L.A. STORY, PART I: ST. LOUIS GETS GOOD SIGNS FROM SHAW

     St. Louis' pursuit of the Rams continued to pick up steam as
Rams President John Shaw said, "We're pursuing the situation with
St. Louis to the fullest extent right now to see where it will
eventually lead us" (Michele Himmelberg & Andre Mouchard, ORANGE
COUNTY REGISTER, 11/8).  Rams spokesperson Heidi Sinclair also
said St. Louis has the edge in the race for the team:  "They are
working hard with St. Louis to see if they can get somewhere with
them and they look like the front-runner right now.  They are
spending most of their time with St. Louis" (Jon Morgan,
Baltimore SUN, 11/8).  This week, Shaw will meet with officials
from St. Louis and Baltimore, while yesterday, Rams accountants
discussed a proposal with Save the Rams, the Anaheim group trying
to keep the team.  Shaw said he is not working as closely with
the Anaheim group, and they are disappointed he has not given
them a serious counterproposal (Himmelberg & Mouchard, ORANGE
COUNTY REGISTER, 11/8).
     WORKING THE PHONES:  Shaw called two St. Louis fans who had
written to him in support of the team's move to the city.  Jim
Rindler, a 45-year-old advertising executive, spoke with Shaw on
Monday.  In their conversation, Shaw told Rindler that he was
"positively inclined" toward St. Louis, that he would visit the
city soon, and that the team will make their decision within a
month (Jim Thomas, ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH, 11/8).