"Just as baseball's negotiators were headed back to the
table to talk peace, a new phase of the war broke out yesterday
between the owners and striking players."  The owners placed a
full-page ad in today's issue of USA Today and issued a news
release quoting acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig discussing the
"fine tuning" baseball needs -- "presumably meaning a salary cap"
(Murray Chass, N.Y. TIMES, 11/9).  The USA TODAY ad states that
other professional sports organizations have maintained parity
through "labor agreements that establish team salary mandates or
ranges -- establishing pay ceilings, and just as important,
salary floors."  In baseball, "competitive parity, especially in
the smaller markets" has been threatened by "skyrocketing cost"
(MLB).  MLBPA Exec Dir Don Fehr called ad "regrettable, but not
surprising, given their motivation through all of this."  Fehr
added that ownership has made it clear "their purpose is not to
negotiate or reach an agreement but to conduct a public relations
campaign aimed at the fans" (Ross Newhan, L.A. TIMES, 11/9).
Fehr also said owners are more interested in "setting the stage
for implementation" of a salary cap, and "making it look like
they're bargaining when they're not."  Selig said the union was
"overreacting to what he called 'a way of communication with our
fans, all of our fans, players and owners.'"  Selig: "The ad was
placed two weeks ago ... It has nothing to do with negotiations"
(N.Y. TIMES, 11/9).  Talks are scheduled to resume on Thursday in
Rye Brook, NY.  Sources say there has been no change in positions
regarding the salary cap, and that special mediator William Usery
may not be able to keep the "owners at the table" at the time
when they want to implement a salary cap, "probably within thirty
days" (Ross Newhan, L.A. TIMES, 11/9).

      Former Blue Jays' GM Pat Gillick sees major league clubs
trying to save money by cutting minor league affiliates.  If a
new baseball agreement enables players to become free agents in
four years, rather than six, there could be less incentive for
clubs to develop their own players, leading to more independent
clubs selling players to major league teams.  Although the
independent Northern League has prospered, Gillick says cutting
down on the minors would be "foolish" for baseball.  He believes
that if minor leaguers were paid and treated better it would
create a stronger bond between the team and their players, and
would encourage more young people to play baseball.  Gillick
likes the way the game is presented in the lower leagues.
Gillick: "I think there is a little bit of entrepreneurship out
there and a little bit of showmanship.  I think we need a lot
more imagination at the major league level.  I think you have to
offer people a little more for their buck."  Among his ideas,
having pitchers warm up closer to the stands so fans get a feel
of how hard they throw.  Gillick: "We're in the entertainment
business.  I'm not saying we need to be pro wrestling, but we
have to put on a little bit of a show" (Larry Millson, Toronto
GLOBE & MAIL, 11/9).

     ESPN's Keith Olbermann cited the Associated Press which
quoted an "unidentified player agent" saying the NHL labor talks
went well enough Monday that talks will resume either Thursday or
Friday.  ESPN's Al Morganti says "significant movement" was made
on the issues of the rookie salary cap and the arbitration
system.  "For the first time in weeks," there is "some optimism"
on both sides ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/8).  But in this
morning's NEW YORK POST, Larry Brooks is not as optimistic.
Brooks reports that "no negotiating -- repeat, no negotiating"
took place.  Brooks calls the NHLPA head "Stonewall Goodenow"
over his reluctance to negotiate and accuses Goodenow of simply
raising questions at the last meeting -- "questions that should
have been asked 10 months ago, if at all" (N.Y. POST, 11/9).
"The fact that the two sides would meet again [in the same week]
produced a sense of guarded optimism in hockey circles" (Alan
Adams, CANADIAN PRESS/Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/9).  In Toronto,
Dave Fuller reports that at least four teams -- the Blues, Stars,
Kings and Rangers -- are lobbying NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman
"to forge an agreement with the players union and start the
season."  But the "hawks" among the owners "may actually be
gaining strength" (TORONTO SUN, 11/9).
     NHLPA EXHIBITION:  Only two players showed for a "union-
sanctioned photo opportunity and public relations exercise" to
promote the 4-on-4 exhibition games at Copps Coliseum in
Hamilton, ONT.  The NHLPA is hoping for a crowd of at least 8,000
tomorrow, and possibly 10,000 each on Friday and Saturday.  Fewer
than 20,000 seats have been sold, with "significant numbers" of
complimentary tickets making up the difference (Damien Cox,
TORONTO STAR, 11/9).
     NEWS & NOTES:  According to documents prepared for Madison
Square Garden's sale by Viacom, which were obtained by the NEW
YORK TIMES, the Rangers posted a $7.7M loss for the year ended
December 31, 1994, not including the NHL Semi-Finals and Finals
(Richard Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES, 11/9). ....The Lightning still
have not paid players for working during training camp, payments
that were supposed to have been made no later than November 1.
Lightning Exec VP Mel Lowell cited confusion during the lockout,
and said the players should receive their checks by the end of
this week (Roy Cummings, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 11/9)....Some House of
Commons members are pushing for inquiry into the work stoppage,
with one Liberal MP threatening possible government intervention
(Fuller & Durkan, TORONTO SUN, 11/9).
     FORMER PLAYER ASSESSES CURRENT LABOR STRUGGLE:  NHL Hall of
Famer Ken Dryden examined the "Battle for Professional Sports,"
focusing on the hockey work stoppage, in Sunday's TORONTO SUN
MAGAZINE.  Dryden on ownership: "Without the prospect of labor
peace on your terms, will you still get the $150 million
(frachise fee).  I don't think Bob Goodenow ... yet understands
this, or do his players. ... I fear we are closer to the
beginning than to the end."  Speaking of hardliners Glen Sather
of the Oilers and the Bruins' Harry Sinden, Dryden writes "Former
players themselves, it is as if, after all their lives aspiring
to climb this mountain, finding themselves at this current top,
they feel cheated.  And resentful" (TORONTO SUN, 11/6).

     Dick Moss, player agent and leader of the new United
Baseball League, "is trying to turn a vision he has entertained
for almost three decades into reality."  Moss: "I think there is
a better way to play baseball and run it as a business. ... I
always felt it should be broader.  There should be baseball in
more cities."  Moss, who would like to place a team in Havana,
Cuba "as soon as it is appropriate," hopes to make ownership
announcements within the next 60 days (Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY,
9/11).

     Major League Soccer has scheduled a news conference for
November 16 in New York to announce that its start will be
delayed until 1996 (USA TODAY, 11/9). "Since identifying seven
league cities in June, there have been postponed announcements,
missed deadlines and, mostly, silence" from MLS founder Alan
Rothenberg.  Some reasons for not starting in '95:  MLS has
failed to meet its original goal of raising $100M from investors;
only 10 cities -- not 12 -- will be in place for Year One; only
two of the named franchises met the season-ticket goal.  The new
franchises expected to be named are Chicago, Kansas City and
Tampa.  The Original Seven:  New York, Boston, New Jersey
Meadowlands, San Jose, Los Angeles, Columbus and Washington, DC.
"The biggest problem MLS has to contend with is its apparent
failure to begin the league when it said it would."  At least one
sponsor "is having trouble with the delay."  Reebok VP/Global
Marketing Peter Moore: "It's been very frustrating because we had
come to an agreement based on the '95 season and were poised to
go, and then ... it became difficult to get information."  Among
all the start-up problems, "raising money remains the most acute"
(Cart & Jones, L.A. TIMES, 11/9).