginia's proposal was better than most thought it
would be" (Joe Henderson, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 11/2).  In regards to a
stadium, Fairfax, VA, County Chair Tom Davis said "a resident
task force would be created to find a stadium site to showcase
the team."  The team would play at RFK Stadium on a short-term
basis (Michael Scully, FAIRFAX JOURNAL, 11/2).
     WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?  Expansion Committee Chair John
Harrington hopes the committee will make a recommendation to
owners by January about whether to expand and what the franchise
fee should be.  If expansion is approved, committee
recommendations on cities could follow as soon as a month later.
Harrington "hinted" franchise fees could be around $140M per
team.  Harrington also said a decision will be made on two-tiered
expansion, with two teams starting in '96, '97 or '98, and two
teams playing later (Maske & Lipton, WASHINGTON POST, 11/2).

     On ESPN Radio yesterday, NHL Senior VP & Dir of Hockey Ops
Brian Burke indicated that a major cancellation of games is
coming.  Burke was then asked if he agreed with those who say
there is no sense in starting the season after Jan. 1:  "That's
pretty close to being accurate ... if we don't have a deal by
that point in time, there is a risk ... a very real, substantial,
significant risk that we won't have a hockey season."  Burke said
at least 50% of the 84 regular season games must be played
("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/1).  CP's Alan Adams writes, "A deal to
celebrate New Year would allow the NHL to rejig its schedule to
allow for a 45-game season and still finish in April."  Mighty
Ducks President Tony Tavares:  "If you are not going to get in at
least half the games, then why bother."  Others are even more
pessimistic.  One unnamed GM:  "We are about one month away from
having a meltdown" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/2).
     SO, WHAT ARE THEY DOING ABOUT IT?  One source familiar with
the recent talks between NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA
Exec Dir Bob Goodenow characterized them as "beyond the term
'fruitless'" (Dave Fay, WASHINGTON TIMES, 11/2).  The secrecy
"might indicate that they are intent on hammering out a deal
rather than conducting a public-relations campaign.  If you can
adopt that, consider yourself an optimist" (Gare Joyce, Toronto
GLOBE & MAIL, 11/2).  But some did see cause for optimism.
Boston-based agent Steve Freyer:  "The guy who normally tells me
what's going on said he can't tell me what's going on. ... At
least they're talking, and they're serious enough to have put on
a mutual gag order."  Bruins President & GM Harry Sinden:  "The
less people who aren't actually part of the actual negotiations
know, the better. ... I hope this means something" (Stephen
Harris, BOSTON HERALD, 11/2).
     ROOKIE CAP OFF THE TABLE?  Burke said owners "will never
yield on the issue of a luxury payroll tax even if the players
agree to a rookie salary cap and a more limited system of salary
arbitration."  Burke:  "If you've got gangrene in your hand,
cutting off two fingers doesn't solve the problem."  Writes Dave
Fuller in this morning's TORONTO SUN, "A handful of players,
frustrated by the impasse, were expected to press Goodenow on the
rookie salary-cap issue, but there's no need now" (TORONTO SUN,
11/2).
     SOLIDARITY WATCH:  A fax from NHL Senior VP & general
Counsel Jeff Pash to all 26 clubs notes the union is suggesting
owners "will cave in" if the lockout goes past January 1.  Jets
GM John Paddock calls that thinking "a foolish mistake":
"There's no chance.  Not one little bit."  Meanwhile, the NHLPA's
solidarity "should get a booster shot" in Toronto today from a
day-long "informational meeting" expected to be attended by
several hundred players (Tim Campbell, WINNIPEG FREE PRESS,
11/2).
     MIGHTY ANGRY DUCK:  Tony Tavares was upset at the  league's
handling of the termination of the players' group health
insurance coverage.  Mighty Duck Tom Kurvers learned of the lapse
upon taking his pregnant wife to the hospital after an auto
accident.  Tavares:  "It was not one of the league's shining
moments.  I think it was mishandled and I let my feelings be
known" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 11/2).
     REPLACEMENT PLAYERS:  Whalers GM Jim Rutherford floated the
idea of replacement players in '95-96 should the '94-95 season be
canceled.  The NHL's Burke would not say whether the league has
discussed using replacement players.  Burke:  "I will say this,
it's not something we're considering at this point in time" (Viv
Bernstein, HARTFORD COURANT, 11/2).

     NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said that a decision on the
divisional placement of the expansion franchises in Jacksonville
and Charlotte will be made today.  The owners will determine
which conference and division the expansion teams will play in,
by either a vote of the clubs -- which now seems highly unlikely
-- or by the commissioner  exercising his powers if no consensus
can be reached.  All indications are that Tagliabue will place
Carolina in the NFC West and Jacksonville in the AFC Central.
But Tagliabue maintained support is gaining for realignment:
"People are beginning to realize that realignment can be a very
positive aspect of our league" (Thomas George, N.Y. TIMES, 11/2).
     NFC WEST WILL BENEFIT:  If Carolina joins the NFC West, as
expected, then the resulting five-team division would feature at
least two of the NFL's highest-paying franchises in terms of
revenues doled out to visiting clubs:  Carolina, which will
guarantee $1.28M per game to visitors, and San Francisco, which
currently has the league's largest payout, $890,000 (Len
Pasquarelli, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/2).
     DECISION ON '99 SUPER BOWL:  NFL owners will also decide
today whether to award the 1999 Super Bowl to either San
Francisco or Miami.  Several sources suggested yesterday that the
league is "poised" to choose San Francisco if concerns about
Candlestick Park are satisfied.  Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen: "It
all depends on how the membership looks at Candlestick.  We're
very satisfied with the city itself.  I think we'd like to go
back there."  But Super Bowl Policy Committee member Jim Irsay
maintained that Miami is still "the town to beat" (Greg Cote,
MIAMI HERALD, 11/2).
     OTHER ISSUES BEING DEBATED:  Among other issues discussed by
the owners yesterday were corporate ownership; revenue sharing;
whether to reduce the two-thirds voting requirement now in place
to pass or defeat major issues; and scheduling for the '95 season
(N.Y. TIMES, 11/2).